Today’s reflection is about the great leader Joshua, who finished guiding the people of Israel to the land promised by God. Obviously it was a great challenge for the leader Joshua, since he faced a very rebellious people, who preferred slavery before the freedom that God offered them, and then a land from which flowed milk and honey.
Let’s read today’s verses, which are found in Joshua chapter 1, verses 1 through 9.
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1: 1-9
Joshua was a man who had already been a leader of the people of Israel, he was very brave. Remember that he and Caleb recognize the promised land and said: “for they are bread for us.” Courage was not what this new leader lacked, but God knew his people, God knew that the people of Israel were rebellious and difficult to guide, and this is why he says: “Be strong and of a good courage”. But then we find something very curious and it is that God himself says: “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
The same God who told him to make an effort also told him that He would be with him and nobody would confront him. Brethren, we must know that God has promised to be with us all the days of our life, but this does not mean that we should remain cross-hands, we should be brave, hard-working, fight for the things that God gives us. Joshua’s work as a leader was not a small thing, but throughout his ministry we realize that God fulfilled his Word in him and that Joshua was always a courageous leader and man.
Dear reader, despite our human weakness, we have been called to be strong in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, to be brave and I assure you that God will always be with us.
