Have I Not Commanded You?

Joshua 1:9 ESV
“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.”

Explaination:
I love the question to Joshua in this verse; “Have I not commanded you? God knew what Joshua was thinking, feeling and what was stopping him from being the best man in charge.

Fear was obviously gripping Joshua, so God said to him in effect, “I told you I got this, trust in Me, lean on Me and stop letting this new role as leader rock your world.” So, God restated His first command to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous…”

This kind of strength and courage doesn’t come from intestinal fortitude, this one comes from the confidence in a mighty God. God told Joshua to not be frightened, don’t be afraid of the things that you are about to go through. Why? Because God told Joshua, “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

It’s like a lady I heard about, who was walking to her car late one night. The lighting was bad in the parking lot. 3 guys stepped out of the shadows and intended to abuse this lady, but as they approached her, they stopped. Their eyes got big, they looked afraid and turned and ran away.

They caught one of the guys and asked him why they did not carry out their plans against this woman. The guy said, “as we approached her, we saw this 10ft warrior looking guy, armor and all, standing behind her, and he had a sword in his hand that looked like it was 6 foot long.

In 2 Kings 19, just one warring angel killed 185,000 men of the apposing army that came against Israel. Joshua was told that God personally would be with him. If God was with him, what was there to be afraid of? If God is for you, who can be against you?

Prayer:
Lord, with You I can run through a troop and leap over a wall. With You by my side I can do anything!!! In Your name Lord, Amen!