Today, I read Joshua 19-21 – 3 chapters of names and places… names of the tribes of Israel and places in the promise land.
Read and see the last 3 verses of this passage.
Joshua 21
43 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44 The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord gave all their enemies into their hands. 45 Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
What do u notice here? How did Joshua summarize his story? First, let’s review what happened before he began his story.
Deuteronomy 31:7
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.
Deuteronomy 31:23
The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”
Joshua 1:1-5
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Words are repeated for a reason. Be strong and courageous are often spoken to en’courage’ people in challenging times. Moses wrote these final words to Joshua in Deuteronomy. 3x God ‘commanded’ Joshua to be strong and brave. In all these verses, Joshua was given a task – to lead the people into the promise land. Now the task is done. They had finally conquered the land. The land was divided and given to the tribes to possess it.
Joshua concluded: The Lord gave…
v. 43 all the Land he promised to their ancestors to settle there.
v. 44a Rest on every side just as he had sworn to their ancestors.
v. 44b all enemies into their hands. No enemy withstood them.
Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel (and to Joshua) failed; every one was fulfilled. v. 45
To ponder:
Is there a task for me to do? Why am I doing it? Is it from the Lord? How am I supposed to do it? Be strong by myself? Brave it and do it alone?
Which comes first? Be strong and brave, then do the task? Or do it and practice being strong and courageous along the way? Where do I draw my strength and courage? On what do I stand firm, strong and brave?
Be careful to obey all the law… do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. vv.. 7b-8
What is God’s law for me? Just 2: love God and love my neighbor. God promised that He will be with me wherever I go. His promise and command is the basis of my strength and courage. His presence is assurance for success.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Strength and courage for the task: that is one whole thing. They go together. Each day I need to live as God commanded and promised me.. to be strong and courageous to live the blessed life – a life of prosperity and success by His standard even in Covid times!
Read the Bible and know Jesus. Discover the good news and find out how to live the blessed life.
Life walk with Marlene 