Today is day 20 of the #iheartBible challenge that I’m hosting. If you have joined up, hooray! I’m glad you’re here. If you want to join up, then awesomesauce! Check out the challenge post for details and join in on the linky so we can all read one another’s posts during the challenge. I love Jesus and blogging, so I’m glad to see people joining in. We’d love to have you join, too. It’s never too late!
Today’s verse is Joshua 1.9. Read it below in its context (Why do I care about context?):
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
This verse encourages its listener to be strong and courageous–that the Lord will be with them wherever they go. I’m noticing a theme in this blog challenge. You?
Who is the speaker? God.
Who is the audience? Joshua, as soon as he began leading Israel at the death of Moses.
I think it’s interesting that we see another example of God encouraging courage; in this case, the person is stepping up to a huge role–filling some pretty big shoes. And he has a lot of responsibility. In fact, in the context of this verse, God encourages Joshua to be courageous two other times. He’s instructing Joshua to stay the course and to follow His laws. Along with this encouragement, He promises success and prosperity.
Sometimes, I need the same reminder Joshua was given.
Be strong,
