Deuteronomy 1:38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
The Difference Between Success and Failure
{"file":"/FirstLight10-10-16.mp3","place":"user:19"}
Many a heroic effort has been fueled by the courage of conviction. Sometimes courage is the difference between success and failure. As the children of Israel were about to go in to possess the land that God had promised to them, Moses reminded them of their past. Verses 26-28 record Moses saying, “Notwithstanding ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God…Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying , The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.” The people of Israel were coming to a land that was greater than they were, and the courage was taken right out of them.
The truth is that the people of Israel could go into Canaan because they had Someone with them Who was greater than those who would oppose them. In reading this story, you can see what Moses was encouraging the children of Israel to do in the days ahead. He said, “But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither: encourage him: for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.” The difference between Israel’s conquest and defeat was largely the courage of conviction, being convinced of what God had said.
There are two ways you can give courage to other people. First, point them to the promise. Verse 21 says, “Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee: go up and possess it…fear not, neither be discouraged.” Israel’s fear came from forgetting the promise that God had made. God is always true to His Word. Sometimes, the way we get courage is to look back at God’s promise.
Secondly, look at the past. Remember that the God Who made the promise is the God Who gave the provision. Verse 29 records Moses’ reminder to the people of Israel. “Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes.” God was not sending them in blindly, but leading them faithfully.
I can have courage by remembering God’s provision for me in the past and anticipating it in the future. Can you think of anyone who needs courage today? You may think, “Yes, I need courage.” Well, you cannot give courage to others without gaining some yourself. You cannot remind others of God’s promises without being helped by that yourself. You cannot remind others of God’s past provision without being reminded of it yourself. Take courage and share some with other people today.