Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:9, AMP)
The Lord your God is with you wherever you go today, this week and beyond. God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous because he was going to face different challenges as a leader. He was going to make history that would be talked about thousands of years later. The magnitude of his task was so huge that he couldn’t have gone alone so God assured him of His presence.
- Why would God command and insist that Joshua should be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6,7,9)? Three things to consider:
- He was going to deal with his own people by giving them their inheritance as promised by God. Remember that Moses had been the leader since exodus from Egypt and this new role would require firmness and courage.
- He was also supposed to set standard for Israel to follow as a leader. This would require him to adhere to every command God had given to Moses. There were deviants among them therefore it was necessary for God to echo the need to be firm and courageous in practicing what the law says. There were no pick and choose to fit narratives in order to condone sin.
- Finally, He was going to enter new territories with hardcore enemies equipped with advanced technologies. Having heard the news about Jericho and its formidable walls, his own experiences with the giants on the promised land, and the knowledge Jordan river before them, God had to reassure Joshua of His presence in the situation and the need for him to be composed and charged for the places and people he had to conquer.
These three considerations are applicable in your daily life:
- You’re on earth for divine assignment and what you do in any day would have cumulative effect on what you leave behind. Like Joshua, God chose you to lead and claim the inheritance for your family and other dependents. These dependents could be your employees, friends, church members, colleagues, etc. They depend on your for their spiritual and/or physical wellbeing therefore don’t take the position you occupy for granted. God has your there for His purpose. He is with you and you’ve got to be strong and courageous to complete your given assignment.
- God expects you to keep every word in His Word. It takes courage to say and do the word of God. Cowardice enables people to obey some part of the scriptures that fit their narrative for the moment. That’s why it is difficult for some Christians to say (publicly) that homosexuality is a sin according to God’s command. God wants you to be strong and courageous when it comes to your stance on the scriptures because your deviation (or compromise) will send wrong signal to those who look up to you for direction.
- Finally, Today is a new territory. You have no idea how the day would be and what your enemies have planned. You don’t know the enemies you would meet in traffic, at grocery store, at work, etc. The news reports may send waves of fear and panics, and other things you would least expect. In spite of these, God has assured you of His presence in the day therefore be strong and courageous. Your God on your side means that no weapon formed against you shall prosper and those who stand against you shall be reduced to nothing. Jordan rivers before you will give way for you, and every wall of Jericho shall fall.
When you see the Sun rise in the morning, remember that God is with you. He will lead you through the day but know that what you do in the day matter(s). Don’t be terrified or intimated by what you see and/or feel because your God is with you. If you can be strong, then He will be your strength. And if you can be courageous, then He will work through you. Be blessed, strong, and courageous. You’re not alone.
Uplifting Christ 