Steven A. Bush - September 24, 2023
Be Strong & Courageous!
After Moses passes, God tags Joshua to lead His people into the Promised Land. Joshua 1:6-7 is part of that charge: "Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go." (ESV) Two more times in this chapter, the exhortation is repeated. There's another old man in the crowd, Caleb. Joshua & Caleb are living testimonies, the only two left from the original 12 spies. Their former colleagues and original exodus generation are buried in the desert. Their kids are now grownups. They know all the watering holes and all the manna recipes. They've attended lots of funerals, made lots of babies, won a few battles, and Jericho is in their sights. But the question for us is, God’s children in a different era, does the same exhortation apply? Be strong and courageous as followers of Christ or weak and wimpy? Whether we're drawing from the OT or the NT, the exhortation stands because our enemies and obstacles, though different, are very real and relentless. Therefore brothers and sisters: Be Strong and Courageous!
Scripture References: Joshua 1:1-18, 1 Corinthians 10:11-12, Ephesians 6:10-18