THURSDAY
Remember our phrase for the week is, “May God strengthen you.” Today I want to look at an example of encouragement from the Old Testament.
To make a long story short, God delivers the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt through Moses. God promised them a land of their own. Before they arrived in the land, however, they wandered in the wilderness for a long time. Moses had led the people out of Egypt, but he was not to lead the people into the promised land. This task would fall to Moses’ apprentice, Joshua. When Joshua first enters into the land, leading the people of Israel, he declares the famous verse that I memorized and often quote.
Joshua 1:9 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
If we were to rewind the story a little bit, we would find Moses saying very similar words to Joshua when he commissions him to take his place.
Deuteronomy 31:7–8 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Again, we see Moses saying to Joshua, at his commissioning, the same thing Joshua says to the people. “Be strong and courageous.” “Do not fear or be dismayed.” “The Lord is with you.”
If we were to rewind further, we find these words are the result of God’s charge to Moses:
Deuteronomy 3:28 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’
So, these famous words, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” originated as an encouragement that Moses gave to his apprentice, Joshua. These words not only strengthened Joshua to do what the Lord had called him to do, but they also strengthened the people of Israel as Joshua repeated them to the people. The encouragement, however, doesn’t stop there. These words of encouragement have strengthened God’s people for centuries, even up to today. Many of you reading this may even have these words hanging up in your house as wall art.
Reflection
Consider the words of encouragement that have been spoken over you. How have they strengthened you in your faith and how have you taken them and strengthened others, as well?
Consider how you have spoken words of encouragement over others. How have you seen them strengthened by your words?