Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

Three times in Joshua chapter 1 — the Lord commands Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Moses – the only leader the people of Israel had ever known, was dead. Now God is calling Joshua to lead a rag tag group of nomads across enemy lines and into the promises of God.

Reading the text, its easy to imagine Joshua as strong.
After all, 40 years earlier, he was one of the original elite spies who went into the Promised Land to check it out. While most doubted — Joshua and his friend Caleb believed they could take the land.

Time has passed now though, and he isn’t so young anymore. Israel as a people have had 40 years to swell in numbers. The previous generation has passed away, and this generation has never known anything but wandering. Joshua is supposed to lead an inexperienced army into some serious battles in pursuit of the promises of God.

Joshua might be a faithful guy — but he didn’t necessarily have what it took to lead these people into the promised land. Not to mention God’s people had a bit of a reputation for being difficult to work with.

God isn’t telling Joshua to strengthen himself or “man up”.
God is inviting Joshua to walk securely in the reality of His commandment, and of His presence.

That phrase “be strong” literally means “to fasten upon”.

Imagine in your mind a rock climber that is securely fastened with a rope to an anchor in the rock above. That’s the strength that God is bringing to Joshua’s attention.
Joshua can be strong, because he can fasten himself to the commandment of the Lord.
If God commanded Joshua to do it — He can be strong and confident, being anchored to the words of God.

But more than that — Joshua could fasten himself to the reality that God promised to be with him wherever he went.

Joshua might not be as young as he used to, and he might have a questionable fighting force — but if the Lord had commanded him and promised to be with him — he could fasten himself securely to those facts.

What about you?

What has the Lord spoken over your life? What has He promised in His word?

You might be feeling pretty weak — but you can be strong and courageous as you fasten yourself to the secure rock of the promises and the presence of God.

Like Joshua — you and I are invited to step into the reality of both His promise, and His presence.