Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Josh 1:7-9 (NIV)
Contained in the list of "do's" and "do not's" is a statement that finds echoes throughout the book of Joshua. "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged." And at the beginning of Joshua's span of leadership, fearlessness is a hallmark of his service. As a matter of fact, from Josh 1 through Josh 6, all of the fear and terror is on the side of Joshua's enemies. Their hearts were melting with fear. But then Ai happens.
After the disaster at Ai, Joshua trusts less in his own judgment. Now he has lost soldiers in combat. Now a loss tarnishes his record. After Ai, before every major battle, the Lord personally encourages Joshua with these words, "Do not be afraid."
Before the return to Ai (Josh 8.1)
Before the battle of the five kings (Josh 10.8).
Before the battle with Jabin (Josh 11.6).
Those words are followed with different instructions or predictions, but the most important part of the message is personal and to the point, "Don't be afraid, don't worry; this is what I want, and I will help you accomplish it."
Why this encouragement? Why the counsel up front to avoid fear? I believe that God well understands the burdens and dangers of leadership and he knows that fear is prominent among them. Some of you might answer that the leaders you know are among the most fearless people that you know. Some of them are; but some of them only appear to be.
Because of their experiences, some leaders struggle with fear. Fear of failure. Fear of falling short of God's plan or desires. Fear of winning the wrong battles. Fear of parts of the job for which we're not suited. Fear of a follower being lost or hurt or worse. Fear of having personal weaknesses exposed. Fear of a personal failure tainting a lifetime of public service. Fear of losing those closest to us because time is given to others who seem to demand it. God simply says, "Do not fear."
But what about discouragement? Sometimes discouragement is nothing but fear gone to seed. After we've avoided the things that make us fearful long enough, things just don't get done like they're supposed to be done. The inertia and the growing list of things to accomplish become the burden of discouragement. Or sometimes, a constant diet of listening to the fears and complaints of those who follow takes on a similar unbearable weight.
There is only one solution. Fear of the event is always worse than the reality. Do not fear, but go and do what God calls you to do.
How did things turn out? This advice becomes so engrained in Joshua's being that he, in turn, counsels his generals with the same advice, "Do not be afraid,"(Josh 10.25). And, in the end, Joshua urges his people to nurture only one fear: "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness" (Josh 24:14, NIV).
Grace and peace,
Ron
