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.” Joshua 1:7-9 (ESV)
Companions,
I remember asking as a boy: Dad how many times are you going to tell me that, to which the usual reply was ‘as many times as it takes’. Some things are important enough to emphasize and repeat to make sure the message sinks in. This was the case with Joshua; Moses was dead and Joshua was in charge. He had already been told to be strong and courageous and now in verse seven to be ‘very courageous’ and in verse nine he was commanded to be ‘strong and courageous’. This phrase is used or referred to at least twenty times in the bible and one would wonder how many times I takes. The LORD is telling us that life is not always going to be a walk in the park and there will be times each of us will have to be ‘brave and courageous’. The good news is that God told Joshua, and likewise to each of us, how we can do that. Our duty is to meditate on God’s scripture and not turn from His directions either to the right or to the left, and He promises that He will be with us to strengthen us wherever we go.
Thank you, LORD, for encouraging us to be courageous and promising us your presence that we may not be frightened or dismayed wherever we may go. Amen.
Jack A. Holloway
Associate Grand Chaplain