Courage

 This week we start worship with:

Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

This is personal.  This is between God and Joshua.  In Hebrew all the words are in their singular form. Nothing is plural.

The command is supported three times by the phrase "Be strong and courageous" (vs 6, 7, and 9).  But that itself is not the command.  The command comes 7 verses earlier:

Joshua 1:2

“Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

Israel had wandered for 40 years, had now lost their leader Moses, and had come to the edge of the Jordan River (Joshua 3).  God's command was to cross it.

Their arrival at this place was not recent.  They had been at this place sufficiently for many to adopt the worship of Baal (Numbers 25:1-9).

And the command did not come "at the perfect time".  The river was at flood stage (Joshua 3:14-15).

Joshua's reaction?  Courage.

Joshua 1:10-11

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

Fortunately this is not the command given to us.  But ours have similar rivers to cross.  Similar comfortable camps to leave.  Fertile ground to capture for him.

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”