Joshua 1:5 “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

Joshua 1:6 “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.”

The book of Joshua and particularly chapter 1 is wonderful for every child of God to read and lay to heart.

Chapter one begins immediately following the death of Moses where God speaks to Joshua, who is Moses’ successor, and who is going to lead this generation of God’s people across the Jordan river into Canaan… the promised land.

… the previous generation has just wandered and wasted and died out over the course of 40 years in the wilderness, but now this next generation has their opportunity to trust God and enter the place where God had wanted to take them all those years ago when he delivered them out of Egypt!

And this is a warning for us. Because yes, God wants to have you… but he doesn’t have to have you. He can and will move right along to the next generation… and the next… until he finally finds a people that will actually trust and obey him. Noone is too important and noone is the exception. It’s not always going to be our time, that’s why today is the day of salvation and following Christ.

There is SO much that could be said and so many wonderful truths to glean from this chapter but the thing that in recent times struck me is the word “courage” which is mentioned 4 times in the first chapter.

3 times God “encourages” Joshua to be courageous and the fourth time Joshua “encourages” the people to be courageous! If you ever get a dose of godly courage it will affect others also!

… with so many mentions of courage, the Bible is telling us that Canaan land is most definitely courage land!

When you’re “encouraging” someone, you’re instilling courage in them to do something. Such a book helps us to take courage in our Christian walk. God is encouraging us all that he can be trusted, but will fear and unbelief rule our hearts instead?

Courage is a quality and virtue that every Christian must have to enter the book of Joshua territory in their personal Christian life.

… it most definitely takes courage to live for God and follow Jesus Christ in this world. And without it we won’t be able to do a thing. Many Christians are cowering in the closet these days when it’s time to come out for Christ!

And this book shows where we can get such a courage from too… because it’s hard to summon something from within that isn’t there… and God doesn’t want us to look to ourselves… but unto him “Have not I commanded thee?” … God will give us the spirit of courage if we look to him and fully trust his word.

What is your Canaan? Does it lie before you? Will you ever enter in to where God wants to take you in your life? Or are you still back in Egypt under Pharaoh or maybe entangled hopelessly in the wilderness?

… The promised land of Canaan represents the sanctified and victorious Christian life. Sadly, many wander and waste rather than war and win… because they did not have the courage to take hold of Gods promises.

The reason why the entire previous generation never entered Canaan 40 years earlier was because they were told that there were giants there! Whoops we can’t face those! … take them on! We all face giants… things or people or situations in life that are scary and intimidating and keep us out of where God wants to take us.

No more! Take courage! Sit in Joshua 1 a while, the Bible isn’t for the people back then… they’ve lived their life… it’s for us today. Canaan land is courageous land… and so “be thou strong and very courageous”!!!

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