Be Strong and of Good Courage!

Thought for Today - March 28, 2024 

Be Strong and  of Good Courage!

By: Robert A. Searles

God had delivered the children of Israel from their bondage and slavery in Egypt, and brought them miraculously, with the leadership of Moses, across the Red sea into the promised land that he had covenanted  to give to them by his promises delivered to  them through Abraham.

They could have begun to enjoy their inheritance  immediately had they not succumbed to fear brought about by the negative report of the spies that Moses had sent to spy out the challenges that lie before them.  Only two of the twelve  spies (Joshua and Caleb )returned with a positive report that even though the land that God had given them were inhabited by giants in fenced cities, they would be victorious  in their conquest because the LORD God would be with them to fight their battles and grant them victory.

The consequences of their lack of faith and trust in God was that they were compelled to wander aimlessly  in the wilderness for forty years.  All that generation which had crossed the Red Sea perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief.

Not until after the death of Moses, When God placed the command of his people in the hands of Joshua, did the armies of Israel begin  to posses the land. God promised Joshua to be strong and of good courage and he would be with them. 

 “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”  Deut 31: 6

"The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

"And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed." 

"And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel." Deut 31: 3-9

As in that day God delivered Israel from their bondage and slavery, so today Christ has delivered us from the bondage and slavery of sin. Satan would like to have us believe that it is not  so, he was and still is a proud liar from the beginning, and his purpose for us is to steal, kill, and destroy, and to keep us from claiming and enjoying our inheritance in Christ. Right now if we will believe and receive it-that is - the forgiveness and freedom from the bondage and slavery of sin, daily fellowship with Christ through the in dwelling Holy Spirit, and eternal, everlasting life .

We must not be like the children of Israel wandering in  the wilderness of fear and despair.

Christ died for our sins, he was buried and rose again the third day, he showed himself alive by many infallible proofs, his disciples  watched him as he ascended back into heaven where he is now at the right hand of God the Father interceding for each of us. Our salvation is finished. Believe it, by faith receive it, and enter into the promised land of God.

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                                    Psalm 26: 7