An extended member of my family has a profound fear of flying. He loves history, has the time and the means to travel, and would love to visit Europe – if only there was another way to get to the other side! Joshua 1 finds the new generation of Israel on the verge of going ‘to the other side’, camped on the doorstep of the Promised Land. We know the older generation feared the inhabitants of the land: there were too many, they were too strong, and they lived in great fortifications. That may well have concerned the next generation, but they probably added a few of their own as well, and Joshua likely had his own fears pertaining to his newfound role.
In his wisdom, God commands Joshua and the people forward. To strengthen Joshua’s resolve he exhorts him to “be strong and courageous”. Yesterday, we saw how God first reminds Joshua of his promise to Moses. But besides God’s promise and provision, he also gives Joshua a vision of the extent of their territory: “From the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. (1:4)” Although there is certainly an element of instruction (the extent of territory Joshua is to secure), I believe this also demonstrates the importance of vision. Any ground given by Joshua to fear had the potential to steal ground from the ultimate vision. If his eyes were on obstacles rather than opportunities, it would be easy to forget the Lord’s promise and provision backing the Lord’s vision!
Something to Understand:
All of us have fears in our lives that hold us back from doing, or experiencing, good things. Of particular concern is when we are held back from doing something to which God calls us. Fear is a powerful de-motivator; faith, on the other hand looks to God, and therefore beyond circumstances. This is why Paul exhorts: “we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”