By Logan Earles
After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:1-5).
Courage is often described as being able to do something although you are afraid. I think this is a decent definition but stop for a second and think about someone you have seen be courageous. What did they do? How do you think they felt? What was courageous about their action?
Courage is not a constant action or feeling but is determined by the situation that requires it.
Our lives today are filled with moments where we can practice courage. What’s so interesting about courage is that it is not locked to one situation but can be expressed through many different moments in life. We see this with Joshua, the new leader of the Israelite people as they were entering into the promised land. Joshua had to express courage in 3 different ways, and I believe that is why God told Joshua to be courageous three different times in Joshua 1:1-9.
Joshua needed courage to deal with the loss of a loved one in Moses, he needed courage to deal with his present situation and new role as leader of a nation, and he needed courage to face armies and cities in his future. Maybe you are in need of courage to deal with something in your past, to deal with a present situation, or something on the horizon. God has advice: let’s dig into it together.
Courage to Face the Past
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them (Joshua 1:6).
The opening to the book of Joshua tells us that Moses has just died and Joshua is now the leader of Israel. Joshua just lost his lifelong mentor and friend. Joshua and Moses were together almost the entire time the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness. Joshua saw all of what was happening on the mountain of God, he was their when Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it. He saw God heal the people with a bronze snake.
I think it’s fair to say that Joshua’s loss was bigger than many of the people in Israel because of how closely he worked with Moses. To face this loss takes courage. Grief is a pain that can take away your strength, motivation, and desires. When God gave the command to Joshua to be courageous, He gave it in the immediate context of Joshua’s great loss. It’s clear to me that God knows that to deal with the loss of someone; to deal with hurt in the past, you must have courage.
Courage to Face the Present
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go (Joshua 1:7).
The people of Israel needed a leader, and Joshua knew what this meant. It meant he had to deal with a bunch of whining and complaining people who never listened for very long. It meant that he had to advocate for them just as Moses did over and over again. Joshua was not only dealing with the loss of a loved one but a new reality of intense responsibility.
Days upon days of tasks and decisions. Our lives at times can feel as if all we do is make decisions, all we do is perform our duties and go onto the next day. This requires courage. Believe it or not, God understood that we are limited in our ability and understanding, and He knows that, for us to keep going, it will require a measure of courage.
Courage to Face the Future
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).
Sometimes our lives are filled with thoughts of the past and our present situation that the future comes at us like a brick wall. Joshua was not afforded the opportunity to just stay in the present and deal with his past. His future was coming quickly and there were actual brick walls in his near future.
The place that Joshua and the Israelites were about to go to was the same place that the people just one generation before were adamant was too scary to go. They were terrified. They had no idea how they could handle the people who lived in Canaan. Joshua and Caleb displayed courage back when they were spies and God commanded Joshua to have courage once more for the future that God will bring the Children of Israel into.
Courage from Above
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
The past, present and future all require courage to deal with. This is the reality of Joshua’s life and of ours.
What I love about what we see from Joshua’s story is that God gives him a promise. Three times God has told Joshua to be courageous. In every instance God has promised help with that.
God says to be courageous as Joshua has lost a dear friend, and, through it all, He will be with Joshua. God tells Joshua to be courageous as he takes up the mantle of leadership, and, through it all, God will be with Joshua. God tells Joshua to be courageous as he enters the promised land, and, through it all, God will be with Joshua.
Courage is not something that is only from within. In fact, I think true courage comes from above. Maybe you need courage to deal with something in your past, in the present, or in the future. Through it all, God is with you.
—Logan Earles is the associate pastor at the Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church. Photo by Michael Dziedzic of Unsplash.
