Be Strong and Courageous

Bulletin

Dan Peters
03/02/25 - Attitude

Who can lead about 2 million people into the promise land? Every man must lead his family. Moses told all the Israelites, “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Then Moses called his aide, his servant and younger friend and said to him before this crowd, “Then Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “ Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. (31:7).
Shortly after that, the LORD God himself says to Joshua personally, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:6-7).
Finally, after Moses, and the LORD, the men themselves under Joshua’s command say again to him, “only be strong and courageous.” (Josh. 1:18).
Moses told him, the LORD told him, and the men under his command told him “be strong and courageous”. Joshua will become one of the greatest leaders of all time, because he followed what the LORD his God said.
Next when they go down into the Jordan River, God said to Joshua, “Now the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you.” (Josh. 3:7). Just as they went into the Red Sea through the waters on the right and left, but walked on dry land, so now Joshua and his followers pass through the waters of Jordan, on dry land. The waters were separated.
It was at the very same waters of the Jordan where Jesus was baptized, and the LORD exalted Jesus above the crowds, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. (Mat. 3:16-17). Jesus now commands everyone to be baptized and follow his teaching. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:19-20). When you come to church, we all encourage you to be “strong and courageous”. Let us all follow the greatest leader of all time into his promise land. Dan Peters