By Tawna Wilkinson
During my most recent visit in this passage of Scripture, the
timing of the command jumped out at me. That prior to Joshua chapter one, the
phrase had only been given twice: The first being, when the twelve were sent to
spy out the Promised Land, Moses simply commanded them to, “Be of good courage." (Numbers 13:20)
And the second was in his last words prior to his death, as the
children of Israel were preparing to enter the Land. There Moses repeated it three
times, and added the words: “Be strong.”
(Deuteronomy 31)
(Deuteronomy 31)
Then, in Joshua chapter one, while on the verge of
possessing the Land, the Lord reiterated it to Joshua – again, three times.
It got me thinking. Why would God save this specific command
for the Promised Land? Why would the children of Israel need to present this
kind of muster?
God promised He would give it to them, already rife with
everything they would need, or want. And not only would it be given, but He
promised after they were there, He would be with them, prepare their way, and
give them instruction as to how to they were to proceed.
So why be so emphatic
regarding strength and courage?
For one, there were giants. Real giants. And those giants,
along with the other people groups, being heavily armed, weren’t going to
simply hand their properties over without a fight. And two, the cities were seriously
fortified, having thick impenetrable walls. Like Jericho, the city they would first
encounter. Its walls were said to be 25 feet tall and 10 feet deep.
Those two reasons alone were enough for God to have to rally
them with the command.
However, I believe He saved this particular charge for a deeper
purpose. Although He would keep His promise of giving them the Land, His modus
operandi of giving was not theirs. They
had an important part to play in the conquest.
After hearing His instruction, the children of Israel were
to carry out every detail precisely as God said – such as silently marching around
the 25 foot walled Jericho for a week, then yelling and blowing trumpets on the
last day.
Then there was the time He gave the order to simply sing and praise Him, while standing by and watching, three allied forces annihilate themselves instead of attacking Israel as threatened.
Or another time, while being thoroughly outnumbered, again, He commanded them to merely break a bunch of clay pitchers and do some more hollering.
Or another time, while being thoroughly outnumbered, again, He commanded them to merely break a bunch of clay pitchers and do some more hollering.
Or, and in my opinion, this being the crème-de-la-crème: on
more than one occasion, God charged them to obtain favor from their enemies by
“just” praying.
No wonder He saved, and repeated: “Be strong and of good courage.”
But what’s that got to do with us now?
The truth is God has given each of us a “Promised Land” –
individually and collectively. And just because we don’t see the giants and
fortified places with our physical eyes, does not mean they are any less real, dangerous, or formidable. Scripture speaks of us wrestling with evil and
powerful forces. And it states clearly, the devil is like a roaring lion and
thief desiring to devour, rob and destroy the abundant life God promised.
But again, I believe God gives us the charge today, for the same
deeper purpose He did Israel. Although the Land’s been given, God’s method of
giving is not ours. We have an
important part to play in the conquest, as well.
We also are to listen to God’s instruction then carry out every detail
precisely as He says. And it may well be things like: silently marching, or breaking
a bunch of pitchers, or singing and praising, then standing still and watching;
or dare I say, “just” pray?
With commands like these and engaging an enemy we cannot
see, it's no wonder we will have to present the same kind of muster.
So, “Be strong and of good courage.”
Oh yeah, and “… do not
be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Good words then. Good words now.
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