“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” — Joshua 1:6
Becoming the captain or the coach of a national sports team can be scary. There are a lot of expectations and a lot of pressure.
Joshua was in a similar situation when he took over the leadership of the Israelites from Moses.
Again and again, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. In Chapter 1, He said that three times. Later, the Israelites echoed those same words to him. Earlier, when Moses gave his farewells before he died, he also said to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.”
You may wonder why he needed to be told so many times. Was Joshua a timid guy? Not as far as I can see. He showed his courage when he gave a different report than the 10 other spies who were sent into Canaan to report on the strength of the enemy. They were all cowering in fear, while he knew that with God’s help it can be done.
But it was 40 years later. They came again to the Jordan River, about to cross into enemy territory. Moses, their leader for the past 40 years, was dead. The task ahead was huge. But God said He would be with Joshua like He was with Moses. And God instructed him through His law. God’s presence and God’s leading is what Joshua needed. God was his strength and his courage.
If God wants you to take the lead, He will be with you. No matter how big and scary the task is, you too can be strong and courageous. You also need to follow God’s leadership and take His Word seriously as you lead.
Take this for yourself today: “I (fill in your own name), will be strong and courageous today because God is with me.”
— Stephan van der Merwe
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