Courage!

Courage!

Joshua 1:9 KJV

[9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

We see a young man named Joshua, who had seen God walk with a mortal man called Moses for several years years. Joshua had seen God speak with Moses, practically  face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Joshua had also seen several miracles performed before Moses, such as the ground opening up to swallow Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Joshua had also seen both Aaron and Miriam, brother and sister to Moses, punished with leprosy-like features, because both of them had cause to murmur against Moses. To make matters even worse, Joshua had seen God punish the same Moses for his disobedience by not allowing Him get into the promised land. Think of this: the man used mightily by God, and even the people could testify was God's friend, was denied access into the promised land because of disobedience. Can anyone then still plead any excuse for sin? Can anyone claim that God's judgement is not fair?

As you read all of these things, can anyone blame the young man Joshua if he wanted nothing to do with leading these rebellious and anger- inducing people? However, like all things that God commands, He knows that, by myself, I can never measure up. He does not ask me to strive to obey Him by my strength or intellect, but by daily dependence on Him. Whatever He commands, He gives sufficient grace for obedience. That is why the start of the verse above is instructive: God comes to Joshua and reminds him of His nature, power and promise. The same promise God made to Moses was being made to Joshua, and for all who know, God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. He fills all things in all ways, and there is nothing impossible for Him. He is the One who enables a man to go farther and further than he could ever go by himself. We need to meet this God and submit to Him. Our lives will be better off for it. 

In the event that you think courage is easy, two online definitions are as follows: 'the ability to do something that frightens one' and 'strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger or difficulty'. God asking Joshua to have courage came from God's faithfulness and consistency. He asks me to have courage and to press on, as He is with me all the way. If it were easy, it would most likely not be God. If I could do it by my own strength, then it is most likely not God. That is why the message about courage is both timely and applicable to me today. Fear may threaten, because of the weight of expectation or the dimensions of the assignment, but as long as I am sure that God ordained it, He will surely sustain it. As long as I walking with God, He will surely grant me success. I am careful not to define success the way the world sees it, but to be sure that God is glorified in and through me. God commands; I obey. God's time of favour is here.