Be courageous

Notice below the number of times God brings the command to “be strong and courageous” before Joshua. 

Joshua 1: 6 – 9

“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 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 the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

What is courage? There’s one very important thing we need to notice about courage. Courage is seen in the person whose back is against the wall when the odds are against them when the pressure is on when the flaming arrows are close when the pain is intense when the attack is at hand.

God had given Joshua a project to complete. His first task was to lead his army into Canaan and drive out the people who lived there. There were seven nations living in Canaan, all of them larger and stronger than Israel. By all human standards, Joshua was facing an uphill battle. He had every reason to turn and run. That’s why God encourages him so many times: “Be strong and courageous”.

Do you ever feel like you’re facing an uphill battle? Do you feel like the odds are against you? Honestly, there are hundreds of times in our lives with situations that, to our eyes, seem impossible! There are many times in our lives when we need to hear God’s command to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous.”

Real success is not a matter of strength and courage alone, but strength and courage that comes from the knowledge that God is walking with us.