I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship. - Louisa May Alcott

Be strong and courageous!

This is the theme for the preteen girls' lock-in this weekend.  I have been given the responsibility to begin the evening (not because I'm awesome, but because I didn't want to stay all night. I am a wimp!) with background for the book of Joshua and for teaching the first chapter of that book.

I am really excited.

It's wonderful, to me, to have a series of lessons for girls that tells them to be strong and courageous.  A reminder to the young women of tomorrow that they are accountable for their actions under God Almighty but that they are not now and will never be alone when they do what must be done in their lives. 


The key to the chapter, aside from being told to be Strong and Courageous (four times this is repeated in eighteen verses), is that God is fulfilling his promise to the Israelites. He is giving them land as far as they can step, whatever they can see, in a vast area.  And on this land, they will be able to REST. 

What does God require from these people? That they listen to him. Obey him. Teach his words to the next generation. This is a book (like much of the Old Testament) that is meant to be spoken out loud.  Shared orally.  Repeated, memorized, passed along.  Memorization of oral tradition is an outstanding brain-trainer.  It may seem like "rote learning" and therefore downplayed, but for lessons and laws and wise sayings, it is outstanding.  Hear and repeat. Hear and repeat. Over and over until it is in your brain like your name, so that you can remember it always and forever.

That is what God wants. He wants his word to be known. Obeyed.  He wants his people to love him enough to share what they learn with their children, so that the relationship might be perpetuated.  He wants to give his people a lovely land and let them rest in that relationship. And when trials come -- for they will -- he asks that his people be strong and courageous.  Trust in the strength God has given them. Trust and be brave in the knowledge that the Lord their God has gone before them already. 

What an awesome lesson to teach girls.  It's going to be a good lock-in. Even if I'm not there for most of it.