Be Strong And Courageous

Johua 1:1-18 

I am not the most confident of people. In fact whenever I go somewhere new or do something unfamiliar (or even familiar), I can be very nervous. Most people these days do not believe that I still get anxious about public speaking or leading anything – but I do – yes even last Sunday! It is a challenge that the Lord has left me with, making sure I rely on Him!

I know I am not alone. Most of us do not always feel very strong or courageous at all, yet absolutely believe in a wonderful, powerful and all-sufficient God!

So, what is the problem? – may I suggest that it is that we look at ourselves or the problem or both, instead of our all-powerful and wise God.

Can you imagine how Joshua felt at this point in his life? For years he had been trained up and served as army commander under Moses. The ‘big man’, Moses was now dead. Joshua was tasked now with not only leading the people, but taking them into the Promised Land.

Of course he had been there forty years previously, when they had stood looking into the land, but all bar Moses, Joshua and Caleb ‘froze’ and refused to enter. Now they are stood there again, a next generation, except for Joshua and Caleb. You could forgive Joshua for having his doubts and being nervous.

As we look at this passage, think about this – God spoke to Joshua.  Joshua spoke to his leaders and the people, and all the people responded. This time was different. All were on the same page!

It is clear from the very beginning of his book that Joshua was not only Moses’ successor but also the chosen servant of God, trained for this very moment. He had learned to be a leader, he had learned to be patient, and most of all he had learned to hear from and listen to God.

God was pretty direct and specific without being specific at all! So very God! Joshua was told to cross the Jordan River and enter the land, but God didn’t give him the details up-front! God says I will give… but it was up to Joshua and the people of Israel to ‘take’ the land. God’s promises only come into action when we stand on them and move forward on them.

The land they were to inherit was vast, as described here, far bigger than modern Israel. At only one time in their history did the people of Israel see (all too briefly) the full geographical extent of God’s promise, and that was under Solomon.

To receive all that God has for us we not only need to stand on the promise and move forward, we need to keep moving in the right direction. Look at verses 7-9, where God talks about not turning from His Word and His Way, to the left or to the right. If we fail to see the fulfilment of what God has promised then, like the people of Israel, it is because we have wandered from the path God sets before us.

Notice that God stresses the importance of His Word. It is our lamp and guide; it needs to be read, prayed over, studied, and applied daily. God’s promises, God’s word and also God’s encouragement – three things emphasised in this passage – you can be strong because God is in you and with you always… you can be courageous because He goes before you, with you, and will direct you… His promises cannot fail.

Incidentally courage is not the absence of fear, it is moving forward despite our fear.

We often make the mistake of relying on feelings rather than faith. We need to look up, not down.

Another thing we notice here is the key feature of ‘all in it together’. It was no use Joshua and a select band going in and claiming the land. All had to go in, even those who already had their land. It was teamwork; it was sticking together for mutual encouragement and strength.

Guess what? Church is not perfect! That is because it is made of imperfect people – all ‘works in progress’ we often say. Yet that is the place that we can receive (should receive!) encouragement and be prepared to take our place in the ‘team’.

Joshua knew success and saw God’s promises start to be fulfilled, but it was going to be hard work. God’s work is never easy but always worthwhile. His encouragement to each one of us today is to ‘be strong and courageous’ because He has promised always to be with us, going before, alongside and covering our back too!

Isn’t God wonderful? Let us all pray that we live our lives with the faith of Joshua – in our prayers, in our actions, in all our dealings with others.

There has been so much encouragement recently – God has clearly been present and working amongst us. So let us take the lesson and example of Joshua and be ‘strong and courageous’ and press in to all he has for us this year – as a church family and individually. God never fails – He is always faithful!