Lesson from Sunday February 7th, 2010
In the middle of the week we read from Joshua, chapters 1-4. This is the transition to new leadership in the person of Joshua. God repeats the promise to Joshua, the same one that he gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (v. 1-5). He also says to Joshua three times in the first chapter, “Be strong and courageous!” The last time he says, “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?” (v. 9). And, we read that as they are taking up Joshua as their leader when they tell him they will follow him they also say, “only be strong and courageous” (v. 18). Joshua tells them that they are to be people of the book: “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” (v. 8). We too are to be strong and courageous as we rely on God’s promise and we too are to be people of the book.