God's code...

When God repeats something three times, you can be certain that it is very, very, very important. Pay close attention, study, and meditate on it because you know it is something He wants you to know!

One example is in the first chapter of Samuel. “ The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, 'Here I am; you called me.' Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy” 1 Samuel 3:8. The two previous times, Eli told Samuel he had not called him and sent Samuel back to bed. Now Eli instructed Samuel that it was the LORD and to go back to bed and listen and if he was called again what to say to receive instruction from God.

Another example is when God wanted to show Peter that it was OK for him, a Jew, to associate with the Gentiles in his area. Many people misinterpret this event as they do not let the subsequent verses interpret the true meaning. God gave Peter a vision three times of the impure and unclean animals being let down from heaven on a large sheet. God did this in order to emphasize that nothing is “impure” or “unclean” that God has cleansed. “I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by four corners; and it came down to where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard a voice telling me 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' I replied 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again.” Acts 11: 5b-10 What God was telling Peter was vital to the spreading of the Gospel to the world! God then sent to Peter the very people who would make all this make sense, putting into motion the plan for the household of Cornelius (Chapter 10) and the revealing of how God granted repentance and gave His Spirit to the gentiles, circumcision of the heart, and paving the way for the ministry of Paul.

Even the repetition of a word needs to be noted. For example, the word “holy” is repeated in the following scripture that emphasizes the utter sacredness of God. “Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,' who was, and is, and is to come.” Revelation 4:8

Let's look at what God has for us in Joshua chapter one. Here, God is speaking to Joshua after Moses died, explaining that now Joshua must lead the children of Israel. It was to be a difficult journey to put it mildly, but where God leads, He precedes. In verse 5 He says that no one will be able to successfully oppose Joshua as long as he lives, for as God was with Moses He will be with Joshua! Then, that He will not fail nor forsake!

Next, in verse 6, God begins,“Be strong (Strong's H2388) and of a good courage (Strong's H553)....” God commands Joshua to be strong. The Old Testament is mostly written in Hebrew, with the word 'strong' here coming from khaw-zak' and and in Strong's concordance means to be constant, to bind, restrain, cleave, be established, maintain or withstand. This gives me the picture of confidently, never backing down, in forging ahead into what God wants me to do - no matter what.

Good courage here is aw-mats' which is of a primitive root; to be alert, physically or mentally; confirm, be steadfastly minded, establish, fortify, prevail and to strengthen yourself, make obstinate. So courage also contains the concept of strength, but in an obstinate way, for courage you must be ready to act, alert mentally and physically, unwavering in your focus, fortified and completely unwavering and fixed in the Word of God, prevailing over your weaknesses through the Spirit of God.

Between vs. 7 and 9, He tells us that “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thous shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous and then thou shalt have good success.” But why is this in between the repetitions of courage and strength? He is telling us how to hold onto His words. In Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 we are told they are commandments and we are to teach them diligently to our children, talk of them often, bringing them into our conversation at home, while traveling, before going to sleep and when arising from sleep. They are that important! Meditation on them is that important - for they are the words of the Eternal God who never changes. This is not merely taking on the name of Christ (confessing that you are a Christian), but taking on the life of Christ. God's own children will live His way just like our own children live as we teach them to when they are small. If that changes as they mature and they decide that the call of self is more important, they have the free will to walk away just as we do if we decide living for our own selfish enjoyment and convenience is more important to us than living uprightly for God. I know of certain that the sin of self can be pleasant for a time, but leads to the destruction of yourself. However, striving to live uprightly, following God's way of life as spelled out in His Word, though difficult at times, is a continually more satisfying, peaceful, comforting, and successful way of life, and leads to becoming who God created you to be!

We know that living the way God intends us to live is only possible because of His words in verse 9. Here He adds to not be afraid and to not be dismayed (H2865). Dismayed is from the word Khaw-thath' which means to be broken down by violence or confusion and fear, to be discouraged or terrified. How can we, in this world not give in to this? Because of the next words out of the mouth of God. “...for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” No matter where we go or what we encounter, He is with us. He cares for us and passionately desires our success in living for Him because He wants us to have joy and peace throughout our life! It just doesn't get any better that that!