Word of Encouragement (06/01/2023)

And they answered Joshua, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses! ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous." (Josh. 1:16-18)

The last prayer that the two and a half tribes offered (indirectly) on behalf of Joshua, their new leader, was that Joshua be strong and courageous. This prayer only makes sense. We want our leaders to be strong and courageous.

I believe that what they meant by “strong” was not primarily about physical strength or martial skills. It would not hurt to be strong in those areas as a leader, especially if he must lead his people in a military campaign. And Joshua was skillful in military affairs. While Moses did not personally engage in the few battles Israel had to fight in the wilderness, Joshua often led in the battles and brought victory to Israel. But Joshua did not have to be the strongest man or the best fighter to be Israel’s leader. What a leader needs more than physical strength is the strength of character and commitment to the mission of the community.

People are easily discouraged. They are quick to complain and blame others for their problems. When things get hard, they want to jump ship and find something easier. That’s why they are not leaders. A leader must be “strong” enough to resist such temptations and stay the course. His conviction should be strong enough to steady the wavering doubts of his people. His commitment to the cause must be strong enough to inspire the undecided, hesitating people to get off the fence and join him in the quest.

A leader ought to be courageous as well. He should be courageous enough to face the enemies and their opposition, however fierce they may be. He should know that anyone who stands for something will have those that oppose him; he should not be so naïve as to expect everyone to applaud him most enthusiastically and support his plans unconditionally. When he leads his men, he should be courageous enough to lead from the front, at the frontlines of the battle, not from the safety of a bunker. If he commands from a bunker, it should not be because he is afraid to engage the enemy on the battlefield, but because his role compels him to oversee the whole army and his military strategy. A true leader does not command his soldiers to do something he is not willing to do it himself.

But is it only the leader that should be strong and courageous? Though few are called to be leaders (in position) in the kingdom of God, all of God’s people should be strong and courageous. Don’t you want to be? We all can be. We don’t have to be born leaders. We don’t have to have innate qualities of strength and courage. All we need to do is to look to God, who is our strength and courage. We don’t have to be strong in ourselves if God, who is almighty, is with us. We don’t have to be courageous in ourselves if God, who is our victorious Champion, is with us. Does it matter who our adversaries and problems are if God is for us? We may be no match to them, but what are they to God? The two and a half tribes knew that Joshua could be strong and courageous as long as God was with Him. Let it be our prayer and our confidence!

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