By: Dale Weckbacher
Text: Joshua
1:1-9
Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded
you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
(ESV)
We will resume our study in the
book of Acts next Wednesday and wanted to use this post to share some thoughts on
this day after the election in the United States. As of my writing of this post, the results of
the Presidential election remain uncertain.
We should not be surprised at uncertainty during the presidential
election of 2020 for the entire year has been one of uncertainty. Times of uncertainty in life cause us to sit
at the crossroads of either responding in fear or responding with courage. The text of Joshua
1:1-9 indicates that God wants his people to react with courage for the
text tells Joshua to be courageous three times (Joshua
1:6; 7; 9). In 2
Timothy 1:7, The apostle Paul reminds Timothy that fear is not from God
with God giving us power (Acts
1:8), love (John
3:16), and self-control or soundness of mind.
I find it sad to see the United
States, a nation that stood up to Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor, that
stood up to radical terrorism after 911, now cowering in fear of a virus and
condemning President Trump. who had this
virus and courageously fought it with the help of his doctors encouraging people
and giving hope just like Roosevelt did after Pearl Harbor and President Bush
after 911. What saddens me the most is
to see many condemning the courageous leadership of President Trump and giving
their vote to a man who ran for president from his basement in fear. I want to challenge my fellow Americans to find
hope in courage and not live lives of despair dominated by fear for fear is a
liar.
The United States and the world face
many challenges. Joshua too faced many
challenges and most likely had some fear as he began leading Israel into the
Promised Land. He most likely remembered
his last trip into the Promised Land and the fear of the 10 spies returning with
a bad report (Numbers
13). Joshua was at the side of Moses
during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and witnessed the rebellion
of the people, perhaps wondering if this next generation accompanying him would
succumb to fear like their parents. This
is why God told Joshua three times to remain strong and courageous.
No matter how the election turns
out in the United States, God’s people must remain courageous. This does not mean the abandonment of wisdom
in taking precautions against sickness, injury, or death, but that we remain
courageous while taking these precautions.
If I must wear a mask while going to work to provide for mine and my
family’s needs, I will do so with courage.
I will courageously take precautions while going to the store, taking my
family out for a meal, and worshiping my Lord at Church and not imprison myself
in fear at home. These are perilous times
and not a time to cower in fear, but a time to stand in courage. May God bless everyone reading this
post.
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