The LORD your God is with you. - Joshua 1:9
I think most of the Messiah members know this, but for our guests that are here today I should point out that I instruct my confirmation students to pick out their own confirmation verses. I want them to dig into the word of God and find a passage that speaks to them; is special to them, a passage that they can relate to and a passage with which they can identify. I invite moms and dad, grandpas and grandmas to influence them but I discourage moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas from picking the verse for them and I have so far refused to assign a verse to a confirmand. I want their confirmation verse to be just that THEIR confirmation verse.
I point this out because the bible passage Janelle chose for her confirmation verse, and Janelle choose this verse, she showed me her top five choices, there were other options she was considering, but the verse Janelle chose is Joshua 1:9. “9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” It is a good verse, a strong verse, an inspiring verse. Joshua 1:9 is a popular confirmation verse, but I can’t help but wonder, why, out of all the verses in the entire bible, why did Janelle pick this one!?! What does Janelle have in common with Joshua, what does she see in him that would cause her to relate to him and pick a verse that was originally spoken to him?
I am not saying there is anything wrong with Joshua. Joshua was a stud. We are first introduced to Joshua on the battlefield. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites as they make their way to Mount Sinai. Joshua is placed in charge of the Israelite army and (with divine intervention) defeats the Amalekites. By the time the Israelites reach Mount Sinai Joshua is described as Moses’ aid, kind of like his right-hand man. At Mount Sinai, we are told Joshua went at least part way up Mount Sinai and likely got closer to the glory of the Lord than anyone but Moses. Thie first time the Israelites arrive at the borders of the Promised Land Joshua once again distinguishes himself and is selected as one of twelve spies to investigate the Promised Land. Ten out of twelve spies are filled with fear at what they saw. Joshua is one of two spies who urges the people “do not be afraid of them!”, “the LORD is with us!”[1]. Sadly, as you know, the Israelites did not enter the Promised Land at that time. Joshua then spends the next three or four decades faithfully serving as Mosses’ aid. When the LORD leads the Israelites to the borders of the Promised Land a second time Joshua, who is now likely in his 70s or 80s, is selected as Moses’ successor; Joshua is to be the next leader of the nation of Israel.
As I said, Joshua is a stud. A mighty warrior, a skilled administrator, a powerful leader. What would cause Janelle to relate to a guy like Joshua? I am not saying there is anything wrong with Janelle! Janelle is a stud in her own right. She is a kind and compassionate young woman. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and family and resolutely faithful to her God. During her confirmation interview the last question I asked Janelle was “Do you intend to continue your life as a Christian?” Without hesitation she said, “Yes! Always and forever!” It was beautiful. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Janelle, indeed I personally am a fan of Janelle. But why would a girl like Janelle identify with a guy like Joshua? She had plenty of other people with whom she could identify. Janelle could have chosen to identify with the woman of noble character who is described in the book of Proverbs. She could have chosen to identify with strong powerful heroines like Deborah or Esther. She could have chosen to identify with a servant like Martha or a student like Mary. There are so many amazing women in scriptures, any of whom I could see Janelle identifying with, but she chose Joshua. And I suspect there is something about her choice that we: her family and friends and fellow believers would be wise to consider.
I don’t think Janelle relates to Joshua because of his military conquests, or administrative achievements, or even his leadership abilities. I think Janelle, like most young people, identifies with Joshua because Joshua, who had spent most of his life in the shadow of Moses, was about to step out of that shadow… and it seems Joshua was feeling a little discouraged and afraid. You see Joshua had a front row seat to the grumbling and complaining of the Israelites. He had seen how often and how violently they had turned on Moses. Joshua was not naive about the threats that surrounded him, he knew that in any conflict there are always casualties. As Joshua stepped forward to lead, he knew better than anyone else that he was no Moses. I think that is why Janelle, and most young people, identify with a guy like Joshua.
For years Janelle has been a faithful follower and has enjoyed the security of her parent’s shadow. On any given Sunday you can find Janelle sitting in a front right seat in our sanctuary. Why, because that is where her parents tell her to sit. Most Wednesday nights, for the past three years, Janelle sat in confirmation class and learned about sin and grace, law and gospel, justification and sanctification. Why, because her parents drove her here, and though I think for the most part she was happy to be here, I am sure there were times when parental persuasion was needed to get her here. Out in the narthex there is currently a 15-minute video playing of an assortment of bible passages Janelle has memorized on her way to school, while eating dinner, and before going to bed. Why, listen closely and you will hear her mom’s voice prompting and prodding her. Janelle, like most young people, has spent a good number of years in her parent’s shadow. And this is as God would have it. “Train a child” the Lord commands us. Bind and tie my words on their hearts and minds the LORD instructs us. It is good and God pleasing for a child to spend time in the shadow of godly parents, but there comes a time when every young Christian must step out of that shadow.
