1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: 2 ‘Moses my servant is dead. NOW then, you and ALL these people, GET READY TO CROSS THE RIVER JORDAN INTO THE LAND I AM ABOUT TO GIVE TO THEM – to the Israelites. Joshua 1
Moses, My servant is dead; that era is finished, gone forever and it’s time to move on. The Israelites had crossed the Red Sea and the water had closed behind them, drowning the whole Egyptian army and Pharaoh. Only God knew the way forward for Israel, they had to follow Him.
It was a ‘Now Time’, they were going Now. YOU AND ALL THESE PEOPLE, everyone had to go, no exceptions. Leaders and All the People had to go forward together into the new destination. ‘GET READY TO CROSS’ the River Jordan. They’d crossed out of somewhere, Egypt, the land of slavery. Now they had to Cross Over again into the New (Inheritance) and it would be Much Better, but they still had to go in and take it. God told them to ‘Get Ready’, make preparation for what was coming.
God spoke to Joshua and encouraged him repeatedly;
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.
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.
Why would God repeatedly tell Joshua to ‘Be strong and courageous’? Because he was going to fight battles, sometimes against much more powerful enemies. The missing verse above was verse 8;
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.
Joshua had better begin to think God’s way or think God’s thoughts after Him! He couldn’t afford to entertain thoughts apart from God!
Twice in verses 5 and 9 God tells Joshua, ‘I WILL BE WITH YOU’. God Himself, the Creator and Ruler of everything, was going with His people, they weren’t alone in the battles they would face.
God’s people are in a battle today and I believe we have no option but to go through with it and stand firm for God. We must not compromise our faith in the battle, God is with us. We have to prepare, like Israel for difficult times ahead, but God is with His people. Be strong and courageous in all that lies ahead.
38 Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. AMPC
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God bless and keep you today.