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It is late summer afternoon in the park, and we suddenly hear the familiar sound of the Ice Cream truck. Lots of people love Ice Cream. Doesn’t matter who you are, Ice Cream is good.
We see in our book, The Story Bible, that the Children of Israel are preparing to enter the promised land. The Bible describes the promised land as “Flowing with Milk and Honey”. In our time, this is like saying the promised land is flowing with Ice Cream! Kind of makes you want to be in the promised land, right? However, unlike our time, where we can run over to the Ice Cream truck and get our favorite delicious snack, in Joshua’s time there were challenges (and even giants) between the nation of Israel and the promised land.
At this point in the story, Moses has passed away, and Joshua is the new leader. God now needs to provide leadership direction to Joshua. God reminds Joshua to be strong and courageous. Joshua 1:7-9 (NIV) “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
As a leader, Joshua needed to keep his eyes on the Lord, and follow God’s direction: As we read this Bible account, God provided Joshua with a practical template of how to do it. He tells Joshua to:
1. Be strong and courageous
2. Obey His Law
3. Not stray from His Law
4. Meditate on His Law day and night
5. God repeats “Be strong and courageous”
6. Not be afraid
7. Not be discouraged
And we see God’s promises fulfilled:
1. He was prosperous and successful
2. God was with him you wherever he went
As Christians, it is God’s Word that shapes and influences our lives. God’s promise was true for Joshua, and it is true for us.
Be Strong and Courageous, Obey His Word, and God will be with us wherever we go!
We love you
Pastors Willie and Rochelle McIntosh
Do you need Prayer? Reach out to us at [email protected]
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