Be strong and very courageous - in Him!!

Joshua 1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua 3:15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Joshua 4:24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

Hmmm, I am amazed when I go back and read these accounts in the Old Testament. We may have a faint memory of these stories from our Sunday School days, but, when re-read as an adult, they are so much more real and effective.

God's plan for His Chosen Ones (Israelites -which equals Believers in Christ today) is continuing to be played out here. Moses has died, Joshua chosen as the new leader and the Promised Land is in the process of being given to them.

God says; "Be strong and courageous!" and do what I told you to do.

1. Obey the Law of Moses

2. Do not let the Book of the Law depart from your mouth... meditate on it day and night (hello!!)

3. Have the Ark of the Covenant brought to the waters edge

4. Believe and have the Priests walk into the water

5. Send 40,000 soldiers

Later they became successful. WHY? "...so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God."

Why is America unsuccessful today? We took God out of our nationalistic lives. We took the 'Law of Moses' out of the schools and public places. We made Belief in God, especially through a belief in Jesus Christ, unlawful to profess in government activities (except in the halls of Congress, believe it or not..., but do they Believe?).

We hear alot about 'taking our government back' these days.

Let's start here.......... Believe, meditate on His Word, trust Him......

Be strong and very courageous!!

Amen, love you...

Bill/Dad