Today’s verse is almost a continuation of yesterday’s from Deuteronomy. Today, we read from JOSHUA 1:9~

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

NIV

Although the words are similar, the context in this verse is different from yesterday. This verse is God talking to Joshua.

Yesterday, we discussed that God had told Moses that he (Moses) would not be accompanying the Israelites into the Promised Land…therefore their fear was directed at the unknown future in a new place without their trusted leader.

Therefore, the beginning of the book of Joshua is the telling of the death of Moses.

Not only would Moses not lead them into the Promised Land, but he has now also died.

Joshua has been Moses’s understudy for all these forty years as they wandered through the wilderness outside the territory of the land promised to them.

Joshua knew Moses and knew God. Moses had commissioned Joshua as the new leader of the people in front of the people. The people knew, and Joshua knew, that he (Joshua) was chosen by God to step into this position that he had been training for.

In Joshua 1:5 God very clearly tells Joshua that “as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

Joshua is now the leader of over 2 million people.

Joshua is also deeply grieving the death of his leader, mentor, and friend.

The people are deeply grieving the death of Moses.

The people are also on the cusp of a take-over of an occupied land that they believe God has promised to them …those living in that territory do not agree.

Joshua is in serious need of encouragement.

Let’s read the verse again…

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where you will go.

NIV

What words or phrases stand out?

#1 The emphasis on have I not commanded you: God is reminding Joshua of what He had already said.

As a parent, I find I say “didn’t I already tell you that??” “Remember when I told you this?”

Sometimes I need to be reminded of what I was already told…that what I am currently hearing is not something new.

#2 The same words Moses spoke are the same words spoken here by God: Be strong and courageous.

Isn’t it reassuring when we hear someone else speaking in agreement with another you know and trust? Many times we may say “my dad used to say that”….”my doctor told me the same thing”…”I heard my teacher mention that”…

#3 The same encouragement given by Moses is spoken by God – don’t be terrified, don’t be discouraged.

#4 The reason why to not be scared? God will go with you.

Even better than Moses declaring this truth as a comfort for his absence is God telling Joshua that “I will go with you WHEREVER you go”.

It is reassuring for my mother in law for me to tell her that her son will be coming over to help her with something… However, it is a whole other level of comfort for her to hear those words from HIS mouth instead.

What is better?

Moses telling the people and Joshua that God will be going with them?

Or

God Himself telling them so…?

Kind of a no-brainer.

The question now is what does all this mean for ME when I am afraid??

In this circumstance it is important to remember that the task ahead was to do something big and bold, scary and daunting…and they needed to do it while uncertain and grieving.

There are too many times when we need to step forward in faith into an unknown situation…it is so hard….it is even harder when we have no idea what the outcome of that situation will be like.

There are too many times when that step of faith occurs when we are hurting…or because we are hurting.

Circumstances demand action.

Action requires energy.

Energy is not always readily available when the soul is weary.

What do we do?

Do not be terrified or discouraged.

Why?

Because there is nothing you will have to do alone.

You are not alone.

You will never be left alone.

Even when you cannot see another in your line of vision, you are still not alone.

The One who is with you does provide courage.

God is the God who shut the mouths of lions in the den for Daniel.

God is still the God who climbed into the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

God is still the God who released the shackles in the prison while an imprisoned Peter and John worshipped.

I will go with you wherever you will go.

Take comfort in those words.

Define what they mean for you.