The opening of Joshua isn’t the most glamorous of stories as it begins with the recap of the death of Moses. But that back-story certainly creates a link between the Books of Moses (The Pentateuch) and the book of Joshua, as the LORD instructs Joshua (Moses’ assistant) to then take the Israelites into the Promise Land.

“ arise, go over this Jordan you and all this people into the Land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel” (Verse 2)

Now, this is no simple task for Joshua. Moses for the past 40-years has been leading the Israelites. He led them out of Egypt, through the Midinite desert with the goal to get them into the promise land. And now with him gone it is the task of Joshua to finish the job that Moses started and bring the Hebrew people into the Promise Land.

Therefore, the LORD tells Joshua “Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with 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.” (Verse 5,7, 9)

Again, the LORD points back to faith. It is easy to be strong and courageous when you have complete faith in God. However, when you don’t you begin to fear man, to fear Satan and to fear the future. Just as in our life, God is telling Joshua that he will be with them no matter what circumstances they are put in, Joshua has the assurance that God will always be present.

There are times as believers that we don’t see God in all aspects of our life. We see death, sin, and crime and automatically assume God had no part of it. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. God is always behind everything of this world, weaving in struggles and failures into our lives for his best possible outcome.

“Whatever the Lord pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” (Psalms 135:6

Therefore, no matter how daunting the task/situation, God wants you to be strong and courageous in him. Know that whatever he pleases he does and that he has his hand behind everything. You can rest in his assurances and be strong and courageous throughout your days because of your faith in him.

His Humbled Servant,

W.H. Carston