DO NOT BE AFRAID

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

These words of assurance resonate in this passage as Moses stands before Israel and announces Joshua as the one who will lead them across the Jordan and into Canaan. You’ll recall that Moses was told by the Lord, “You shall not cross the Jordan”, after Moses and Aaron failed to give God the credit before bringing water to the Israelites from a rock. (Numbers 20:9-12) Aaron had already died. Moses was soon to also pass away. But Israel was to carry on and forge ahead into Promised Land…and to do so with a sense of faith, hope and confidence.

Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Indeed, Israel was about to face massive change. They were entering a foreign land, occupied by foreign people and were now going to be led by a new leader. I can’t help but sense that the people were uneasy and unsettled. Many were fearful and worried. Still others might be worn out and tired and forlorn.

Moses sought to reassure the people. He told them, “The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.”

Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua had to be feeling a little uneasy as well. Moses had faithfully led Israel for many years…through their oppression in Egypt…to their deliverance from Pharoah across the parted Red Sea…through their exodus…and to this place and time when they were about to finally enter the land that was said to flow with milk and honey. Joshua would have big shoes to fill. Would he be able to be as strong a leader as Moses? Would the people follow him as they did Moses? Would God find as much favor with him as he did with Moses? All these questions must have raged across Joshua’s mind. But Moses spoke words of reassurance to him as well. “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.”

Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

So how about you? What matters are you facing in life? Are you in circumstances that are causing you to be afraid…stressed…discouraged? Are you looking at circumstances that are bringing change to your life? Is uncertainty looming on your horizon?

Well, this scripture today is for you, just as it was for Israel. Always remember that the word of God is always there to offer you strength and assurance and my prayer is that you will write down these verses, always keeping them close to your heart, mind and soul.

Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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