Courage Through Uncertainty

 

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)

 

I have a confession to make, typically I do not place much significance on New Years Day.  In reality, it is the calendar switching from one month to another with the unique thing being the year also changes.  However, the events of 2020 have made most of us happy to see 2020 coming to an end.  While 2021 represents new hope as it represents a blank slate, it also comes with uncertainty as the future always does.  It is therefore crucial for each of us to find courage as we face 2021, hoping it will be better. 

 

Similar to us standing at the beginning of a new year, Joshua 1:1-9 finds Joshua standing at the shores of the river Jordan facing the uncertainty of leading Israel into the Promised Land.  While scripture does not provide the thoughts that might have been going through the mind of Joshua, based upon the history of Israel’s wandering through the wilderness, we can surmise he might have had fear.  Joshua had also been to the Promised Land once before (Numbers 13) and seen the might of the Canaanites living in the land but also had faith God would help Israel defeat them (Numbers 14:6-9).  However, Joshua also knew he and Caleb were in the minority with the 10 other spies giving a fearful report (Numbers 14:1-4). 

 

Even though Joshua had faith in God bringing Israel success as they entered the Promised Land, he knew he was going into the land with the descendants of those who were afraid of going in.  Knowing what was going on in the heart and mind of Joshua, God tells Joshua three times to be strong and courageous so he can lead Israel by,

 

1)      Context:  God will be with Joshua as He was with Moses (Joshua 1:1-6) – Joshua is part of a historical context of God’s plan formed in the Pentateuch or the first five books of the Bible.  After the fall of humanity in the Garden of Eden, God promised a savior (Genesis 3:15).  The fulfillment of this promise began with the promise given to Abraham that his descendants would form a great nation and that they would occupy the land promised to them by God (Genesis 12:1-9), a promise passed down to Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 26:3-5, 35:9-13).  The book of Exodus provides the account of God delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt where their population grew, Leviticus is the recording of the law given to Moses by the Lord with numbers providing an account of Israel’s struggles in the wilderness and God’s forbidding of that generation entrance into the Promised Land.  Deuteronomy summarizes the events for the next generation of Israel.  It is this next generation that Joshua is about to lead into the Promised Land.  God’s command to Joshua to be strong and courageous is God’s reminder to Joshua that God has promised this land to Israel and will be with him as they enter and occupy the land (Joshua 1:5).

2)      Compliance:  Obedience to the Book of the Law (Joshua 1:7-8) – There is a condition to God providing His strength and courage to Israel, obedience to the Book of the Law given to Moses.  While the laws of man often have the purpose of placing restrictions on people so they can be controlled, the laws of God are there to provide boundaries for maintaining a civil society.  When asked which of the 10 Commandments was the greatest, Jesus replied with the need to love the Lord God, and to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40).  From this foundation, one can live a life in compliance with the other eight commandments.  Therefore, compliance with the Book of the Law is not restrictive but the establishment of boundaries promoting a civil society and why most civil societies in the world today set up laws using the foundation of the 10 Commandments. 

3)      Courage:  Knowing God will be with him wherever he goes (Joshua 1:9) – God knows there will be tough battles and formattable enemies as Israel crosses the Jordan to enter the Promised Land.  While having the proper context and being compliant with God’s established boundaries are important, God knew that Joshua needed the courage that would come from knowing God would be with him wherever he went.  Jesus told the woman at the well that true worshippers of God worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).  While context and compliance provide the truth of how Joshua can have strength and courage in facing the uncertainties of crossing the Jordan, he also needs the strengthening of his spirit by knowing God will be with him. 

 

As the year 2020 comes to an end and we face the uncertainty of 2021, we too must have the proper context, compliance, and courage.  Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble (John 16:33) but that He has overcome the world.  This places the year 2020 in the context of part of the troubles of this world with those choosing to follow Jesus overcoming the challenges of the world.  One advantage we have in facing 2021 is that we are can be cautiously skeptical, optimistic, and better prepared to face challenges based on what we learned from 2020.  As Christians, we have the advantage of knowing the Lord will always be with us (Matthew 28:20).  One of my favorite new Christian songs is from United.  Take a moment to watch this video of the song and remember, there is another in the fire that may come in 2021. 

 

Happy New Year everyone and make 2021 the year we stand strong and courageous.