Are you ready for another word or two?  Last time we dug into the word ‘Commanded.’  Now, just a reminder or brand new information if this is your first time working with Hebrew, one word can have several different Strong’s definition numbers.  When you look up a word in Strong’s, always make sure you look it up with the same scripture reference you are digging into.

For example, the word Strong, that we are going to look at next, has 56 different Strong’s numbers for definitions and 56 different spellings for the word strong.  Strong’s Concordance is set up with the scripture reference first for each entry and then the definition number is off to the right.  So, you find your word, then you find your scripture reference, then you ONLY look up the number to the right of that reference.  It will tell you exactly what your word means in that verse.

Let’s look at Joshua 1:9 again, then we will get started.

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and of good courage;
do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the Lord, your God is with you
wherever you go.

We learned last time that in the question, “Have I not commanded you?” God was asking:

Have I not given you instructions for righteousness that connect you with Me? Those instructions will give you revelation and grace to walk out what is revealed.

God was commanding Joshua to address the impossible takedown of Jericho with ‘illogical’ instructions.  Strength and courage were needed to grab hold of God’s grace and carry out the commands.

Now, let’s take a look at the word STRONG:

Strong is number 2388 in Strong’s Concordance.  It is a primitive root meaning to seize, be strong, courageous, be obstinate, to bind, restrain, or to conquer. In Hebrew, it looks like this:  and it sounds like this ‘haw zack.’

Okay, let’s see what we can find in the letters:

Chet  8 = New Beginnings. Means: Fence, Gate, Tent wall to Separate, Protect, Cut off. Torah

Zayin 7 = completeness, Perfection, Fullness.  Means: Sword of the Spirit, Dagger, Weapon or Seed

Qof 100 = Election of God’s chosen ones, set apart as holy. Means: Holiness, Consecrated, Divide, sun on horizon, Back of the Head, Make a Complete Circle, End of a Cycle, Final, Behind, Dome

Here is the treasure hidden in the command:

God was telling Joshua, (Chet)”This is a new beginning for you. I will separate and protect you if you will (Zayin) pick up and live by the sword of My Spirit, My Word. (Qof) You are chosen by Me and set apart to be holy.”

The Bible is filled with courageous, trusting, obedient heroes of the faith. How about Noah?:

Genesis 6:9-14 Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God…11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.  13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. 14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood…

Dropping down to verse 17…

Genesis 6:17-19  And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. 18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark — you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.

The earth had never seen rain, and it took 100 years to build the boat. Can you just imagine the verbal attacks and the loss of reputation Noah experienced to follow God’s command?

Genesis 6 ends with this:  Genesis 6:22

Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

We know the rest of the story…God was faithful to His word as promised, because Noah took courage, trusted in God’s word and obeyed.

Now let’s look at another keyword: COURAGE

Courage is Strong’s #553 and it too is a primitive root.  It means to be alert, physically on foot, or mentally in courage.  To confirm, be courageous, steadfast minded, strong, stronger, fortify, increase, prevail, or obstinate.

Now get out your digging tools and let’s look at the letters.

  Aleph 1= God – Echad – Unity, Unique (no other like it) Means: Ox-head—Strength or Leader, Most Important, First – The Strength and Power of the leader

  Mem 40= Trial, Testing, Tribulation.  Means Womb, Water from the womb, Cleansing water, flowing water that brings life, Mighty, Massive Chaos, Humility, taking the low place, hidden relationship with God, Cleansing water, flowing water that brings life.

  Tzade 90 = Humility. Picture-Fishhook.  Means: Righteousness, to pull toward, Desire, Trouble, Harvest

This really gets down to the nitty-gritty of our identity. 

Courage comes from realizing that (Aleph) God, the most important, most powerful One in the universe lives inside you and is (Mem) establishing a hidden relationship with you.  If you believe this, (Tzade) humble yourself and follow His righteousness, you will reap a harvest.

Let’s look at David. David was a shepherd boy, the youngest son of Jesse, but he knew who lived inside him.

Dutch Sheets preached  a message called,  “Full Circle, Higher Level.”  In it he talked about David and his confrontation with Goliath.

Here is part of what he shared.  When David volunteered to face Goliath, Goliath was standing on land allotted to the tribe of Judah by God.  David was from in the tribe of Judah.  David believed in the covenant of God and knew that no matter how big Goliath was or how strong, God was on David’s side and this giant was coming down.

One of the other things that Dutch noted was that David never called Goliath by name.  Instead, he called him the uncircumcised Philistine.

Why this term?  Because circumcision was a sign of the covenant and this giant was not in covenant with God, so regardless of what it looked like, he did not have the back-up team of heaven’s armies on his side.

David knew God would protect him.  He had done it many times before as he fought off a lion and bear from his sheep.  It was a done deal.  So he ran toward Goliath in complete confidence.

Of course, we know the outcome…God was faithful to His promise.

When we look in the mirror in the morning, do we really see who we are?

Stop and ask Abba to give you a fresh revelation of who He is in you and start grabbing hold of strength and courage.  It’s ever-present and available for your use.

So in Summary–

God was telling Joshua, “This is a new beginning for you. I will separate and protect you if you will pick up and live by the sword of My Spirit, My word. You are chosen by Me and set apart to be holy. Courage will come as you realize that I am the most important, most powerful One in the universe, and I live inside you.  I am establishing a hidden relationship with you.  If you believe this, humble yourself and follow My righteous instructions and you will accomplish the task set before you.

This is what God is telling each of us.  Meditate on this with Him until it becomes part of who you are.  I am doing it right along with you.

Shalom ♥

Part 3 of Take Courage is found here.