Courage to be Obedient
"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it, to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful...Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:5-9
Joshua was a pioneer of sorts. Striking out in to an unknown land, leading people in conquest for God. But I don't believe this is the main focus of his story, nor one of the key lessons to learn from his life. We could get caught up with the exciting story of Joshua and the people of Israel facing overwhelming odds, and miss that it is God who has gone before them to prepare the way, and God who leads them out and on. God is the real pioneer.
"Be strong and very courageous..." (Joshua 1:7) not primarily because you're facing the unknown, or needing to overcome in some great battle, but be strong and have courage to follow God's will. Courage to do things God's way. Courage to put God's word as priority.
There are some unknowns for the people of God as they set out in to the promised land, but God makes many things clear; what they will face, and what it is they must do. Courage is needed not simply to face the unknown, but to say 'YES' to God in our choices and decisions. Courage is needed to be obedient.
Jesus is the one who has gone before us, shown us the way, "given us every place we set our feet" (Joshua 1:3); we don't need courage to start something new, Jesus has already pioneered salvation on our behalf by dying on the cross in our place. We do, however, need courage to follow in His footsteps and be obedient TODAY. The Israelites, each person, had a choice to be obedient and trust God. Courage was found in God's presence with them. We all have a choice today, to lay our lives on the line to follow Jesus. Courage comes from walking every step with Him, and setting our feet in the footsteps He has already made for us. Chose to walk in Him today!