Teaching Notes

Then Moses summoned Joshua. He said to him with all Israel watching, "Be strong. Take courage. You will enter the land with this people, this land that God promised their ancestors that he'd give them. You will make them the proud possessors of it. God is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you. Don't be intimidated. Don't worry." - Deuteronomy 31:7-7 (The Message)

Why Worry? God's in control.

Moses was not going to go into the promised land with the children of Israel and Joshua was going to be the new leader after Moses. Moses brought Joshua to him with all the people watching and encouraged him in front of them.

I believe this was also done to dispel any doubt who the new leader was going to be. His words to him is be strong and take courage. Why could Joshua take courage and in what?

Joshua could be strong because God was going to be his strength. He could take courage because God was with him and so that courage would be vested in God. Moses tells Joshua that God will give to him the new land and that he will not leave him. He tells Joshua you do not have to be worried or intimated by those that you will face as you go into possess this land.

What is this scripture trying to tell us today? As an adult I could easily say, your young, you do not have any worries, but that would not be true. Everyone has something they are facing whether they are young or old. So this scripture is valuable for the young as well as the old. The scripture is to encourage us that we have God with us as we go in and possess (take ownership) of those things he has for us. Joshua was going to be met with resistance because what he was given, somebody else was already living in.

In your life, sometimes it seems that if God has promises you something it shouldn't be so hard, it should come easily but it doesn't. This scripture should remind you to have courage and continue to trust God. He will help you fight whatever battle or forces that try to stand in the way of you becoming what God wants you to become. He will fight the battles against your enemies that want to keep you from possessing your land. That greatest enemy is Satan, the enemy of your soul. He doesn't want you to be what God wants you to be.

Yet, we can take this encouragement that Moses gave to Joshua. We can be encouraged because God is in control. If you have ever read the story about Joshua, you see he won many battles. The only ones that he lost were the ones that he did not listen or follow God. We can win the battles in our lives if we trust God and listen to his direction.

How do you hear his direction? The first way is to read his word. The word of God helps the believer to know what is the will of God. Prayer is also important on this journey to possess the place God has for you. You cannot make it to that place without prayer and the word of God. Never believe that being "good" is all it takes to win this battle.

This week as you read this scripture answer a few question for yourself:

1. Why do you think Joshua needed to be encouraged? (For that matter why do we need to be encouraged)

2. What do you think it means, God is striding ahead of you?

3. Has God ever let you down?

4. How does it make you feel to know that God is with you all the time?

5. If God is with you and you do not have to worry, why do you think we become afraid at times?

Prayer: Lord help us this week to see that you have given us the victory in our lives and we must solely trust in you. Help us to let go of any worry and when it comes against us, help us to release it back to you. This is our prayer this week, to trust more in your promises.

(Next week, I'll answer the questions).