7. Only be thou strong, and very courageous, that thou may observe to do all the Law, which my servant Moses commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left, that thou mayest prosper wherever thou goest.
8. This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shall thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success.
9. Have not I commanded thee? be strong, and of a good courage, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee, wherever thou goest.
Joshua chapter 1 is a magnificent new beginning: Moses, God’s chosen leader of His people has died, and God chooses Joshua to succeed him in leading the people to the Promised Land. By verse 7, God is repeating His instructions to be strong and very courageous — going even further, commanding Joshua to not be afraid or dismayed. It’s understandable that Joshua would be overwhelmed at having to fill the shoes of Moses, but why so overcome with fear that God would have to repeat Himself three times?
Certainly, Joshua would have witnessed the rebellion of the Israelites towards Moses. He saw first-hand their disobedience to God, even idolatry in worshipping a golden calf. But he also would have had the privilege of experiencing the miraculous wonders God performed again and again, to gain the trust and obedience of the Hebrews — the plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea then drowning of the Egyptian army in the same sea, manna for food, water from a rock for thirst, and the glory of God descending on Mount Sinai and the tabernacle. He would’ve been privy to hearing God’s voice first-hand, and without a doubt Moses would have shared with him divine instruction only those in the ministry were privy to. So why would God need to repeatedly instruct someone with intimate knowledge of His awesome power and authority, to be strong, courageous, and have no fear?
The journey of the Hebrews reveals profound truths about the human condition, we live with doubts and fears that have been with us since Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. Regardless of whether we view the journey from the perspective of the people, or the ministry, we see stumbling blocks, real and imagined, are a common theme. The Hebrews faced them being led, and Moses and Joshua faced them as leaders — and we face the same mental barriers today. Fear, doubt, insecurity, the weight of responsibility; struggles that aren’t new but are woven into the fabric of fallen humanity.
Today, we are not under the Law of Moses, but we are under God’s Commandments, which produce the same promises from God if we are obedient to Him. Not only did God repeat the instruction to be strong and very courageous, He also repeated the promise of prosperity and success. So why is it that the promises don’t stand out to us, but the instructions do?
Since the fall from grace, humanity has been conditioned to expect and see the worst, while not feeling worthy of God’s best. Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.’ The thief Jesus speaks of is the same devil who stole grace from Adam and Eve, brought death upon them, leading to the destruction of a perfect earth. His strategy remains the same today — his desire is to steal your confidence, kill your courage, and destroy your trust in God’s love for you.
No matter how often scripture reminds us that God has not only forgiven, but forgotten our sins, forgiving and forgetting is a struggle for many. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. These are the attributes God originally gave His children before the fall, and through Jesus Christ, they remain available to us today.
Father God in Heaven, you have blessed me with a Spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. I tend to lose sight of that blessing because the evil is so clear and present in this world. I come before you fallen and humbled, asking that your Spirit strengthens me spiritually, so that I am ever mindful of who I am in Christ Jesus. Keep my soul anchored to your truth, and my courage rooted to the sacrifice of Christ. Amen.