Bandit: “What do you think they do for excitement in this town?”

Cledus Snow: “Probably sit around and watch cars rust.”

 My husband is a car guy. Always has been; always will be. He has had some AMAZING cars over the 37 years that I’ve known him. But far and away – IMO – one of the coolest cars he has ever had was a black 1977 Pontiac Trans-Am complete with gold firebird (and, yes before you ask – it had T-tops).

We would take it to car shows and laughingly joke that we “wish we had a nickel” for every time someone would yell – “LOOK! Smokey and the Bandit!” – then run over and take their picture with the car. It was fun. We had some good times and got to meet a lot of nice people.

Factoring in inflation and all – I wish I had a dollar for every time Moses told Joshua, or God told Joshua, or Joshua told the Israelites to “Be Strong. Be Courageous”. Sounds AWESOME….gets you kind of pumped up……like a rally cry. Over and over again I see those same words in the account of the journey into the promised land.

But then I get one of those “hang on – hold the boat – wait a minute” moments. Be strong. Be courageous. – over and over and over and OVER again. Let’s pay attention to that…..and maybe ask –

Why?

Because God knew, and Moses knew and Joshua knew it was going to be difficult and demanding. It was going to be brutal and challenging. It was going to be hard, strenuous, rough, scary, intimidating and terrifying.

That’s why!!!

You don’t have to be told to be strong and courageous if something is going to be easy. You don’t have to be strong if something is going to be effortless or uncomplicated. You don’t have to be courageous if something is going to be soothing and calming.

Going into the next chapter of their lives wasn’t going to be fun. They weren’t going to have good times and meet lots of nice people, or sit around and watch cars rust for excitement. There was WORK to do – HARD work – DAUNTING situations.

God’s blessing of a new land came with a caveat – ***Some Assembly Required***      

God’s instructions came with a warning – ***Be strong. Be Courageous.***