Be Bold And Courageous

Today’s meditation is taken from Joshua 1:6-9, Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 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)

1. Be strong and courageous in the responsibilities God has entrusted to you

When God spoke to Joshua, thrice He emboldened him to ‘be strong and courageous.’ The first time God told Joshua to be strong and courageous was because he would cause His people to inherit the land that He had promised to their fore fathers. Joshua had the huge responsibility to inherit the land, and divide it among the people, and hence God wanted him to be stout hearted. I think that Joshua must have doubted if he could accomplish this great task that God had entrusted to him, and the Lord who knew his heart had to assure Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Remember that when God gives us a responsibility, He also equips us with strength and courage to fulfill the same. Often times we get overwhelmed when we think of all the responsibilities that are handed over to us. There are responsibilities with regard to the family, obligations at work place, so also we have certain responsibilities toward society and at church as well. We may be in doubt as to whether we can accomplish all of these responsibilities laid upon us. Let me remind you that it is God who has given us all of these responsibilities, and the Lord therefore encourages us to be dauntless. We are not to grow weary and be afraid of these responsibilities. There are many children who want to give up, and not continue with their studies. Be assured to know that the God who gives you the responsibilities will also give you the strength to complete the same.

Job’s testimony

Job said it this way in Job 23:14, “He will fulfill what he has planned for me; that plan is just one of the many he has;” (GNB)

We all know that the problems, and calamities that came upon Job were innumerable. Even his wife despised him, and asked him to curse God and die. In the midst of such enormous hardships, Job was able to say that God was able to fulfill all that He had planned for his life.

This should be our resolve too, and this is the reason why we need to be courageous in the midst of all the challenges we face. While we may be discouraged, and want to give up, we should be resolute to believe that God will give us strength and courage to go through. The words of God to Joshua hold for every one of God’s children. God’s word reassures us that irrespective of the challenges that we may face with regards to the responsibilities entrusted to us, remember that God wants us to be strong and courageous because He will never leave us or forsake us.

Elijah gave up

Even the prophet Elijah who was a mighty prophet of God spoke this way.

We read in 1 Kings 19:4, Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. "It's too much, LORD," he prayed. "Take away my life; I might as well be dead!" (GNB)

The Prophet Elijah had won a major victory on Mount Carmel, and displayed the wondrous glory of God to the people. Soon after when Queen Jezebel threatened Elijah with a message that she would have him killed, Elijah fled for his life. He sat down under a tree, and wished that he would die.

There are many who like Elijah despair of their lives, and are wishing to die. The word of God reminds us that God will not tempt us more than we can endure, and that He will give us strength and courage to carry on.

When Elijah gave up, God did not and these were the words of God to Elijah as recorded in

1 Kings 19:15-16,The LORD said, "Return to the wilderness near Damascus, then enter the city and anoint Hazael as king of Syria; anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king of Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. (GNB)

To the one who gave up on life, God gave the task to go, and anoint three important people whom God had chosen.