Be Strong and Courageous

A heart-stirring word from Bro Tim Bola from Ayr. A call to faith and courage.

Every command of God is founded upon His truth for our lives. God told Joshua to go and take the land. Joshua 1:7 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.

The Lord says, fear not. Don’t be afraid of your enemies - because the Lord your God will go with you. God gives a command and gives us a choice to obey.

You can know that God will not fail you. He will not leave you. He will go with you.

The people had known much oppression and slavery. In their time of bondage they had cried and the Lord had heard their cry. God remembered his covenant with Abraham with Isaac and with Jacob. God looked upon the children of Israel and answered their need. The Lord said I have surely seen the affliction of my people with Egypt and have heard they cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows… Exodus 3:7.

God had sent many plagues on Egypt, but Pharaoh continued to harden his heart. The plagues corresponded with the popular Egyptian gods of that day. The Lord rescued his people from Egypt, taking them to “a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

When they reached the land of Canaan God told His people: Be strong and courageous. Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

God had given His people the law. He had led them out, bringing them through many trials. His desire is that there was such a heart in them to obey Him. Why so? That it might be well with them.

The Lord doesn't just command His people to be strong and courageous. He doesn't just rescue them from Egypt. What He most wants for His people is that they know who He is, and what His heart is towards them.

God loves His people as a parent loves their child. That is the heart of God towards His people. The Lord says, I love you, and I'm with you, and my heart the best for you.

In the New Testament we have the same pattern. It’s alike to the time when He led the Israelites into the Promised Land.

God issues a command - the great commission. Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Here the Lord is sending out His disciples. He has shown them over the past years - of Himself, and of His heart, and of His disposition towards them. Now He sends them to take the gospel to the world.

He’s saying, you know who I am. Now you go - not because of yourself, but because I am with you. He upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, and He sent them… Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high… Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. They were praising God for what He had done and who He revealed himself to be.

As we live the Christian life we can expect the world to be against us. All those who live righteously can expect persecution to some extent. We have to have faith. We can rejoice and praise God for how He has revealed Himself to us. As we have this foundation of faith He will sustain us. He is with us. He will sustain us as we live in this godless world.
God gave the people of Israel many signs and provision. The Lord had looked upon their affliction. He had visited the children of Israel, and He had delivered them. Yet later they returned to despair and He had to remind them again.

The foundation for our faith is to know that God is - and that He's with us.
As they faced the prospect of a lot of giants and walled cities the people’s faith had faltered.

How about us? Do we believe in the promises of God for us? Let us remember what His heart is towards us. Remember that He is as a father, and that He know what is best for us, and He wants to give that to us.
Let’s keep in mind that it’s as we trust the Lord we can go on. As we obey the commands of the Lord faithfully we can know His blessings. Let us trust in Him, and rely upon Him. God has shown His forgiveness and mercy so many times. God showed mercy to His people over and over, despite their failings. As we go forward in faith and obedience we can receive His blessing, His strength and His enabling.