Triple Reminder

Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua must have been a pretty smart guy, he was Moses' successor, leading God's chosen people. Joshua was the brave one who told Moses that the people on the other side could be beaten, when all the others said they were giants. Yet it is interesting that 3 times in 4 verses God tells him to "Be strong and courageous". Did God think that he didn't hear Him the first time, like when you tell your kids something 3 times really fast. Did God think he was dull or stupid? Not if He had chosen him to lead His people. Then why would God tell him so many times?

God knows how weak we can be. He knows that we may be strong and courageous one minute and the next we are total wimps. This was not new to Joshua, but God wanted to remind him, so there was no way he could forget when times were scary.

I love how God has written these stories down for our encouragement. If He reminds His chosen leaders 3 times in 4 versus, then I guess it is pretty normal for me to mess up and have to be reminded as well.

God also gave Joshua, and us, a formula for guaranteed success in His economy; follow His Word, meditate on it day and night, don't turn to the right or to the left and do everything that God has commanded us to do. Then, and only then, will He give us success and make our way prosperous.

God is so patient with us. We need to trust Him in every circumstance, but He knows He will have to remind us again in just a little while. But He keeps sharpening the dull tools, so that when He wants to use them again they are better than the lst time.