Be Strong And Brave

I’ve got to say that I’m astonished at how helpful it is to be reading Joshua right now.

Joshua 1:6-9 (from the NET Bible)

1:6 Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them. 1:7 Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do. 1:8 This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful. 1:9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”

And my three questions:

1. What happened in the text?
2. What do I learn about God?
3. What should I do about it?

Here’s how I responded from these verses:

1. What happened in the text?
   • God tells Joshua to be strong and brave
   • God tells Joshua he must lead the people
   • God tells Joshua this conquest is in line with God’s prior promise
   • God repeats that Joshua be strong and brave
   • God instructs Joshua to obey the law God gave Moses
   • God predicates success on not turning from obeying this law
   • God requires that Joshua memorize the law so he can obey it
   • God reiterates that obedience will produce success – and prosperity
   • God repeats that Joshua be strong and brave
   • God says he will be with Joshua in everything, so fear and panic aren’t needed
2. What do I learn about God?
   • He’s clear in his communication to his people
   • He believes certain things bear repeating
   • He directs his leaders
   • He values  obedience
   • He rewards obedience with success
   • He accompanies his leaders
3. What should I do about it?
   • I must listen to God
   • I must be strong and brave
   • I must be obedient to God’s law
   • I must know God’s words

I’ve been listening to recordings of books of the Bible (free from Librivox.org, so they tend to be older version). I’m struck at how differently I perceive the big ideas or themes of these books when I just sit during my commute and listen.

But I need to work memorization into my schedule somehow; I was to know truth, not just abstracts of truth.