God Is With You
Joshua 1:1-6 “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’s 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. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
Verse 9 Have not I 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 was a young aide to Moses. He was present, front row and center seat, observing Moses’ every move and observing both the joy and grief of leadership. There was great encouragement and comfort for both Moses and Joshua in their relationship knowing that they were doing God’s will together as a team. That must have been very comforting for each of them.
Joshua witnessed people’s behavior at their worst. The complaining to and about Moses, the harmful and slanderous accusations. The complaints seemed always naggingly present. Joshua also witnessed God’s faithfulness to Moses. They both knew that God would do what He said He would do! O, to know all the details of their story.
In this passage, the baton had been passed from Moses to Joshua. Though Joshua had been mentored well for the new leadership role being assigned to him, he would now learn what it means when the responsibility to lead rest, on his shoulders.
God is very aware of every situation and the fears we experience just trying to live life. He is well aware of what we are made up of our strengths and weaknesses. He also will not assign to us that we cannot do. His plan for us is success, not failure. God’s unlimited power is attached to our natural ability for the purpose of accomplishing the plan He has designed for us. When you hear the phrase, “you can do this, or you have got this,” is only because God is WITH you. Just like God was with Moses and then Joshua, He is WITH you.
The command, not an option, was “BE STRONG!” Hold fast is the Hebrew definition for the word strong. God said be strong because He makes us strong. Be who you already are, strong. This word carries the thought of fastening to something or someone, to bind together and to conquer. God says be what I made you to be… strong! The strength is resident within you because God is IN and WITH you.
The second part of the command God gave was “BE VERY COURAGEOUS!” In the Hebrew, it means be very alert physically or emotionally, to be steadfastly minded. It also means to make strong, harden, establish and fortify. Notice God did not say, if you feel like it or want to. He said BE! We can BE because He IS. Our choice is to “remain IN him, and he will remain IN us.” Jn.15:4.
Verse 9 “Have not I 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.”
Again, the command from God Almighty is “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.” Be what he has enabled you to be. Do not let fear in. Do not give place to it. The word fear is often defined as “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Your adversary, Satan, is a liar. Lying is all he knows how to do. Everything he speaks is a lie for the purpose of making something greater than it is provoking fear. You are the victor, not the victim! You are the overcomer, not the overcome, all because God is WITH YOU!
Mathew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
There is a very familiar ring to the passages in Joshua and Mathew. In both scripture passages an unknown future was ahead. Strength and courage was essential to carrying out God’s purpose on earth. Both Joshua and the disciples were about to experience life without the comfort of their mentor. They were about to develop a deep and committed relationship with the greatest mentor of all, God himself. God the ultimate Victor and Redeemer. The one who makes up the difference if we fumble in our best efforts to be obedient to God’s commands.
His promise to you is that “HE IS WITH YOU wherever you go.” Josh.1:9 He is present when you face your greatest enemy. He is present when you cross victory’s finish line to say, “well done good and faithful.” Mt.25:21
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid; do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh.1:9
You are loved!
Verse 9 Have not I 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 was a young aide to Moses. He was present, front row and center seat, observing Moses’ every move and observing both the joy and grief of leadership. There was great encouragement and comfort for both Moses and Joshua in their relationship knowing that they were doing God’s will together as a team. That must have been very comforting for each of them.
Joshua witnessed people’s behavior at their worst. The complaining to and about Moses, the harmful and slanderous accusations. The complaints seemed always naggingly present. Joshua also witnessed God’s faithfulness to Moses. They both knew that God would do what He said He would do! O, to know all the details of their story.
In this passage, the baton had been passed from Moses to Joshua. Though Joshua had been mentored well for the new leadership role being assigned to him, he would now learn what it means when the responsibility to lead rest, on his shoulders.
God is very aware of every situation and the fears we experience just trying to live life. He is well aware of what we are made up of our strengths and weaknesses. He also will not assign to us that we cannot do. His plan for us is success, not failure. God’s unlimited power is attached to our natural ability for the purpose of accomplishing the plan He has designed for us. When you hear the phrase, “you can do this, or you have got this,” is only because God is WITH you. Just like God was with Moses and then Joshua, He is WITH you.
The command, not an option, was “BE STRONG!” Hold fast is the Hebrew definition for the word strong. God said be strong because He makes us strong. Be who you already are, strong. This word carries the thought of fastening to something or someone, to bind together and to conquer. God says be what I made you to be… strong! The strength is resident within you because God is IN and WITH you.
The second part of the command God gave was “BE VERY COURAGEOUS!” In the Hebrew, it means be very alert physically or emotionally, to be steadfastly minded. It also means to make strong, harden, establish and fortify. Notice God did not say, if you feel like it or want to. He said BE! We can BE because He IS. Our choice is to “remain IN him, and he will remain IN us.” Jn.15:4.
Verse 9 “Have not I 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.”
Again, the command from God Almighty is “BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.” Be what he has enabled you to be. Do not let fear in. Do not give place to it. The word fear is often defined as “False Evidence Appearing Real.” Your adversary, Satan, is a liar. Lying is all he knows how to do. Everything he speaks is a lie for the purpose of making something greater than it is provoking fear. You are the victor, not the victim! You are the overcomer, not the overcome, all because God is WITH YOU!
Mathew 28:18-20 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
There is a very familiar ring to the passages in Joshua and Mathew. In both scripture passages an unknown future was ahead. Strength and courage was essential to carrying out God’s purpose on earth. Both Joshua and the disciples were about to experience life without the comfort of their mentor. They were about to develop a deep and committed relationship with the greatest mentor of all, God himself. God the ultimate Victor and Redeemer. The one who makes up the difference if we fumble in our best efforts to be obedient to God’s commands.
His promise to you is that “HE IS WITH YOU wherever you go.” Josh.1:9 He is present when you face your greatest enemy. He is present when you cross victory’s finish line to say, “well done good and faithful.” Mt.25:21
“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid; do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Josh.1:9
You are loved!
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