Daily Lesson for May 7, 2018

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from 1 Joshua chapter 1 verses 6 through 9:

6Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. 9I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lordyour God is with you wherever you go.’

“Be strong and courageous.”

Three times Joshua tells this to his people.

Moses has departed. Now they must go one without him. They must cross over the Jordan and go on towards the Promised Land. They will need strength and courage for the days ahead.

Every generation comes to this moment. Our Moses’ depart. Our heroes and parents and parents’ friends grow old and pass away. Suddenly we are the generation now left to wear the mantle. Suddenly it is our task to lead the people towards the Promised Land. 

“Be strong and courageous.”  The words echo down to us through the millennia. We are not to shrink from the days ahead. We are not to shudder or collapse for fear of the world and its evil. We are to take heart and not be afraid. For though Moses may no longer be with us, Moses’ God is. 

Alpha and Omega, “I Am,” is with us. 

So we shall be strong and courageous and not fear for the LORD is with us and our generation also.