I have never thought of myself as someone who is strong.
I have never thought of myself as someone who is brave or courageous.
Maybe you are like me and read in awe about the lives and stories of the saints. We make statements like, “There’s no way I could be a leader like Moses or Joshua. I could never have the courage of Rahab or the Israelites.”
But when reading the Bible, I often forget one simple thing:
Those saints that we read in awe about were simply ordinary, flawed people willing to be obedient to our extraordinary Almighty God.
Each one of us could easily be just like them if we surrender our will to God.
I constantly have to be reminded that God brings the victory. No matter how diligent or careless I am. No matter how flawless or mistakenly I move. If God wants victory, He will grant it!
That certainly should take the pressure off me and you. Shouldn’t it?
Maybe God wants to use the hard circumstances, the pressures, to press us in to Him.
So, as I read the Book of Joshua, I kept that in mind…that these were ordinary people who simply said yes. They were faithful and obedient. It doesn’t mean that they didn’t have fear when they said yes. Yet they took action on God’s behalf in the face of that fear.
Joshua was an ordinary young man given a task by God through Moses. In Numbers 13, twelve spies were sent to examine the Promised Land, Canaan, and bring back a report.
Only 2 of the 12 spies, Joshua and Caleb, had a positive report. In Numbers 14, the 2 of them reminded the Israelites that the land was exceedingly good, just as God had promised. Even though Israel’s enemies were strong, since God promised that Israel could take possession of Canaan, Joshua and Caleb also trusted that promise. Even though the people of Israel didn’t.
Because of their committed faithfulness to God, Joshua and Caleb would be the only two who would get to enter the Promised Land. Everyone else died in the wilderness. Joshua would lead this generation of the Israelites into the Promised Land.
Rahab was a Canaanite prostitute minding her own business in Jericho. In Joshua 2, she protected and hid two Israelite spies. Rahab had heard of many of God’s miracles. She made her confession of faith to the spies declaring the greatness and superiority of God in heaven above and on earth below. Rahab and her family were saved from the destruction of Jericho.
Because of her courage and faithfulness to God, Rahab went from a prostitute to a biblical heroine recognized in Hebrews 11:31 for her faith in action. In addition to that, God blessed her by allowing her to become an ancestor of Christ Jesus as the great, great grandmother of King David, as recorded in Matthew 1:5.
The stories of Joshua, Caleb, and Rahab show me that God’s grace and redemption is truly extended to anyone who believes, regardless of their background or lifestyle.
Many believe they have to be good, respectable, or religious in order to receive salvation from Jesus. That is a lie. It doesn’t matter what you have done in the past. God’s grace is freely and readily available through Jesus Christ!
Joshua, Caleb, and Rahab were ordinary flawed people who put their faith in our extraordinary God and took action!
So, when God told the Israelites in Joshua 1:9 to be “strong and courageous,” I believe that is an invitation to trust God. Trust in God’s promises. Trust in God’s presence. Take action.
The bottom line is that I may never feel strong or courageous. Many of our patriarchs in the Bible doubted themselves and felt weak, so I would be in good company. But I cannot let fear stop me from doing what God has called me to do. My fear may still be there, but God shows up right in the midst of it. We are never alone in our inadequacies. God is always for us and with us!
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power
is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
– 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Peace and grace to you,
