Be Strong and Courageous

            Three times in Joshua 1 the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.  It is tempting to think of Joshua as a young man, facing his own inexperience.  After all, Jeremiah is scared to be the Lord’s man (Jer. 1:4-8), specifically because he is young.  And we’ve all experienced doing something for the first time—whether it’s driving or starting a new school or giving a speech or leading a meeting.  It’s scary when you don’t know what you’re getting into.

            But, Joshua is probably about 50 years old when the Conquest begins.  (Remember he was Moses’ aide de camp while Israel was at Mt. Sinai, 40 years before!)  Even keeping in mind that Joshua lived to be 110 (Josh. 24:29), this is no youth!

            So, why the fear?  Sometimes knowing what you are getting into is more frightening than not knowing.  I’ll tell you, I’ve had two crowns put on my teeth, and I would be very reluctant to get a third.  I’ve had people tell me that if they had known how hard it would be to quit smoking, they never would have started.  I’m guessing Robert Bobb, the state-assigned financial manager for Detroit Public Schools, would think twice before taking the assignment again.  You can multiply examples from all sorts of walks of life.  Sometimes you know how hard it’s going to be and need to hear the Lord say—three times—“Be strong and courageous.”

            Consider these factors:  Joshua was one of the spies who had originally investigated Canaan.  He knew that 10 of his 11 colleagues had withered under the prospect.  He hears the people of Israel say, “We’ll obey you just like we obeyed Moses.”  Can you imagine?  He knew full well that they had not obeyed Moses particularly well at all!  They grumbled, complained, and challenged.  “We’ll obey you just like we did Moses”?  Oh, boy!  Looking forward to that!

            Experience and inexperience are both susceptible to fear.  Inexperience needs to the courage to try something new; experience needs the courage to get back on the horse and try it again.  So, “Be strong and very courageous.  Do not be dismayed, for the Lord is with you wherever you go.”