Repetition does its work again this morning. What I’m chewing on is a phrase served up multiple times — 4 times to be exact. And yet it isn’t the fact that these phrases are all the same that has me thinking this morning, it’s that — to coin something I learned from Sesame Street — one of these things is not like the other.

Operation “Take the Land” is soon to commence. The big game is about to begin. And God serves up a pre-game pep talk to His quarterback, Joshua.

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, . . . “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

(Joshua 1:1, 6-9 ESV)

As Joshua gets his head in the game before leading God’s people in taking the land that God has promised, at this moment, there’s one command above other commands he needs to take to heart — Be strong and courageous. If Joshua was going to lead the people to occupy the land promised to their ancestors, God knew Joshua would need strength and courage.

Okay, Pete. Three repetitions in short order, pretty important command to obey from God’s perspective. Got it. But you said the phrase was repeated 4 times.

Yup, and here’s where one of these things is not quite like the other.

And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

(Joshua 1:16-18 ESV)

There it is, the fourth be strong and courageous. But this time it isn’t spoken by the Almighty and All-Powerful LORD of heaven, but by the flesh and blood people of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh, those who would settle east of the Jordan after helping their kinsmen take the land promised west of the Jordan. And this time it isn’t so much spoken as a command to obey by One with the authority to command Joshua to obey, but it comes across to me more like a plea to be — to be what the people are counting on their leader to be. Be strong and courageous . . . cause we’re depending on you.

God had placed leadership over His people. The people were committing to place themselves under God’s chosen leaders. So, what did they need from their leaders? Strength! Courage!

Isn’t that kind of what we need today among God’s people? I’m thinkin’ . . .

We need leaders who, by God’s grace and with the Spirit’s enabling, will lead, by faith, with strength and with courage. Those who will stand for the Word, contend for the faith, and faithfully shepherd God’s people. And we need people who, by God’s grace and with the Spirit’s enabling, will follow, by faith, trusting that God has raised up those set in leadership over them. And that they’ll do so with strength and with courage.

How we need strong leaders in the church — strong while being submitted to the Lord. How we need courageous leaders in the church — courageous while being committed to their people. Ready to take the land while standing fast against the allure of land. Determined to be faithful while always aware of their frailty and need for gospel power to do gospel work.

Strength! Courage! I’m thinking that’s the plea to be which God’s people need to be praying over those God has placed over them in the Lord (1Thess. 5:12).

According to God’s grace. Always for God’s glory.