FINDING THE COURAGE TO BE FAITHFUL
A friend and I were talking about the adventurous things people do: bungee jumping, zip-lining, rock-climbing, hang-gliding. I wondered why I was not interested in those things (though I have done hand-gliding; that’s where you stick your hand out the window of the car when you are flying down the highway). My friend replied that people who have stressful jobs don’t need to do crazy things.
I was glad to hear that because I thought I lacked courage or a spirit of adventure. I even thought I was kind of boring because I didn’t do those things (this may still be true). The truth is I am just not interested in thrill-seeking activities.
Does that mean that you and I lack courage because we don’t jump off bridges? No, living requires courage. There are a variety of troubles we face in this life, fears that we experience every day, and disappointments that bog us down that all require courage to keep going forward. Living with an illness, a difficult family member, or a job that pays the bills but doesn’t satisfy takes courage. Being a faithful Christian in the Canadian context takes courage.
So, both finding the courage to go forward when fearful, when life seems impossible and circumstances overwhelming, and giving encouragement to the discouraged is a dominant message in the Bible. Courage comes from being encouraged. We all need encouragement at times to keep living. What does it mean to be encouraged? It means that someone has given us hope, courage or confidence to keep fighting.
Someone defined Biblical encouragement like this: Encouragement is finding the courage, by God’s grace and strength, to run the race he has laid out before us no matter how difficult or painful the course.[i]
We can cultivate a spirit of courage and the ability to encourage others from four truths we find in Joshua 1:1-9. Here God encourages Joshua to be the person and leader he was called to be. Let’s look at four components of courage.
1. Recognizing God’s Purposes
Joshua was the man God had chosen to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. This happened after Moses had served the Lord, leading the Jews through the wilderness for forty years, and had now died.
Following a leader like Moses would not be an easy task. How do you fill the shoes of a great leader who gave the people God’s laws and led them for so many years? It would take a person who realizes they are not Moses and consequently is confident in who God made them to be. Who was Joshua that he could step into this role?
Forty years earlier when the children of Israel were on the border of their inheritance, the land of Canaan, Moses chose 12 spies to check out the land. Of the 12 one was named “Hoshea” who was the son of Nun. His name meant “May Yahweh save.” Before the mission, Moses changed his name to “Joshua,” a slight variation of Hoshea which means “Yahweh is salvation” (Numbers 13:16).
His original name was somewhat dubious, like “I hope God saves us,” whereas his new name exuded tremendous confidence like “God saves!” NO question. This is the name of a deliverer; this is a name of confident assurance.
You may remember that this is the Hebrew name of Jesus: “Y’shua.” How appropriate that Jesus’ name means “God saves.”
If changing your name gave you new confidence you would be tempted to head down to Vital Statistics and pay a fee to do it. But there was more to Joshua’s confidence than a name.
We read in verse one that after Moses’ death, the LORD spoke to Joshua. It is interesting that Moses had to die before God spoke to Joshua. Moses represented the Law then and for many centuries afterward, even to this day. So in a sense, the Law died before the children of Israel could enter the Promised Land. “For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering” (Romans 8:3). Obedience to the law was not enough to conquer the land; the people had to trust in God’s deliverance completely to enter into their inheritance.
How does Joshua slip into the role of leader then? Not by looking at his own abilities or strength of effort, but by recognizing God’s purposes for his life and knowing that what God determines to do will not fail.
Moses is dead. There is no one else. You are the one that I have chosen to lead this people.
Sometimes you are the only one who can do the job or fill the role. You feel inadequate when you look at yourself. You lack the gifting you think, or you lack the education, or you lack support. But God is calling you to do what he has chosen you to do. So what’s keeping you back?
2. Trusting God’s Promises
Now we need to take our eyes off of ourselves and square on God. Trust in his promises to go forward into life’s challenges.
But we see the obstacles and they seem insurmountable. How can we overcome such hindrances?
Joshua faced great obstacles in his mission too. These obstacles could have kept him from accomplishing God’s purposes if he had let them overwhelm him with panic. What were his challenges?
a) “Cross the Jordan River” – In Scripture, the Jordan often represents an obstacle, a hindrance to growth, ministry or success. It is possible that at the time of the year Israel crossed the Jordan to enter Canaan the river was swollen over its banks. How would they get across?
b) Entering a hostile land – Once they got across the river they were in enemy territory. They were giant people living in fortified cities and Israel saw themselves as “grasshoppers” in comparison. A further danger exists when these godless people pressure them to conform to the status quo of idolatry.
c) “You and all these people” – This was not a small group of people. Seventy entered Egypt when Joseph brought his family out of a time of famine, and one million men and their families left 400 years later. On top of that these people were known to be complainers and whiners.
These three obstacles would make any leader quake with fear. And fear is paralyzing when it gets out of control. Any thesaurus will list boldness and fearlessness as synonyms of courage.[ii] But courage often exists in spite of the presence of fear. True courage might possibly be most evident when someone does what they are afraid to do. Real courage is the ability to face dangers or challenges with resolve in spite of fear. As John Wayne said, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”
You can look at the obstacles and be afraid or you can trust in what God said he would do. What did God say?
“Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them – to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot…Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them” (1:2-3a,6). The land was called “the Promised Land” for a reason. God had promised Abraham that his children would have this place. In the next chapter Rahab, the lady who hides the spies checking out the defenses of Jericho, tells the spies that the people had heard about the Red Sea crossing and all their victories over different kings since. Now keep in mind that this was generations ago. And the people of Jericho have lived in fear of this invasion for decades. By virtue of that fact alone they were already defeated.