The time comes when a young Christian has to determine for themselves if they really believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, if they really believe that Jesus lived a perfect life in their place and then died a sacrificial death to pay for all of their sins, if they really believe that they are a child of God and because of the grace of God they will one day dwell in the house of the LORD with Jesus and all the saints. The time comes when every young Christian must determine for themselves if this is just what their parents believe or if this is also what they believe. And when that time comes it can be a little intimidating and scary. When a young Christian is no longer standing in the shadow of their parents, they are more likely to be intimidated by friends who question them, teachers who challenge them, and their own sinful flesh that discourages them. Janelle, like most young people relates to an old war hero, a seasoned administrator, a serious leader, because Joshua knew what it felt like to step out of someone’s shadow and do what God has called them to do.
Which is why these words, first spoken to Joshua, also speak to young Christians like Janelle. To them the LORD God says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged”. The LORD God understands the young Christian. He knows how intimidating and frightening it can be to step out of that shadow. He knows about the questioning friends, and the challenging teachers, and the discouraging flesh. He knows how easy it is for the young Christian to be terrified and discouraged. Which is why the LORD God calls upon the young Christian to be strong and courageous. It is comforting to know that the LORD God understands you, but the real comfort is in this, what the LORD God calls us to do the LORD God equips us to do.
No Christian, regardless of age or ability is ever called upon to find strength and courage within themselves. Rather all Christians regardless of age or ability find strength and courage in the promise of God Who says, “the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” When Joshua stepped out of Moses’ shadow, Joshua did not stand alone, and Janelle, neither do. The LORD your God is with you. The LORD your God allowed Himself to be born in Bethlehem so that He could be with you. The LORD your God allowed Himself to be raised in the shadow of godly parents so that He could be with you. The LORD your God allowed Himself to be questioned by His friends, challenged by His teachers, and, though His flesh was not sinful, He allowed Himself to be tempted in every way that you are tempted so that he could be with you. The LORD your God suffered and died on a cross so that He could be with you. Three days later the LORD your God rose from the dead so that He could be with you. The LORD your God then ascended into heaven, but before he did, he promised “surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”[2] Still today the LORD your God keeps that promise to you. In the water of Baptism, the LORD your God is with you. In the preaching of the Word the LORD your God is with you. In the celebrating of the Supper the LORD your God is with you. Janelle, today you may be stepping out of the shadow of your parents, but you are not stepping out alone. As He promised Joshua, so He promises you. The LORD your God is with you… And He is not the only one.
Brothers and sister, the LORD our God promises young Christians like Janelle that He is with them wherever they go. Through Word and Sacrament, the LORD our God makes His presence known to them. But the LORD our God intends for His presence to be made known through another source. When young Christians are feeling afraid and discouraged, the LORD our God assures and reassures young Christians of His presence through you.
Strengthened and encouraged by the LORD his God Joshua stepped out of Moses’ shadow. At the end of chapter 1 we see Joshua standing before the nation of Israel ready to do what the LORD his God has commanded him to do. And the leaders, elders and people of Israel say to Joshua, “may the LORD your God be with you.”[3] “…be strong and courageous!”[4]. Joshua had already been assured that the LORD his God was with him. But it had to feel good to receive that reassurance from the elders, leaders and fellow Israelites.
The LORD God is with Janelle. In Joshua 1:9 He promises her that He will be with her wherever she goes, but I am sure she, like all young Christians would appreciate some reassurance from her community. Through her family and friends that have gathered here today to celebrate her confirmation, and through you her fellow believers, the LORD our God seeks to assure and reassure Janelle and all the young Christians; all who step outside of their parent’s shadow to do what the LORD their God has called them to do. So, family friends, leaders, elders and members of Messiah, as the Israelites gathered around Joshua, let us gather around our young Christians, like Janelle. When they are afraid and discouraged, let us be eager to assure them and reassure them that the LORD their God is with them wherever they go. So that having been assured and reassured Janelle and all our young Christians might have the strength and courage to step out of their parents shadow and do what the LORD their God has called them do. Papa Carry, this one is for you, can I get an Amen!?! Amen.
[1] Numbers 14:9
[2] Matthew 28:20
[3] Joshua 1:17
[4] Joshua 1:18