For forty years Moses led the children of Israel through the wilderness. This was a daunting task, yet the Lord sustained his servant in the midst of difficulties and trials, and notwithstanding opposition from within and without. Under great provocation on one occasion at Meribah Moses struck the rock twice, and for this sin he was not to be allowed to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. “Because ye believed me not” the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.” Numbers 20:12. The task of leading the children of Israel into Caanan was to be given to Joshua.
The task allotted to Joshua was little less formidable than that laid upon Moses, as the land of Caanan had to be dispossessed of its inhabitants, such as the Caanites, the Hittites and the Amorites. For this task no ordinary measure of strength and courage would suffice, so that we find the Lord, after the death of Moses, encouraging his servant Joshua in these words: “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware to their fathers to give them.” And again the Lord said to him, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” These were surely words of encouragement to Joshua as he faced the task of taking possession of the promised land.
The need for strength and courage arose from two factors. One was the strength of the enemy. The inhabitants of the land were not to be easily dispossessed of their inheritance and, particularly in the low country, they had the use of horses and chariots. So, too, their cities were walled and could not readily be taken possession of. The other reason why there was need for strength and courage, was the inherent weakness in the tribes of Israel themselves which came to light so clearly in the wilderness journey; that is, a lack of staying power and a readiness to be cast down in the face of discouraging and trying situations.
The strength and courage needed by Joshua at this time was not so much natural strength and courage but moral and spiritual strength and courage. It was not at this juncture that Joshua was first tried as to whether he possessed these or not. Early in the wilderness journey Joshua had been one of the twelve spies sent to spy out the land of Caanan. His moral and spiritual strength and courage was revealed in the report which he and Cabebe brought back. They assured the congregation that they were well able to take possession of the land. It was not reliance upon their own strength that they gave such a report, but as Joshua said: “The Lord is with us: fear them not.”
The exercise of true strength and courage is bound up with obedience to the law of God. The Lord said to Joshua, “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” It is not a sign of weakness but of strength to cleave to the law of God and to yield obedience to Him who is worthy of it. Joseph’s rejection of the advances of Potipher’s wife was not a sign of weakness but of the highest moral strength and courage when he said “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God.” Those who show such courage are valiant for the truth upon the earth. And Joshua was one of these.
How is this courage and strength obtained? Joshua needed to look to the Lord for it. Dependence upon the Lord for all things is God-honouring. To be self-sufficient is God-dishonouring. And such will be left to themselves. But the Lord also directs Joshua as to how he is to be strengthened with His strength inwardly and made very courageous. The Lord says to him, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do accordingly to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” This is the secret of moral and spiritual strength and courage. And does this not also reveal the cause of the lack of spiritual and moral strength and courage in our day? Is it not because the Word of God is not read and meditated on by men and women in all ranks of society? But Joshua on his part put the Lord’s directions into practice and consequently took possession of the land. That the same spirit prevailed in him to the end of his days is seen in that final bold challenge he gave to the children of Israel when he said: “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”