Hello FBK family.…What is the biggest fear you have had to face in life? No matter what season or times we live in, we will all face these difficult situations where we need strength and courage. Maybe for you it’s a change in jobs, a new path in life, a new relationship or maybe it’s simply trying to navigate the next set of ‘rules’ in our pandemic journey. Returning to the next ‘new normal’, after more than a year of being isolated looks like new territory for many of us. I expect that some of us have been feeling comfortable working from home and leading at a slower pace. However, our routines are changing once again, and it can be overwhelming for some to go back to “normal” when things feel so different. Let us encourage you to consider that this is often the time when we can feel God leading us to get out of our established comfort zones and be courageous to embrace a new season.

Joshua, Moses’ successor, experienced that kind of change with an overwhelming assignment to lead the people of Israel from the wilderness to the promised land. You can find this story in Joshua 1:1-9.

Joshua Installed as Leader

¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ² “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. ³ I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

⁷ “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. ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. ⁹ 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 after receiving this prompting is a great example of one who got out of his comfort zone, becomes courageous, and then lead the people of Israel into conquering the promised land of Canaan.  At first glance, it looks as though it must have been easy for Joshua to take on such a challenge. However, if that was so, God would not have said to him three times “Be Strong and Courageous”. Joshua and the people of Israel must have faced fear and discomfort for many significant reasons.

First, Moses the nation’s leader died and everyone was mourning. When we are grieving something or someone, it is hard to take the courage to move on.

Secondly, they were all used to following Moses, and now they had a new leader. When a group, even a nation, is used to a leader, it takes a pivot to follow a successor(s).

Finally, Joshua was likely uncomfortable in being asked to fill such big leadership shoes of Moses, not to mention he had the monumental task of organizing 2.5 million people, to pack up their tents, cross the Jordan river, and then fight to conquer the land. Despite his likely fear, Joshua showed himself to be a leader of great strength and courage.

So, what exactly is there for us to learn in this?

1. To go forward into a new promised land, we must deal with our own fears and cross our Jordan river. (Joshua 1:6)

Israel may well have grown quite comfortable in their rhythm in the desert, especially the young generation who only knew life in the wilderness and found it confusing to enter into a promised land, which required effort in stepping out in faith to conquering. Though God promised deliver them, a very real reality was that they must still fight and conquer it. They had to harness their fear and temporary routines in order to enter a strange land.

Likewise, Joshua had to do the same, and base his confidence upon God’s promise and obey His instructions to move forward. His faith allowed him to set his hope for a better land on the other side of the river.

Remember, Jesus himself once said that ““With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Joshua relied on a revelation that as he stepped out of his comfort zone, he would see a miracle from God.

2. Before we can receive courage, we must have a foundational hope.

Joshua, along with Caleb, had known about the promised land for a while and were able to see it with their own eyes during the first exploration of Canaan. At the time, they were confident that God would help them conquer the land. Joshua had hope in the promise of God for this land, and in Joshua 1:5, God reconfirms His promise by saying “ 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.”

When we trust in a God who will never abandon us and will protect us, and never fail us, we are filled with the hope of a future in His will. The opposite is true as well, when you lose that hope, you are in danger of losing all courage.

3. You can find courage in:

God’s presence (Joshua 1:5) – Joshua knew God would be with him, and if God was for him, no one can be against him and the nation, because God never fails.

God’s word (Joshua 1:7-9) – Before taking on the land, God gave firm instructions in that his courage and strength would come from studying, reciting and meditating on God’s word. There are few things that will happen when you do that: His word helps you see yourself as God sees you; it will give you His perspective on the situation and His character. All of this would surely give you the courage to step into any changing situation.

God’s faithfulness in the past – Joshua witnessed and remembered God’s miraculous acts; The plagues and deliverance from Slavery, the parting of the red sea, and mana coming from Heaven. He remembered God’s goodness and that gave him courage. How has God been faithful to you in the past? Take courage and comfort in that.

God’s people (Joshua 1:10) – Joshua did not accomplish this great assignment on his own! He was surrounded by officers and also the nation itself who trusted in his leadership. At the end of chapter 1, the nation reminded him to be strong and courageous as God called him to.

4. Courage is action! Courage is our response to fear and discomfort, so take action!

Joshua responded with obedience to God’s call and promise. Once he heard from God he immediately got the nation and army ready by informing them of the plan and God’s promise. Even though God had promised to give them the land that they set foot in, this also meant that they would have to fight and conquer it by faith.

Whatever God is leading you to do, take courage, do not be afraid for He is with you.

Isaiah 41:10, God personally tells us this:

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.

Through the Holy Spirit, God will pour out His power over us to cross the river and enter into a new season of life. As Jesus followers, He has already given you victory and you can trust Him with all of your heart that He will not abandon you.