Be strong and very courageous

https://odb.org/2023/12/05/gods-most-comforting-commitment

Because they doubted and rebelled against the LORD, all men of twenty years and above who left Egypt were not permitted to enter into Canaan, the Promised Land. The edict originated from the bad and doubtful report of 10 of the 12 spies. Joshua and Caleb, the other two spies, were exempted, for they believed that the Israelites could conquer the land of giants, fortified cities, and strong armies with the leading of the Almighty God. Moses and Aaron as the leaders were initially also allowed to enter the Promised Land until the incident at Kadesh Barnea – instead of speaking to the rock for water to come out as God had commanded, Moses used his staff like he did years back. As a result, Moses and Aaron died in the wilderness like all the other Israeli men of 20 years and more, except for Joshua and Caleb.

Joshua 1 is the start of the adventure of the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan during ancient times, incidentally the origin of and the background to the current Israeli-Hamas war. Ancient Canaan is present day Israel, and this is the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. The conquest was led by Joshua, Moses’s aide since his youth, who was thus around 60 years plus then (as the Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness, mostly at the oasis area of Kadesh Barnea). Joshua was thus well prepared to be the leader, from his training following Moses but also his faith in the LORD leading them despite their lack of fighting skills and weapons as an army (they were after all only slaves in Egypt). You could say Joshua was not one who placed his trust on chariots and horses but on the Word of God.

The LORD thus reaffirmed His commitment to Joshua and declared that He would be with him wherever he went and that he need not fear but be strong (or bold) and very courageous. But the caution and condition remained that Joshua needed to follow and keep the book of Law to meditate on it day and night so that he may be careful to do all that is written on it. Then Joshua will be successful and prosperous – something most of the kings of ancient Israel and Judah failed to do in their lifetimes.

The message today is that God is encouraging us to be strong and very courageous to respond to His calling upon our lives. He will be with us wherever we go as we give our lives unto Him. But we are to keep His law in our hearts and to mediate upon His Word day and night. Don’t take the front, but forget the back. God and His Word go hand in hand. Christ and the transformation of our lives go hand in hand. As we embrace the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we must manifest and live out the fruit of the Spirit. Power and authority come with responsibility and love and compassion. Get this right, and we will achieve much for the glory of God, for His Kingdom – if God is with us, who can be against us!