Be Strong and Courageous

                   In Joshua 1, Moses the great leader whom God used to free the Israelites from Egyptian slavery has just died. As you read through the journey of Moses as he leads the Israelites it really does not sound like the Israelites really like him or respect him because every time after God has done something great it is only a few verses later that we find the Israelites complaining to Moses, blaming him for bringing them out into the desert to die, or worse as they break off to follow other gods.

Even if they did not like Moses, they knew, they saw how God’s power and glory flowed through him. God used Moses in mighty and incredible ways. And now God has appointed Joshua as the next leader of the Israelites. He has huge shoes to fill and seemingly unattainable goals and roles that he is expected to fulfill as the new leader.

Sometimes that is how I feel in this whole “growing-up” process. It seems like everyone has their own ideas and expectations of what is suppose to happen when you grow up. They say that you should attend college, graduate college, get married, and it seems impossible for me to fulfill any of them. I often fill constricted and consumed with worry and stress as I attempt to fulfill as many of those expectations that I can but I also feel like I end up not measuring up. These same thoughts had to have entered Joshua's mind as he began as the new leader. He was not going to be able to do what Moses did because he wasn't Moses. This is the same for me today, because I am not my older sister. I am not my friend. I am me. 

In the first chapter of Joshua, God is commissioning Joshua as the next leader of the Israelites. Three times God tells Joshua to "be strong and courageous." At the end of the first chapter, the leaders of the Israelites also tell Joshua to "be strong and courageous." God did not tell Joshua to "be strong and lead like Moses." The Israelites didn't even tell Joshua to "be strong and lead like Moses." Joshua was commissioned and anointed to lead the Israelites like God created him to lead. He was told to not become stressed or worried about leading or doing things just like Moses did, but to "be strong and courageous" as he lead as God equipped him and told him how to lead.

I need this reminder. I need the reminder to live my life as God has created me and called me. I need the reminder that I do not have to try to fulfill the expectations and ideals of the world, but that I need to boldly follow God and live the life that He has created me to live. I need the reminder to “be bold and courageous” in a scary and intimidating world.

Joshua 1:9

“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.”