The Invitation/ Prepared/ Built Into Divine Nature

Joshua Teaches Us To Be Courageous

Joshua September 1, 1992

Dear Christian – Be of good courage and you too will see the works of the Lord as you enter into his promises.

”Joshua fit the battle of
Jer-i-cho …
Jer-i-cho …
Jer-i-cho.
“ Joshua fit the battle of Jer-i-cho. And the walls came tumbling down. “

These words from an old Black slave spiritual are about all I knew of Joshua while growing up. I was aware that he had led the army of God against the city of Jericho and at his trumpet blast the walls which secured the wicked city came tumbling down and Israel’s army came pouring over the rubble.

It was a neat story, but I could not identify with the story’s champion, Joshua. It was nothing more than a neat story about a legendary guy who did an incredible thing. But the Old Testament figure, Joshua, like so much of the Old Testament, is a shadow of spiritual reality that comes bubbling alive when we come to know Jesus. The Book of Joshua summarizes the story of Israel and how they took possession of the Promised Land. The book opens with Joshua, who has just been anointed as successor to Moses, receiving reassurance from God that he will be with Joshua the same as he was with Moses.

Every Christian can take heart in the exhortation which God personally makes to Joshua as Joshua prepares to embark on his mission of faith. God’s exhortation is about courage. Four times in the first chapter alone, Joshua is exhorted to be of good courage. Here is a man renowned in history for courage, whose fame as a mighty and courageous man of God has stood for thousands of years, and yet he had to be encouraged and reminded by God to be of good courage. Each one of us can identify with Joshua because no matter how brave we seem we need to gather our courage as Joshua did. Just as Joshua did, we can find courage in God’s comforting words and the promises that God personally makes to us.

Learning to exercise faith creates a courageous heart in us. Just as Joshua had to be courageous enough to trust God so faith is built in us when we muster the courage to trust the Lord. Joshua oversaw the great miracle of Israel entering into the Promised Land and in the process saw many wonderful miracles. He saw the sun stop; the Jordan River dry up; the walls of Jericho fall; hailstones from heaven fall on the Amorite army, and more; but through it all Joshua had to trust God and be of good courage.

Dear Christian – Be of good courage and you to will see the works of the Lord as you enter into his promises.