Joshua – Yahweh Delivered…Be strong and courageous

I had the great opportunity to witness my Dad being ordained as an elder at North Oldham Baptist Church last Sunday. The pastor, Rob Gibson preached on a verse in Joshua 24:31

Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the LORD which He had done for Israel.

The congregation was encouraged to read through Joshua and to see the great promises of God and the outcome seen in this book. The first thirteen chapters you see the continued conquering of the nations around Israel’s promise land with the capture and killing of the people. Once in Chapter 13 you see the people are finally in the promised land and it is being divided among the nations. From chapter 1:6-10:25 you see the phrase Be strong and courageous used five times. This is God’s reminder to His CHOSEN people that they have not been forgotten and the land will be theirs. In chapter 21:43-45 you see expressly God’s covenantal promise come to pass:

So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed and lived in it. And the LORD gave rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all of their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand. Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.

I do not know how a Christian can overlook this simple statement  “all came to pass” without realizing the awe and reverance we are to give to our PERFECT Savior. I was curious to know what the word Joshua meant, Yahweh Delivered…He most certainly did and still does!

~ by Allison Brewton on April 30, 2008.