Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

During my annual re-read of The Holy Bible, I can hardly wait to get through the five Books of Moses and into the history books of the Old Testament which begin with The Book of Joshua. Same as the Prophet and only female Judge Deborah (Judges 4 – Judges 5), I find Joshua’s level of courage exhilarating. Clearly, Joshua not only listened to the LORD God Almighty, he believed God as evidenced by following-through as the LORD advised, long before assuming leadership. That is, from the time he was being mentored while assisting Moses.

• Way back, when the Amalekites attacked, and Joshua was told to “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites” Exodus 17:9 (NIV).
• Way back, when instructing Moses, the LORD said “and make sure that Joshua hears it” Ex 17:14 (NIV).
• Way back, when the LORD desired to make Israel “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” but the people, trembling with fear, not wanting to hear directly from God essentially insisted on establishing the position of Prophet in saying to Moses “no, you do it and relay or tell us what God says” (Ex 19:6 & 20:20).
• Way back, when the LORD told Moses to “Come up to Me on the mountain. . . .’ So Moses and his assistant Joshua climbed up the mountain of God.” Ex 24:12-13 (NKJV; NLT).
• Way back, when after the LORD spoke with Moses as a man speaks to his friend in the “Tent of Meeting”, pitched on the outskirts or some distance from camp, Moses would return to camp whereas Joshua remained therein (Ex 33:11); Joshua had to be privy to residual affect within that Tent.
• Way back, when the LORD told Moses to send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes to explore the land of Canaan; and upon returning after forty days, ten of the scouts (leaders) gave a bad report which discouraged the community whereas the two scouts (leaders) who believed God and attempted to encourage the community were Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 13 & 14).

“Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever” Deuteronomy 34:7 (NLT). Earlier, the LORD instructed Moses to take Joshua to the Tent of Meeting whereof the LORD would commission him (Deuteronomy 31:14). As so charged, Joshua would now lead the people across the Jordan and into the land having received strong advice from the LORD to continually study, act on or do, ponder and meditate the WORD day and night along with this direct command: “. . . be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9 (NLT). Whenever I think about Joshua, the behavior foremost in my mind is the lack of fear in approaching one of the Angels of the LORD who are mighty warriors of God. “13) And then this, while Joshua was there near Jericho: He looked up and saw a man standing, holding his drawn sword. Joshua stepped up to him and said, ‘Whose side are you on—ours or our enemies’?  14) He said, ‘Neither. I’m commander of God’s army. I’ve just arrived.” Joshua 5:13-14 (MSG)

Speak the promise . . . Harriet