Here’s another shocker: The first time Moses sent spies into the land two came back and said “Let’s take it,” but the other ten said “there are giants in the land.” But according to Rahab’s report Israel could have taken the land forty years earlier. God had given it to them then already. Only fear kept them from enjoying God’s promises.
What other promises do we fail to trust in? Romans 8:1? 1 John 1:9? Philippians 4:6-7? I think sometimes we fear spiritual blessings and that’s why we don’t trust God. We live in a “fun” focused culture and if something does not amuse or entertain us it doesn’t interest us. So we are afraid that if we claim God’s blessings it won’t be fun. If that’s the case we are really messed up. TV commercials yell at us what will make our lives better or “funner” with an aggressive “must have” pitch. Meanwhile God without pressure offers his hand full of blessings.
3. Rehearsing God’s Principles
The only way we can know what God has in mind for us and what promises he gives to back that plan up is to study his word. Our courage finds its footing in the Bible. Of all the sources of encouragement, the Scripture is the greatest of all sources. When we turn to the Word in our time of discouragement we will discover hope again in these pages.
This is why the LORD says to Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous” and then points to his written Word. His Word is intrinsically powerful and is able to produce godly change in us. It is the way in which God is able to speak to us. It is not a quick fix; there is no magic pill in picking up your Bible and reading a few verses. But over a process of time as we pore over his truths we come to know God and discern how he works. The key is “time spent.”
To Joshua he gives three warnings in this regard:
“Be careful” – God warns against the danger of putting off time spent in the Bible. He urges Joshua to observe and carefully investigate God’s commands regularly.
“Obey all the law” – We don’t get to pick and choose what parts of the Bible we will observe and what parts we will ignore. We have to obey the whole counsel of God.
“Do not turn from it” – This is a strong call to consider Scripture as the objective standard we live by and our guard against moral relativity (or deciding for ourselves what is right and wrong).
Then the LORD tells Joshua what to do with the Scriptures:
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth” – Talk about it. Let it occupy your conversation with friends and family. If we occupy our mind with God’s thoughts and ways through our conversation we will be less likely to forget God.
“Meditate on it day and night” – Think about it constantly. If we are going to talk about it and apply it, we must know it and see how it applies to life.
“Be careful to do everything written in it” – Put it into practice. How we conduct our lives ought to be governed by God’s truth. C. S. Lewis wrote, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.” To do what the Word says we need courage. It takes courage to love, forgive, to sacrifice, to count the cost, and to follow Jesus.
I think it was A. W. Tozer who said we are like leaky vessels. We fill up on the Word and think we are “good” for a while but in reality we are leaking constantly and in need of constant filling. This is the danger with summer holidays: we think we have done our church “bit” and are entitled to time away from the regular schedule. Granted we need to take a break from some things, but the danger is that we are tempted to forget God. It all leaks away and we don’t even realize how hungry we are for God.
If we are going to find courage to face our world of negative influences and pressures we need to rehearse God’s principles for life. Courage comes from knowing God’s Word.
4. Resting in God’s Presence
Resting does not mean “sitting back” and letting God do what God does. Resting in God’s presence is having that sense of lightness in your chest that God is here. It is the opposite of the tightness or stress we often feel in our chests when everything depends on us. It doesn’t – God wants us to depend on him.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (1:9).
Remember the people of Jericho? They were defeated by their fear before the children of Israel even approached their walls. If we let fear get the best of us we are beaten before the battle even begins.
Instead, if we remember that God is with us we will have courage to face the day. Psalm 27:1 declares, “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid.” There is a verse to meditate upon.
God is present. The LORD told Joshua he would never leave him nor forsake him (1:5). Jesus also bore the prophetic name “Immanuel” which means “God with us” and concluded the gospel of Matthew saying, “And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20).
Whatever you are facing today, tomorrow or in the near future, you do not face it alone. God is with you. We may feel like God is very far away, but as someone once said, it is in those times that God is so near to you that he has to whisper. Wherever you go God goes with you. That is a promise to rest in and breathe a sigh of relief.
Application
These are great principles for Christian leaders. But, you say, I am not a leader. And I would beg to differ – yes you are. You may not be the leader of a group of people, but someone is following you. We don’t always know who is following us, yet they are watching your moves and imitating your ways. No matter who you are someone is following you.
With that in mind: Be strong and courageous. Know that God has a purpose for you. Trust in his promises. Read your Bible and know God. Then rest in the presence of our ever-watchful God.
Be strong and courageous for the LORD.
If you are a grad today, you are entering into a new land. You are leaving the safety of school and entering the workforce or university. The changes will be significant and I urge you to hold on to your Christian convictions.
If you are a recent baptism candidate, you are entering a new land. You have made a decision for Christ, to stand for him and not for the world. Your enemy, the devil, is going to put temptations and snares in your path. You will be tested and challenged on the grounds of your faith. Stand firm with courage that Christ died for you.
If you are going on vacation this summer, or making summer plans, you are entering a new land. Be careful that the pursuit of pleasure and relaxation does not dull your mind to the things of God. The temptation is great to skip church and forgo your spiritual disciplines for the summer. You are a leaky vessel – be sure to fill up on the God stuff.
If you are working in the machinery of society, you are entering a new land. Be strong and courageous for the sake of Christ. It may be that you work with pagans for the very reason that you are a light to them of the truth of our Savior. Stand up for Jesus in those dark places.
Be strong and courageous – God is with you.
AMEN
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