Saturday, July 10: Strong and courageous!

Physical strength is an attribute that has been honored by men throughout history. Being that we are competitive by nature, pointing to our pride, that strength has been measured throughout time. Certainly, this is an age-old occurrence, though we can mark its history easily by the Olympic Games, a competition of bigger, stronger and faster. While muscle might define outer strength, inner strength is called courage. Courage is not defined in terms of size, though the ability to face larger adversaries certainly points to someone bigger on the inside. Think of David, when he was still a lad, and faced the giant Goliath! As Christians we are called to be both strong and courageous.


8 “Therefore you shall keep every commandment which I command you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land which you cross over to possess, 9 and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
Deuteronomy 11:8-9


In the verses above, Moses is re-telling the words of the Lord to the children of Israel, before they enter the Promised Land. In his oration, Moses reminds them to be strong. After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, what should have been an 11-day journey from Egypt to Israel, the Jews could look back and see where they had failed. Upon Moses sending spies into the Promised Land, the people were afraid, as the spies returned with stories of giants in the land, comparing the size of the Israelites to grasshoppers. Only Joshua and Caleb had the courage to follow the Lord into battle. So in punishment, the Lord forced the Jews to roam the desert sands until every unbeliever had died. Entering the Promised Land called for courage, as the Jews knew the size of the enemy. Additionally, to fight the giant inhabitants would take strength.

Interestingly, there are nine verses in the Bible using the phrase, “Be strong and of good courage.” They are: Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:6, Joshua 1:9, Joshua 1:18, Joshua 10:25, 1 Chronicles 22:13 and 1 Chronicles 28:20. In the three verses in Deuteronomy, Moses prepares Aaron. Though Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, the Lord selected Aaron to lead the people. Three times, Moses encouraged Joshua with the phrase, “Be strong and of good courage.” In Joshua, the Lord speaks those same words to Joshua three times. So Joshua heard that phrase six times and then he gave the same advice to the people after capturing the five kings, in the verse from Joshua 10. Finally, the last two times we read this phrase has King David speaking to his son, Solomon, who was to take David’s place as king.


Do you think the Lord is asking us for the same strength and courage? Strength does not just refer to a physical attribute. Strength is the resolve to wholly lean on Jesus' name. This world is a difficult place. We can't do it alone. We need Him, yet most of the time, the situations He places us in call for our courage. The Lord will win the battles but we need the courage to stand alongside Him. Watch and see what He accomplishes! It doesn’t matter how large the enemy is. It doesn’t matter how many soldiers are in the army surrounding you. It doesn’t matter what small odds for survival the world would give you. God is bigger. He lives inside of you. Just as the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, He goes before you!

22 You must not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself fights for you.’
 Deuteronomy 3:21


What are the giants in your life? Be strong and of good courage…and trust in God!


To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
For God is my defense,
My God of mercy.
Psalm 59:17