“Be Strong and of a Good Courage.” Joshua 1-6; 23-24

Keywords

Joshua’s farewell address, divine deliverance, God’s grace

Abstract

After subduing the Land of Promise the Israelites gathered around Joshua ((The name Joshua is a variant of the name Hosea, Hoshea and Jesus all of which come from the Hebrew word meaning “salvation” or “to save.”)) to hear his farewell speech before he died (Joshua 24). ((Compare the farewell speech and activities of Joshua to those of Jacob (Genesis 47-50); Moses (Deut. 1-33); Brother of Jared (Ether 6); Lehi (2 Nephi 1-4); and Benjamin (Mosiah 1-6).))  Joshua rehearsed unto them the great things that the Lord had done for them and their forefathers in saving and preserving their lives.  He explained that God had saved Abraham from the wicked idolatry of false worship practiced by his fathers.  God lead Abraham to the land of Canaan where he multiplied his seed.  He then sent a branch of Abraham’s descendants down to Egypt.  These descendents, the Israelites, served the Egyptians in bondage for many years until God raised up a deliverer unto them and saved the Israelites with a mighty salvation.  God afflicted the Egyptians with great plagues and caused the waters of the Red Sea to part unto the salvation of the Israelites and the destruction of the Egyptians.  Joshua then reminded the Israelites of the powerful way in which God delivered the inhabitants and possessions of the land of Canaan (the Promised Land) into the hands of the Israelites.  This was a sure witness of God’s grace.  They had neither earned it themselves nor deserved it.  However, God loved his chosen people and so in his boundless charity he gave them these marvelous blessings.

Original Publication Citation

“Be Strong and of a Good Courage: Joshua 1-6; 23-24.” Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship. 2014.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2014

Publisher

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Language

English

College

Marriott School of Business

Department

Marketing

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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