Joshua 10:25


Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” ~ Joshua 10:25

Earlier in the book of Joshua, God had told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous”, and He repeats this phrase to Joshua three times in the first chapter alone (Joshua 1:6, 7; 1:9, 18). Now Joshua stands over five kings which soon he will put to death. He has been victorious over these five, and though they are not all the kings he will fight, these five stand as an example of all the others. It is as though all his enemies were already overthrown. Joshua is now the one speaking the words, “be courageous and strong” to those who are listening, to those whom have fought the enemy. It is not that we are to follow Joshua’s example of taking another’s life, even if they are our enemy. Certainly, though, we do fight spiritual enemies, and those we are to put to death! The spirit world will bring trials and temptations and in these we stand tall and strong and courageous under the name of Jesus, and we will be victors. We also see that as Joshua was encouraged by God, Joshua is now the encourager. This is something we can model in our own lives. We all go through experiences which are unique to our lives, yet also have a universalism to them. We will encounter people whom, though not every detail is as was ours, it is close enough that we can encourage them through the victory we have been granted by our loving Lord. As God encourages us, so we encourage others. Romans 15:5 says this: “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had.” There is victory in the name of Jesus!

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