Herman Melville said, “Familiarity with danger makes a brave man braver, but less daring.” Many aspects of life can change our perspective when familiarity increases. Certainly, a battle-tested veteran reacts much differently than a novice in his initial battle, and often can forget when confronted with that novice that they, too, once were in the same position.
When Moses passed the baton to Joshua to lead the Jews into the Promised Land, he repeated the words, “Be strong and of good courage,” in Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7 and Deuteronomy 31:23. We can get an inkling of where Moses had heard those words, as soon after, when God speaks to Joshua, our Lord also repeats those words in Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:9 and Joshua 1:18.
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Joshua 1:5-7
Strength and courage came easier to Joshua than to most before entering the Promised Land. Other than Joshua and Caleb, all of the adults who departed Egypt led by God died in the wilderness, due to their disobedience of the Lord. That lengthy list included Moses and Aaron. In those 40 years, the Jews had seen many hardships that had become nothing more than dust in their past, thanks to the protective hand of God. Yet when Moses sent 12 spies into the Promised Land, all but Joshua and Caleb returned greatly disgruntled at the presence of powerful giants. While all others demonstrated cowardice and weakness, we see the opposite in the words of both Caleb and Joshua:
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”
Numbers 13:30
“The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Do not fear them.”
Numbers 14:7-9
Life experiences in the lives of Christians should lead us to the same conclusion. Strength is not muscular power. Neither is it physical presence. Instead, it is the unwavering path that leads us to God. It is the strength of conviction that what He tells us in His Word is truth! At the same time, courage is not reliance upon self, but instead, is reliance upon our Lord, who has promised to never leave or forsake us. Though the giants surpassed the Jews in size, strength and numbers, those giants paled in comparison to God. When we feel overmatched and defeated, we have lost sight of the fact that we are soldiers in the army of the Lord!
Strength and courage cannot exist without God, yet our ability to rely on those attributes increases along with our faith, based on God’s continued presence in our lives. After Job had endured a great trial, it is difficult to imagine that he ever questioned the Lord again! In that manner, God uses trials in our lives to draw us closer to Him, and additionally, increases our strength and courage. Battle-tested Christians often can endure stronger attacks from the enemy, as what really increases is the ability to rely on God! Instead of praying for trials to end, pray for your strength and courage to increase. We should desire to fight valiantly for the Lord! In any battle, we should fear God, not man, for He alone is worthy.
3 “Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Revelation 15:3-4
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