Joshua 1:9 (NKJV) says, "... Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
The word 'afraid' in this verse is pronounced as 'awrats' in Hebrew, which means 'fear, or be shaken, or allow yourself to be harassed (even by words/enemy's threats)'. In other words, do not be shaken, or allow yourself to be harassed (even by words/enemy's threats), as you 'cross over' into the new things God has for you.
Fear not, as you 'cross over'! These are His current prophetic words for you, likened to Joshua's 'crossing over' River Jordan. Whether it's a mandate, a calling, new ventures, change of vocation, re-direction in career, etc, it's a season to be bold. And by God's grace, you'll advance like Joshua advanced! Continue to stay focused in what God has called you to be, no matter what you see or what you hear, or no matter how 'dark' the world surrounding you may be. Don't let anything or anyone 'hold you back' from what God is doing in your life. Receive God's 'overcoming anointing' to advance. This anointing is for you to 'overcome' any 'obstacle' as you move into your God-given mandate/calling. I believe you'll rejoice in the end. Just be strong and be very courageous.
In Numbers 13:30, Caleb quieted the people who feared entering the Promised Land, and he said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." People of God, in Christ, you have also overcome. 1 John 4:4 says, 'He who is in you is greater than he that is in this world'. God is raising up His Calebs of today! I want to believe you are one of those. By the way, the word 'Caleb' means 'force, attack (like a dog, in a good sense)' in Hebrew. He had a different spirit (Numbers 14:24). Instead of fear, he had God's faith. Instead of receiving the spirit of fear (like the majority in his days), he received the spirit of power, love, and sound mind. You see? That's the problem with 'fear'. Fear weakens power, negates love, and causes unsound mind (or unsound decision). But Caleb did not allow 'fear' to take place in his heart. And that's what made him different! People of God, let it be so for you too! Also, Caleb was from the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6), after the 'seed' of the 'Overcoming King', the Lion of Judah (i.e. Jesus). Likewise, as a believer today, you too are also after His seed. Amen!
For the record, Caleb was 40 when he spied the Promised Land, and he was 85 when he was given Hebron as his inheritance after the conquest (see Joshua 14:6-10). Yet, he was just as strong as before! (see Joshua 14:11) Age is never a factor for God to use you in His end-time army. The irony is I've seen people in their twenties very much 'bound' by human traditions and 'old wineskins', but I've also seen people in their eighties at the very 'cutting edge' of what God is currently doing, moving as He moves in new, unprecedented ways! However, on the other hand, if you are a youth, let not also anyone despise your youth (1 Timothy 4:12).
So, prepare yourself, just as God's people did those days (Joshua 1:11). Reflect back on the prophecies and dreams you know (that you know) are from the Lord. Be reminded of His promises you've received so far, as you 'cross over', just as God's people reminded themselves of 'the promise of a land filled with milk and honey' those days.
This is also your time to walk into the inheritance God has given you! Let go of those past regrets. Your 'Moses' is dead. This is a new season. It's your 'Joshua' time. A new season always comes with a fresh new anointing. His grace is also more than enough for you to 'overcome' as you 'cross over'. Just be bold and be very courageous. Know that your 'land that is to come' is good and filled with His shalom & rest (Joshua 1:13). So, go ahead, and go with God! He is with you. Joshua 3:3 says, 'When you see the ark of the covenant (representing God's presence & leadership), ..., then you shall set out from your place and go after it'. So, move as He moves. That's how He'll use you for His great exploits!
As the feet of the priests who bear the 'ark' rested in the waters of Jordan, the waters got cut off (Joshua 3:13), and God's people began crossing over. They've overcome their first 'obstacle'. Praise God! After everyone had completely crossed over, the 'ark' and the priests then also crossed over (Joshua 4:11). This is a 'picture' of the Lord going before and after you. On that day, the Bible says about 40,000 who were prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle (Joshua 4:13). Interestingly, the number 40,000 in Hebrew numeric means 'wise rule, skillful, expert'. Likewise, He is also currently raising up such people, a people 'wise and skillful' in the operation of the spiritual gifts and offices given them (see 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11-13). In regards to this, as Paul exhorted Timothy, God is also exhorting you now that He has not given you the spirit of fear, but He has given you the spirit of power, love, and sound mind (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7) as you 'stir up' (by using) the gifts given you.
Throughout this new season of yours, there's one vital principle He wants you to always keep in mind, and this is found in Joshua 5:9. Here, the Lord spoke to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." The words 'rolled away (like a wheel)' means 'Gilgal' in Hebrew, and that's also the place where the children of Israel camped upon 'crossing over'.
As you read through Joshua 1-11, notice that Gilgal was always the place of Joshua's camp throughout his conquest of Canaan:
After Joshua took Jericho and Ai, he returned to Gilgal (see Joshua 1-8).
Then, after Joshua launched a southern campaign against Lachish, Hebron, Debir, and Gaza, he returned to Gilgal again (see Joshua 10).
And finally, in a northern thrust all the way to Hazor, Joshua also launched the attack from his camp in Gilgal (see Joshua 11).
And that's also the importance of 'Gilgal' in your new season as well!
Now let Scripture interpret Scripture. In Luke 24:2, on the first day of the week when Jesus arose, the stone ('picture' of 'obstacle, stumbling block') was also rolled away. You know what that means? In your 'Promised Land', know that all your curse (whether spoken against you, or a generation curse) and reproach have been 'rolled away' through Jesus Christ your Lord! 'Promised Land' here is also a 'picture' of 'the New Covenant'. So, as a believer in the New Covenant, God doesn't want you to be conscious of whatever curse spoken against you anymore, but He wants you to be always conscious of His goodness and shalom for you! Just as Joshua returned and camped in Gilgal upon every conquest (central, southern, and northern), you too should always be reminded of your 'Gilgal' throughout your new season.
You know why Israel failed when they first attempted to take Ai? Yet, Ai was a much 'lesser' opponent compared to the Jericho they've just conquered! So what went wrong? Because somebody by the name of Achan took of the accursed things! (Joshua 7:1-3). That spells trouble! By the way, 'Achan' literally means 'trouble' in Hebrew. You know why? Achan had effectively 're-installed' curse, when all of Israelites' curse should have already been 'rolled away'! As a consequence, God wasn't there in that battle, and God's people had to flee. Not until the 'curse' was taken away did the children of Israel win again (see Joshua 7:13, Joshua 8:1). The message was clear, and that's how particular God was against His people being reminded of their curse and reproach.
Today, God also wants you to be always reminded that 'all your curse have also been rolled away'. At the cross, Jesus has already taken all your 'beatings, curse, and reproach', so now you can have all His 'blessings, goodness, and shalom'. Amen!
