Verse Of The Week for July 6 - July 12

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

- Joshua 1:9

What a tremendous word from the Lord unto Joshua. Joshua had just been commissioned to fill some very big shoes. Moses, who had led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, had died. Now Joshua has been chosen by the Lord to carry on with leading the children of Israel into the promised land. The Lord gave to Joshua instructions that would strengthen him for the task before him. The journey would not be easy. There would be many obstacles that would have to be overcome. However the Lord promised Joshua that just like He had been with Moses He would be with him. He wouldn’t fail him nor forsake him. (Josh. 1:5.) The Lord challenged Joshua to be strong and of a good courage.

Boy can we learn some things out of the Book of Joshua that will be a great benefit to us in our daily walk with the Lord. With the Lord on our side we really don’t have anything to worry about! He then tells Joshua not to be dismayed. In the original Hebrew language, the word dismayed means, to be broken or cast down. When we see trouble on the horizon, we can become fearful or anxious. The Lord is instructing Joshua not to become fearful, broken, cast down at the prospect of trouble. The Lord assured Joshua, that He, the Lord thy God is with him no matter where he goes. Wherever Joshua went, the Lord promised him that He would be with him. I pray that we all realize that each of us that are truly born again, have the same promise. In Hebrews 13:5 He tells us, “ Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” What a tremendous Word from the Lord to each and every one of His children!