Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
The book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses, and Joshua is now called by God to be the leader of the people of Israel… he will be going into Caanan… he will follow God’s instructions, and will march around the city of Jericho until the walls come tumbling down. My brother Gary used to sing that song.
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho
and the walls came a-tumbling down
You may talk about your men of Gideon
You may talk about the men of Saul
But there’s none like good old Joshua
at the battle of Jericho (that mornin’)
Chorus
Up to the walls of Jericho
They marched with spears in hand
“Come blow them ram horns,” Joshua said
“‘Cause the battle is in our hands”
Chorus
Then the lamb ram sheep horns began to blow
The trumpets began to sound
Joshua commanded the children to shout
and the walls came a-tumblin’ down (that mornin’)
chorus
African American Spiritual
But Joshua was more than a song… he followed what God told him to and he won battles…. In fact, according to historians the way he fought battles in war is still studied.
At this point in Joshua, God is telling him not to be afraid to go forward boldly. In fact it uses one of the most used phrases in the Bible…. “Do not fear!” Why is it there so many times? Simply we fear. We give in to our worries. We do not trust. God wants us to let go of our fears, and trust him completely. God is also repeating the words that Moses said to Israelites just before he died, (Deuteronomy 31:6) “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” I wrote on that verse today for the church. Amazing how God works. Because I originally wrote on this verse on March 8, 2024. I had no plans to write on that particular verse today except I am writing about the fruits of the spirit, and I know God wants us to let go of our fears. We do not grow peace in our souls until we let go of the fears of our lives. Peace will wither when we are afraid.
How do I know this? Fruit doesn’t grow on a plant that is stressed out. In the draught season, it wilts. Fear causes our courage to wilt. When there is no way for a plant to absorb carbon dioxide from the air, the plant twists and its leaves become bubbles. I know this because I tried a science experiment in the seventh grade on what the absence of air would do to a plant. Fear starves our souls of what the soul needs and that is peace. Fear blocks out the Light of God, and plants die without light. Fear destroys our peace and our relationship with God.
When the Lord tells Joshua to be bold and courageous, He is telling Joshua to release his fears and trust Him because the Lord is with him each step he takes. Joshua did exactly that.
Learning to trust, for some people, is an impossible task because of all the wounds they carry within them. We must practice gentleness with them. How do I know this because I was unable to trust anyone when I accepted Christ as my Savior. Step by step, kind acts by others began to free me from being fearful. I know these people can learn to trust again, because I did. We need to remember God may be using us to teach those that fear to trust.
I believe God wants us all to live with a connection with Him. He wants us to trust Him, and release our fears. I believe that each person who feels that they cannot trust has within themselves the ability to trust. It just takes time and the kind acts of others. I believe that the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is peace cannot grow until the fruits of patience, faith, goodness, self-control, joy, and gentleness have grown within a soul. Peace comes within us when we can be still with God, and lack of trust prevents us from being still in God’s presence.
Today’s question:
What do you fear? Have you asked God to go with you to defeat that fear?
Ever in Christ’s love,
Mary Elizabeth Todd
March 8, 2024& July 17, 2024
Ruhamah United Methodist Church Bible Verses 