BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
Opening Prayer
My King, teach me through Your Word today about the courage which only You can provide.
Read Joshua 1:1–9
Joshua Installed as Leader
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “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. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 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. 5 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.”
Reflect
Think about a time when you needed courage and from where your courage came.Television directors work hard to ensure continuity details from one shot to another. Mistakes mean that the program seems inconsistent. The first verses of Joshua establish continuity in the handover of leadership from Moses to Joshua. Verse 1 describes Joshua as the son of Nun, confirming that this is the same Joshua who is described as Moses’ assistant throughout Deuteronomy.
The Lord speaks to all His people (2–4) to establish Joshua as the new leader who would lead them into the land that He was giving them. Look at verse 4 to see the area that this land would cover.
In verses 5–9 the Lord speaks to Joshua. Imagine how Joshua felt about the job the Lord gave him. Three times He tells Joshua ‘Be strong and courageous’ (6, 7, 9). How might this promise have helped him? Verses 7 and 8 remind Joshua that the courage he needs is a gift from the Lord but in order to receive it he needs to play his part: he needs to obey the Law the Lord gave to Moses, without being distracted to the left or the right.
Apply
The Lord spoke it to Joshua, but He speaks it to us as well, ‘Be strong and courageous’ (6, 7, 9). Is there a situation in which God has called you to be strong and courageous? Take heart in Him today.
Closing prayer
God, I pray for the Christian leaders I know. I pray that they will root themselves in Your Word without diverting left or right.
Book and Author Intros
Extras
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.