Strength

Introduction

Transitions are rarely easy even when we want them. You want to leave home and go to school but the transition of dorm life, establishing new friends, not to mention a new education process is a difficult transition. You want to get married, but after the honeymoon, the transition of establishing your new home with a spouse who seems to have their own way of doing things can make the transition difficult. You want a new job but the newness of that job heightens your uncertainty about your abilities and the future.

And then there are those transitions that you didn’t want to happen. The death of someone you dearly loved leads to all kinds of transitions. Getting fired or laid off from a job and being forced to look for new work. The divorce that left you wandering if you are really that unlovable. Such forced transitions leave us filled with doubts and uncertainty.

Look at Deuteronomy 34:10-12. Imagine Joshua. For the last 40 years he has been Moses’ right hand man. He has been with Moses atop Mt. Sinai and he has stood at the door of the tent of meeting whenever Moses went inside. He has led the army before they entered into the promised land. He has been mentored, tutored, and prepared for the role of leader, but he is no Moses. They call the Law the Law of Moses and Joshua, his servant. They don’t say that Joshua is the great prophet. Capable? Yes. Leader? Time will tell. But Moses he isn’t.

It is in that context that we can understand this initial section in Joshua. A text intended to strengthen Joshua can also remind us of God’s strength for our own lives. As we study today, we will be encouraged to focus on God’s promises and our response to those promises.

Promise

After Moses’ death, Israel spent 30 days mourning. It is now time to move. God tells Joshua it is time to go across the Jordan. Joshua must have mixed feelings. Excitement at going into a land that had been talked about for the last 40 years and residual sadness because their great leader isn’t there to lead them. The first thing is that God reminds Joshua that nothing has changed. The promise he made to Moses is still going to be carried out.

The change of leadership doesn’t mean that God has changed his mind about his people or about what he is going to do. The promised land has been promised and God will carry through. But more importantly, God reassures Joshua that just as he was with Moses so he will be with Joshua. Notice how definitive God is: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (v. 5)

Can’t you imagine the thoughts racing through Joshua’s mind? You mean like you were with Moses on Mt. Sinai you will be with me? You mean like you met Moses at the tent of meeting, you will be with me? You mean like you stood with Moses when the people turned against him, you will be with me? And God answers—Yes. I will never leave you or forsake you.

Don’t overlook verse 6: “You will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” This is the fulfillment of a promise made to Abraham 400 years before. The promise was passed to Isaac and then to Jacob and then to the people who left Egypt. Look at Genesis 15:13ff. The promise included a reason for the delay—time for the Amorites to change their ways (v. 16). God is patient. He is compassionate. He punishes when enough time for change has passed. God tells Joshua that the book will help him as a leader. He is to read it, meditate on it, and allow it to guide him as he guides the people. And then in verse 9, God reminds him again that strength and courage belong to Joshua because his presence will be with him.

Where does your strength come from? Spend more time in the book. Genesis through Joshua. Read it. See God’s promises made and their fulfillment. Drill into the Internet. See the timeline for God’s responses for the benefit of his people. Pursue the evidence. And then be strong and full of courage. God is a promise maker and keeper. 400 years passed but the promise is fulfilled. Every generation has been told about the promise and every generation like Abraham looked up into the night sky and asked ‘how long.’ And here on the eastern side of Jordan, God says it’s time.

Application

Joshua would have been a man trying to find his way as leader. To be groomed for a job is one thing, but to do the job especially when your mentor is not around is something quite different. Don’t you know the promise that God would always be with him encouraged him? Don’t you know such a promise provided strength not only at this moment but at other moments as well? Don’t you wish we had such a promise?

Turn to Deuteronomy 31:1-6. Here in a final speech, Moses tells what is going to happen and assures the people that God will be with them. Don’t you know that encouraged them as they prepared to cross the Jordan and to follow their new leader?

Turn to Hebrews 13:5: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” That same promise to Israel standing on the Eastern shore of the Jordan river; that same promise given to Joshua on the eve of his leading Israel into the promised land; has been given to us.

If Joshua gained strength, can’t we? If Joshua was reassured, aren’t we? Just as in Joshua 1 and Hebrews 13, nothing—absolutely nothing—must take God’s place. His presence is always near us.

When we know this promise to be true, then we, like Joshua, have strength and courage to carry on. Joshua had the courage and strength to lead knowing God’s promises were real. Look at verse 9: “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” Terrified and discouraged. You have been there, haven’t you? Joshua’s emotions must have been significant. We don’t say such words to someone unless we sense such things are present. We don’t say to someone who is smiling and celebrating “Don’t be terrified.” There must be something which God saw in the depth of Joshua’s being.

Be strong. Be courageous. I am here. I will always be near. God was looking for Joshua to step up. When the promise is given, then we need to step up as well. We aren’t called to greatness, but we are called to act in courage and with strength. Such doesn’t come from within us, but it comes from the assurance of God’s promises.

God is looking for people of courage who will make a difference for his kingdom. When you are listening to God and properly fearing him, you begin to lose your fear of many other things—including people. You think less of what others think about you and if you please them because you want to be liked. The closer you come to God the less important it is to have the world’s approval.

Where’s your courage to make a difference in your home, community, work, and with friends? God is with you. Have courage. Your strength comes from him.

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