throw away your box

Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moses the Lords servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant. He said, 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them. 3 I promise you what I promised Moses: 'Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— 4 from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea* in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.' 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

  6 "Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I think God wanted Joshua to "be strong & courageous" - He said it to him 3 times.

What would you think, or think you ought to be & do, if within a short space of time the God of the universes said specifically & emphatically to "be strong & courageous"?

I cannot imagine what kind of fear Joshua must have face as he took over leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Some scholars believe there could have been as many as 2 million of them. Talk about laundry! ;-)

Joshua also had some pretty compelling challenges as he led them into Canaan. They had to conquer a land filled with well equipped, well organized enemies.

But we know the Lord came through in power, might, & fulfilled promises, & they went to their destiny in Him.


Isn't God saying the same thing to us? It may be to "be strong & courageous" & be salt & light in a workplace that is filled with darkness.

It may be to "be strong & courageous" in a family that is dysfunctional or abusive.

It may be to "be strong & courageous" & throw away your box & simply follow Him wherever He leads you - which could mean living where you are & loving as He loves, or going to another part of town, another area of the state (like moving to Blairsville!), or another country, or the other side of the world.

Why can we throw away our boxes?

Because "the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go".

So...

Go!

Be strong & courageous!

Do not be afraid or discouraged

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.