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Today’s reading began a new book of the Bible—Joshua 1–4. If these first four chapters are any indication (and they are), we’re in for a rich week of learning as we draw out the lessons God has for us.

When I think of the book of Joshua, the phrase that immediately comes to mind is: “Be strong and courageous.” This was God’s encouragement to Joshua as he stepped into leadership. In fact, the phrase is repeated four times in chapter one alone. Joshua had big shoes to fill, and I imagine the weight of responsibility was overwhelming. But I believe God wanted Joshua—and us—to understand that leadership in God’s kingdom isn’t about doing more, it’s about being who God calls us to be. BE strong and courageous.

In the first nine verses, God gives us a picture of what that kind of BEING looks like:

  1. BE by believing in God’s presence with you (1:5–6).
  2. BE by following God’s commands—obedience that flows from love (1:7).
  3. BE by remembering the evidence of His faithfulness (1:8–9).

As I continued reading, verses 10–11 stood out:

“And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, ‘Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, “Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.”’”

Being prepared takes intentional effort. Organizing 600,000+ soldiers (40,000 from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, per 4:13), plus women and children, to move camp required planning. And though we may move from one spiritual season to another more fluidly, we still need spiritual preparation to be the people God calls us to be. That means spending time in prayer, asking God what He wants to change in us, where He’s leading us, and what disciplines we need to grow in.

From verses 12–16, we see that being also requires integrity, commitment, and follow-through. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh had made a prior agreement, and Joshua held them to it. Faithfulness mattered.

But here’s the good news: Being who God desires us to be isn’t something we accomplish through hard work or sheer willpower. The biblical record shows that becoming who God calls us to be is always about desperate dependence on Him. It’s about believing that God is sovereign and choosing to submit to Him.

We see a stunning example of this in Rahab of Jericho. God had previously commanded the Israelites to completely destroy the inhabitants of the Promised Land (see Numbers 33:50–56; Deuteronomy 7:1–2, 20:16–18). So how could the two spies promise Rahab protection? I wrestled with that—especially knowing that King Saul lost God’s favor for sparing King Agag of the Amalekites (1st Samuel 15:21, 23). But the difference is this: Rahab believed. She trusted in the one true God and acted on that belief. And that changed everything. God is always merciful—it’s part of His unchanging nature—and He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). Rahab was spared because of her faith.

After 40 years of wandering, the Israelites finally believed, obeyed, and remembered. And then God responded with another miracle: as the priests’ feet touched the Jordan, the water stopped, and the people crossed on dry ground—a reminder of the Red Sea.

Two memorials of twelve stones were set up—one in Gilgal and one in the middle of the Jordan. These were meant to teach future generations:

“Then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’” (Joshua 4:22)

I’m especially drawn to the pile in the middle of the river. When the Jordan returned to its natural flow, that pile would have been hidden—submerged until the harvest season was over (harvest was only one month a year). This would have been a reminder to the subsequent generations how impossible the crossing would have been without God. And that’s the core message of these opening chapters: BEING strong and courageous is impossible without Him.

Takeaway: Take a moment to reflect on seasons of spiritual movement in your life—times when you were convinced of God’s presence, obeyed His prompting, and experienced His faithfulness. Maybe close today by giving thanks to the Rock of your Salvation and asking God for more seasons of overflowing where you need to be desperately dependent on Him?