Joshua 1-4 Be Strong!

Tonight, I read about Joshua’s beginnings as the leader of Israel. God gave him a huge responsibility-and expected him to handle it. Joshua must have been freaked out! Talk about responsibility-God was actually calling him to lead his own, chosen people.

Joshua was up against so much more than he could handle…way more than he could handle!

I remember feeling so terrified before my first day as an RA. I remember waking up in the middle of the night wondering how in the world I had been chosen for that position. For weeks I wondered why someone had been crazy enough to choose me…sometimes I still wonder.

I can’t imagine how Joshua must of felt. He was literally put in charge of tens of thousands of people. He was asked to communicate God’s message back to them…to be the voice of God I their lives-To show them the path of God and to lead them into the Promised Land.

What I love about God in this passage is the fact that he gets the fact that Joshua is afraid. He understands it, and he doesn’t tell Joshua that he is stupid for worrying. He simply says…

Be strong, be courageous, do not be afraid, because I am with you!

He makes it clear to Joshua that he does not have to be aftaid, because God had no intention of leaving him alone. Joshua could not handle that kind of job on his own, but God could and would…through Joshua.