Backpacking Through Joshua Week One

Backpacking Through Joshua Week One

I found out about this online Bible study through this blog. This was something completely new to me and I was intrigued. I also knew, honestly, that I needed some kind of accountability when doing a Bible study.

So, this is week one and the first chapter of Joshua was the assigned reading. You know, the chapter of “be strong and courageous”.

Strong—a word with many, many definitions-- physically powerful; in a healthy and sound condition; performing well or in a normal manner; morally powerful, having strength of character or will. And, courageous (or courage for dictionary purposes)--the attitude of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult, or painful, instead of withdrawing from it.

Moses was gone; God had raised Joshua up as the new leader and had, again, reminded them of His promise to give the Israelites a vast expanse of land. I can only imagine that Joshua was, shall we say, a bit nervous!

God did tell Joshua 4 times to be strong and courageous but you know what stood out to me most? In verse 5 before God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous for the first time, He says, “ Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”

Joshua's strength and courage doesn't rest with him. He could have been physically strong or a weakling. He could have been the most courageous man in all of Israel or he could have been afraid of his own shadow. I don't think it really mattered because it was God. The God who had promised this land to Abraham so many years before and had taken both sides of the covenant upon Himself (Genesis 15). The God who was faithful to the Israelites when they were anything but faithful to Him.

That God.

Reading through this reminded me, again, how very glad I am that I don't depend on my own strength. Oh, there have been times when I have been tempted to believe my own press and think that I was strong and that I handle things well. Whatever strength or courage I may have on any given day is in no way reflective of anything in and of me.

Heck, in my own strength I don't have the strength to stay away from chocolate or the courage to kill a spider! :)

In the big things of life and the small things—sometimes most especially in the small things (because, you see, those little things are the ones that trip me up most), I need to be reminded often that my strength isn't my own.

So, I am looking forward to this study, re-reading Joshua and learning (and knowing me relearning) some truths. I'm looking forward to seeing what other people glean from this and getting to know some online friends!