There is a constant message of hope throughout the Bible. Typically, if you’re looking for a message of encouragement, the book of Joshua is where you go. There is a constant emphasis, in fact, a command given to Joshua by God to be strong and courageous.
Joshua had some big shoes to fill. Moses was gone and now he was the leader of millions of people, chosen to lead them into the promised land. And if you read about these people, they don’t seem to have been the most cooperative group of people. So, yes, he probably needed some encouragement, and who better than God Almighty to encourage him?
For now, let’s focus on the promised land. It was a land God had picked for His people. God doesn’t break His promises AND He only desires what’s best for His children. So the Israelites were about to receive the promised land. The best place for them, chosen by God. A promise they had been holding on to for years and years was about to be fulfilled.
It was theirs. And of course, there are some more major details in this story, please read it! There are more commands to Joshua to be strong and courageous as well. But for now, I think the most recent take away I have from this wonderful story is the concept of “Won and Done.” And it’s not just the battles in this story, but battles of God’s people throughout history in the old testament.
I think it was this idea that He wanted His people to understand about His promises, and still wants us to understand. It’s the fact that His promise is a promise. Whether it will take a battle for it to come true or not, if God promised it, consider it won and done. Frankly, because it is.
Joshua 6:2, 20 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. When the people heard the sound of the rams’ horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the town and captured it.