BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE

I emailed a friend today to find out how he was doing. In my email I encouraged him to be strong and of a good courage. I did it in a couple of lines but because of these times that we find ourselves I think it would be good to expound on “be strong and of good courage.”

BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE
I emailed a friend today to find out how he was doing. In my email I encouraged him to be strong and of a good courage. I did it in a couple of lines but because of these times that we find ourselves I think it would be good to expound on “be strong and of good courage.”
The term is used when God told Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land.
Moses had just died and Israel had gone through a period of mourning for Moses. All of the responsibilities that Moses had shouldered during the many years that Israel wandered in the wilderness fell on the shoulders of Joshua. This responsibility included Walking and talking with God, leading millions of people into hostile territory and warring with those inhabitants. Not only did Joshua have those responsibilities but he had to make sure that the Children of Israel walked in the statutes and commandments of God. All of this and God says to Joshua be strong and of a good courage. He, also, tells Joshua that he will always be with him and that He will never leave him or forsake him.
Joshua 1: 7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.
10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
11 In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.
Josh 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt 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 whithersoever thou goest.
In verses 6, 7 and 9 God admonishes Joshua to be strong and courageous. Three times! God seldom repeats Himself but here He says it three times! If you follow the record of Joshua and the Children of Israel, while Joshua was alive, you will see that Joshua was strong and courageous, the Children of Israel did keep the statutes and commandments of God and God was with them and took care of them. So now, what does that have to do with us today?
Today we have much more than what Joshua had. Joshua was a servant. We are God’s children. Joshua was to go in and possess land. For us this World is not our home we are seated in the heavenlies already. Israel was under the Mosaic Law. We are freed from the law of sin and death.
What we share with Joshua and Israel is that we too, are sons of Abraham.
Romans 4: 16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
This is one small verse out of a larger context that shows that we by believing became the children of Abraham.
Galatians 3: 6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Galatians 3: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Israel was blessed because they were the off spring of Abraham (by the flesh). We are blessed and the off spring of Abraham because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. We have all the promises of protection and the security and health and having our needs met that God gave to Abraham and consequently to his progeny, Israel.
The one thing that we have to do just as Joshua did is be strong and of good courage. Do not look at the circumstances look at the promises of God for he has numbered the hairs on you head and is closer than your very breath. God is still on the throne and is still able to do abundantly above all that can ask or think. All we have to do is know the Word of God (the Bible) where in are those promises to us and then claim them. Watch God work in your life and bless you abundantly.