רַק֩ חֲזַ֨ק וֶאֱמַ֜ץ

Joshua 1:6-9

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Examine / Explain

This is a strong reminder that even when God calls to a place we can still have fear within us. Faith is going and doing it anyway. Three times in four verses, Joshua is told to be strong and courageous. I know Jousha and Caleb were the only spies that believed the Israelites could take possession of the land God told them to take, but when we start taking that step of faith, I think Joshua was human and may have doubted himself and the process a little. God had to remind him and the people not to wavier from the assignment put before them. Do things the way God said to do them and they will have success and God will always be with them.

How do I apply this to my life?

“Raq chazaq amets” Be strong and courageous. I want to think these verses were also given as a speech to the people, and the words “Be strong and courageous” were a battle cry. Men getting pumped up to head out into the battlefield. I know I would need that reminder to step into the battle. I need it right now with the way our world is going. But we also need to remember that the battle is not with flesh and blood. It may be manifested among the people but the battle, the war, is spiritual. Looking back through time, it has been the same spiritual battle since time existed. Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy anything that brings glory to God. He is after the children, the family, and the men who should lead and protect both. Where are we? Is Jesus about to come back? Maybe. Is He coming back? Most definitely! Are we ready? This world will get even wilder. The amount of division is stretching its arm further and further across the world. Where are we falling on division? Are we being peacemakers? Are we looking at the protester in the street and praying for their soul? Do we look at bombs and missiles flying through the air on TV and wonder if the person at the end of it path knows who Jesus is? Can we love those whom we as humans deem unlovable? Jesus died so that all may have the chance to be saved. Not just the people I like in my church. All people have the same opportunity to be saved. No one said it would be easy to love your enemy. I’m not even sure what that would be like if they were so bent on my destruction. I know that if God gives us the assignment, we are to do it. Even in the fear, we are to go! We can do God’s will and still struggle with doubt in our minds. We can even accomplish the task set before and not have that “trust” we seek in God until the task is done. Are we moving? What are we doing? Are we being strong and courageous in the battle?

What is my response?

Father, I want to be obedient to the calls and assignments you give me. I know fear will rise in me. I know I will want to be passive about whatever it is. I will want to avoid the discomfort I know is in the task. But how can I avoid when Jesus willingly went to the cross knowing full well the extent of the pain and suffering He would endure? Even though the physical torture was excruciating, I don’t think it compared to the separation He experienced with You. With taking on our sins, He had to experience our death for us. He had to take on eternal separation. He had never experienced that before. And being raised from death three days later, He shows that death is now conquered. Those who believe in Jesus will also be raised from death and be with Him for eternity. Thank you for the miracle that is salvation. I pray that spread the gospel and help men without any fear in me. Help me be strong and courageous for you, Lord. Amen.