Be Strong and Go!
The LORD will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ~ Deuteronomy 31:5-7 (New International Version)Moses is preparing the Israelites for leadership change. He has led the people and now he is 120 years old. He tells them that he will not be going with them, but for them to have courage and not be afraid because God was going to go with them.
Moses is giving the people the instructions to go forward and take the land that the Lord has for them. Now this land is not empty. There are other people living there, but God promises them that if they follow him, he will give it to them. If you read this entire chapter you will see that God also knows that the people will rebel and not do all that they are told to do. Yet, God still encourages Joshua to be strong and go.
What's the lesson for us today? God has some things that he has especially for you. He is encouraging you not to be afraid of what the road to the land looks like, but to go. God wants his children to go and conquer the places he has set aside for each one of us. We cannot look at what's standing in the way of us receiving our land (just like the Israelites could not look at the people already possessing the land and let that keep them from receiving what God had for them).
What is the land God has for you? The first land is one of safety. God desires that you know him and have an intimate relationship with him. You can only do that through the acceptance of salvation as offered by his Son. The next land he has for you is one of purpose. God desires you to seek him so that you can find what he has for your life that will glorify him before others.
Today, I want to encourage someone to be strong and go. Go and find what God has for your life. Do not be afraid of the battle. It seems hard, and it might even look like you might lose. However, God promises that he will accompany us on our journey and that he will help us in our times of need.
Prayer: Lord help us your children to hear your message of courage and of sending. You are sending your children into some places that you said are ours but fear, not knowing what we will face and lack of faith keeps us from receiving what you have. Help us today so that we do not miss your blessings for our lives. This we ask in Jesus name, Amen.
