Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
The promise given to Joshua from God in this verse of Scripture was primarily specific to Joshua's role after Moses's death. Joshua had an enormous and incredible task to undertake after Moses had died, not being allowed to enter the Promised Land. Moses had disobeyed God and taken on credit and responsibility to himself that should have gone to God. God called Joshua to lead the Children of Israel into the land promised to their forefather Abraham many years before. The words from God served to encourage and bolster Joshua as the newly appointed leader of God's people.
However, although the promise that God would always be with Joshua
was specific to Joshua, we have the same guarantee today from God, He will
never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6). God's heart desire
is for all of His people, then, now, and for all time to live lives of strength
and courage through our faith in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus (2 Timothy
1:7). When Jesus ascended back to heaven at the close of His earthly ministry,
He told His followers that day, and all that would follow Him forever, that
there would be power from above coming to all through the indwelling of God's
Holy Spirit. This power would be bestowed on all followers and believers in
Christ Jesus so that we can carry the good news of His gospel to the ends of
the earth.
In addition to the calling for all that follow and believe in
Christ Jesus to live with boldness and courage, God calls on us to live without
fear (Matthew 10:28; John 14:27; Psalm 23:4). Paul showed this great courage
through faith in Christ Jesus when he faced prison, torture, and sometimes even
threats of death (2 Corinthians 11:23-27; Acts 21:30-31). Although there is a
beckoning in Scripture that we are to fear God, which means we are to live in
respect and reverence to Him, the Word of God is very clear as to the fact that
we should live with confidence, faith, and trust in the promise and power of
Almighty God.
We will always have dark valleys that we must walk through, rocky
roads that will shake us to our very core, and rough seas that might seem like
the waters of defeat and discouragement are about to sink our boat. But,
although these trials and tribulations will never cease as long as day and
night continue, there is one thing for certain and that is we will never
experience any of these dark days alone because God will never leave or forsake
us.
Although this verse of Scripture was specifically for Joshua, the wellspring of this promise is affirmed throughout the Holy Word of God. It applies to all that follow and believe in Christ Jesus and place their faith and trust in Him. As God's children, He calls us to live with courage, knowing that He is with us at all times. Since He is for us, nothing or no one can come against us (Romans 8:31-39).
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