At the end of the book of Exodus, Moses had passed away. Joshua was then named by God to lead the people of Israel into the promised land. In chapter 1 of Joshua, God encouraged Joshua with these words from verse 5. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. God encouraged him to have strength and courage. He also told Joshua, “you can be successful in everything you do.”
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Joshua 1:7
Success that is recognized by the Lord isn’t a product of our personality or charisma. God reminded Joshua that his success wasn’t lying in some great inner strength he had. Nor did it rely on a vast supply of resources. No, his success rested solely on his obedience to God.
The Lord didn’t expect Joshua to cross over the Jordan or conquer the new land in his own abilities. Those successes would only come by walking in faith and obedience to God’s Word.
Do You Want to Be Successful?
The Lord reemphasized in verse 8 the importance of our knowing His Word if we want to prosper and succeed.
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8
Did you notice why the Lord wanted Joshua to meditate on His word day and night? So he was sure he wasn’t allowing any distractions to hinder his obeying it at all. We must let God’s Word sink into our minds and our thoughts as well.
When we look at verse 9, the Lord told Joshua for the third time to be strong and courageous. God encouraged Joshua the first time in verse 6.
Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people. Joshua 1:6
The second time, in our verse for today. He says Be strong and very courageous as He is telling Joshua how to succeed. The third time this phrase becomes a command. “This is my command—be strong and courageous!
God’s Command!
Why would God make this into a command? Because as His children, the Lord wants you and me to be successful in everything we do. And that can’t happen if we are wimpy Christians.
The great thing about this strength and courage is, we can’t muster them up in ourselves. But however, God supplies them. In Phillippians 4 it says,
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Joshua 4:13
Therefore He is not commanding us to do something that’s impossible for us to do. The rest of verse 9 says,
Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
Wow, strength, courage, and being in the presence of God. That is my definition of being successful!
Lord, we are living in uncertain days, help us to trust you to give us strength and courage. Encourage us to get into your Word so we can be successful. Thank you that you are with us wherever we go.
Check out the entire chapter of Joshua 1
A related post is available called How to Stay Motivated to Read and Investigate God’s Word
You would enjoy reading the cornerstone post on discipleship called How To Be An Effective Devoted Disciple Of Jesus
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