Hi Folks!
In line with our theme for the upcoming Celebration event, I thought we should talk about the theme verse, as it is a good one! Not that the other Bible verses aren’t good!
Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua had just been handed the reigns after Moses died. God, reassuring Joshua, actually tells him THREE TIMES in this passage “Be strong and of good courage”. And twice He tells Joshua that He will be with him.
When God tells us something, we need to listen. When it is repeated, it’s really important. But according to the Hebraic writing style, something repeated three times is incredibly significant, and when it is repeated exactly the same three times, it is rare (like Isaiah 6:3 “Holy, holy, holy”). In this case, God obviously knew that Joshua was going to need strength and courage, and was going to need to know that God was with him. Moses had brought the people to the promised land, but Joshua, the last of the ‘old guard’ had to lead them into the promise.
The future is uncertain. We don’t know what is coming. Joshua didn’t know how it would play out. Yes, God promised that he would take the land, that he would conquer, that he would eventually divide the land amongst the people. However, Joshua didn’t always have victory! After a supernatural (and terrifying) obliteration of Jericho, the Israelites were soundly beaten by Ai. Not AI. Maybe a prophetic warning perhaps? But can you imagine Joshua in that moment? The frustration, the heartache, the disappointment… And in that moment (we’ll talk about the cause in a moment), God says to Joshua “’Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.’” (Joshua 8:1). Almost like a reminder of his commissioning… Be Strong (not afraid) and be Courageous (not dismayed or discouraged). “Remember what I told you when we started this journey – I will be with you, I won’t forsake you. Be strong and courageous – I’ve got this.”
Some of you (if it is students reading this) are finishing this year. WOOHOO! Finally, no more PACEs! I mean, oh no! No more PACEs :’(
You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. You don’t know what is beyond that open door, and are too afraid to step through. But like God said to Joshua, on the brink of taking Israel into their new season, God is saying to you “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Whether you have your whole career mapped out, or whether you struggle to know what colour shirt to wear tomorrow. Whether you know 100% what God has called you to, or whether you just hear crickets, and wonder if God has forgotten about you. God will be with you.
When I finished home schooling, I had a plan. I wanted to come and work for SCEE (Accelerate) for a year or two, then go to teachers college so I could go and work in an A.C.E. school. I wanted to be in a Christian band. I moved to Australia, and got a girlfriend. But God had other plans… He wanted me to be a preacher, not a teacher. He wanted me to stay with Accelerate (19 years this year). He had a much better wife in store for me than I could ever imagine. I did get to be in a band for a short time with another A.C.E. graduate, but I feel more like that was a reward that the career path that I wanted as a teenager. I also do very much love playing my bass and singing in church, but it’s only a small part of my ministry.
We simply don’t know. But God does. And there is a condition… we MUST stay in touch with God’s Word. Verses 7 & 8 talk about the Law of Moses that had been handed to him – if he followed it, then he would prosper in the Presence of God. It is the same for us. When we stay in the presence, when we are connected with the Word of God, as well as spending time in prayer and study, then we prosper and succeed, within His calling. We can rely on Him to grant us strength and courage to face any battle – even the ones that are not our doing.
Whatever next year holds for you – parents, graduates, children moving up a year, those starting ABCs – “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
God Bless!
Ps. Karl
