DON'T BE AFRAID!

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”” Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

As I write this I am also looking at the news that is coming out of Brussels where two bombs went off killing 31 people and injuring over 180.  It is so sad and even discouraging.  Last year it was Paris and San Bernardino and there were mass shootings in schools in America and in some malls. The list could go on and on.

The world is crazy and getting crazier.  And sadly, much of this focused on people with Christian beliefs and faith.  It is enough to make a person fearful and afraid.

Joshua 1:9 seems to get to the core of this issue as he states “Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the LORD your God is with wherever you go.”

These are some of the most powerful words in the Bible that gives us an assurance about today and tomorrow.

Several years ago there was a TV series called "Early Edition." It was a storyline about a young man who somehow was able to read tomorrow’s newspaper today.

In other words, he was able to know what was going to happen a day before it actually happened. 

If you knew about what would happen tomorrow - how would you react.  Would you live life in fear or would you try to do something that would remedy and help life to be better?

The fact is, none of us really know about tomorrow.  We have to trust the Lord to be with us no matter what comes our way.  We cannot live life afraid.

So how do we face tomorrow?  How do we live life without fear? What should we do?

Well, God has some answers to those questions.  Here are three things we should NOT do:

The first one is: "Don’t presume about tomorrow." Proverbs 27:1 says, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth."

Notice the word "boast." The Bible tells us, "Don’t go around being cocky about your plans for tomorrow or next week or next year because life is uncertain. You may not even be around that long. So don’t be presumptuous."

Secondly, he says, "Don’t panic about tomorrow." Jesus says: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself" (Matthew 6:34). 

Fortunately, God doesn’t reveal too much of our future life to us.  He gives it to us in increments - 24 hour days.  That’s about all we can handle.

Someone wrote, "Life by the yard is hard. Life by the inch is a cinch."

Thirdly, God says, "Don’t procrastinate until tomorrow." 

I appreciate the Living Bible rendition of Ecclesiastes 11:4. It says, "If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done."

How many among us have become procrastinators in life?

Someone wrote, "Procrastination is my sin. It only brings me sorrow. I know I ought to change my life. And I will - tomorrow."

So, these are the three things God says "Don’t do:" #1 - Don’t presume, #2 - Don’t panic, & #3 - Don’t procrastinate. 

Now, here are three things we SHOULD do: (from Joshua 1)

Here’s what was happening. God freed the children of Israel from Egyptian slavery. But because of their disobedience, they have been living in the wilderness for 40 years. 

Moses has just died, and now it is Joshua’s turn to lead the people. The older, disobedient generation is gone, and the younger generation is ready to do what God tells them to do in order to enter the Promised Land.

They are on the eastern side of the Jordan River. On the other side is the Promised Land.

Joshua knows that once they enter the Promised Land they will be facing at least 7 enemy nations. They’re strong nations with trained armies and fortified cities. And they’re far better equipped with weapons than Joshua’s young army. Is it any wonder that Joshua is uneasy about it all? Is it any wonder that he is afraid.

So God appears to him and says, "Joshua, let me tell you three things to do. And if you will do these three things, I guarantee you success." 

First, in vv. 2-3 he tells him to just go. God says, "Get ready. I want you to possess the land." So the first thing God told Joshua is, "Set my plan into motion." But before Joshua could do that, there was something else he had to do. He had to let go of the past.

God began vs. 2 by saying, "Moses my servant is dead." Moses was God’s chosen man to free the people and lead them out of Egypt. He was the one God called to the top of Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 commandments. Moses was God’s man of the ages! 

And now, Joshua has to fill his sandals. Joshua has to take his place. You can imagine the fear and trepidation Joshua must have felt.

So God comes to Joshua and says, "Joshua, listen to me. Moses is dead, but I’m not, and you’re not. I have a plan for your life, and I have a plan for your people. So let’s get on with the plan."

Vv. 10-11 tells us that Joshua got his people ready and prepared them to go forward.

So don’t presume, don’t panic, don’t procrastinate. Instead, seek God’s direction and set His plan for your life into motion.

The 2nd thing God tells Joshua to do is to "Stay in the Word." Listen to vs. 7, "Be strong and very courageous. Be very careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or the left, that you may be successful wherever you go."

God says, "Joshua, I’m guaranteeing you success if you’ll be careful to obey all the law. And the way to do that is not to turn from it either to the left or to the right." In other words, "Don’t become sidetracked." 

In vs. 8 God says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

Did you notice? In that verse, God told Joshua 3 ways to stay in the Word. Here they are:

1. “Talk about it.” "Don’t let the Word of God depart from your mouth." It is not enough just to read the Word. We need to talk about it, discuss it, learn it.

2. Secondly, God says, "Think about it," "meditate on it day and night." 


3. Then God says, "Do it! Put it into practice." "...be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and be successful." Take the teachings and principles out into the world, and live them every day.

Someone said, "Sin will keep you from reading the Bible. But reading the Bible will keep you from sin." So don’t neglect it!

Here is the third thing God told Joshua to do: "Step out in faith." 

You have to live your life.  You can’t walk around in fear.  You have to move forward - even into the unknown.  God will lead you as you pray and ask Him for wisdom.

Notice that God tells Joshua 3x’s to not be afraid. God says to Joshua in vs. 6, "Be strong and courageous." In vs. 7, "Be strong and very courageous." And in vs. 9, "Be strong and courageous."

Then in vs. 9, God says, "Do not be afraid and do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Notice those words "terrified" and"afraid." 

These are two of Satan’s most valuable tools.

Fear will keep you in the desert. Do you realize that the Israelites could have traveled from Mt. Sinai to the Promised Land in about 3 weeks? But it actually took them 40 years getting there because they were caught in the grip of fear. But God says, "Do not be terrified and afraid." 

Yes, there are plenty of opportunities to be afraid and to walk in fear about life.  If I look at the news and headlines - I probably won’t ever leave my house.

I love what the apostle Paul said, "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13).

Paul is saying, "I can master every circumstance that comes my way if my faith and trust is solid in Jesus Christ."

God is with me - I don’t have to be afraid.