Brave Obedience

The book of Joshua begins with a staggering promise:

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying:

Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (v.1-5)

Yes, Joshua’s mentor and the only national leader the people had ever known was gone. But God just promised Joshua His own presence. On top of that, Joshua was to lead the people into a land God had already given them, and into battles with a guarantee of victory as certain as the very Word of God!

But notice what God tells Joshua next:

“Be strong and of a good courage…” (v.6)

In fact, God tells Joshua to be strong and of good courage three times, just in the first chapter of the book of Joshua—and then the people he is leading tell him the same thing in verse 18!

This may not seem like a propitious beginning for Joshua as a leader, but I’m glad God highlights it.

Why? —Because you and I are in the same position as Joshua. Just like Joshua, we have been given a sure promise of victory by God Himself. And just like Joshua, all we need to do is obey God, and victory is ours.

Just like Joshua, God Himself has promised to be right there with us as we go forward to the victory He has promised. But just like Joshua, we too are often in need of the reminder to “be strong, and of a good courage.”

You see, even when victory is guaranteed, obedience still takes courage. Even Jesus, Who was without sin, asked the Father to spare Him the suffering of the cross if it was possible. But He remained submitted and faithful to the will of the Father, and faced each phase of His arrest, trials, torture, and eventual death on the cross with perfect strength and courage.

Victory was sure, but it required courage to obey.

How did Jesus find the courage to face the pain, humiliation, and injustice of the cross? Hebrews 12:2 tells us:

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus kept His eyes on the end goal, and in the light of the joy of full and free salvation purchased for mankind, He was able to endure the pain, and the shame seemed like nothing in comparison with the joy of heaven to come.

Perhaps today you are facing temptation or trials. God has promised victory. He has promised His presence. We must only accept His grace to be brave enough to obey.

“For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” 

(Hebrews 12:3)