Go and Tell
September 5, 2021
Joshua 1:9 and Matthew 28:1-10
Was Joshua hard of hearing? The Lord reminded him three times to be “strong and courageous”! The Hebrew word for “strong” refers to “sound legs,” while the one for “courage” refers to “having a secure grasp.” The point is clear: God was telling Joshua that his success as a leader depended on whether he could stand strong and hold on tightly! Joshua had already experienced situations in which he was forced to take a strong stand in the face of opposition. For instance, when the Israelites were poised to enter Canaan 40 years earlier, Joshua had been one of only two men who insisted that the nation should move forward under God’s power (Num. 13:1-14:45). What was Joshua to keep a “secure grasp” on? God’s plans, purposes, and values as found in the “Book of the Law” (Josh. 1:8). Joshua’s example urges believers to consider: What do we stand for—and on? What are we holding onto with a secure grasp?
