Have you ever had to step into the role of someone who left REALLY BIG shoes to fill? Has God ever asked you to do something that is bigger than you ever dreamt? It could be quite daunting to take on a huge challenge, but if God is with you in it, you can be sure that He will equip you to rise to the occasion.
Joshua was Moses’s servant, the lowliest of positions, yet God told Moses to start grooming him to take his place to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 1:38,
“Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.”
How do you think Joshua felt about being appointed to succeed Moses? The Bible doesn’t come right out and say it, but no less than a dozen times between Deuteronomy 3:22 and Joshua 10:8 Joshua was told by the Lord God, by Moses or by the Israelites, “Be strong and courageous” or “Do not be afraid”! He needed a lot of encouragement to build him up for the enormous task that lay ahead of him–to lead the people of Israel into their inheritance. Perhaps he was also worried that the people might not accept him as a lowly servant being propelled to the highest authority over them. But by the time Moses died, Deuteronomy 34:9 says,
“Now, Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heeded him, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.”
And finally, in Joshua 10 and the battle with the five kings who came against the Gibeonites (whom Israel had made a peace agreement with), Joshua got the message! It decisively clicked in his heart that God was on his side, and he did not need to be afraid or discouraged when the enemies threatened. Joshua confidently spoke to the Lord and said,
“Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon. So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies.” (Verses 12-13)
Now that is audacious! He understood at last that when God is with you, all the authority of God’s arsenal is at your disposal. And he had the boldness, the courage to ask for the impossible—that the sun and moon stand still! (Talk about mustard seed faith!) And God honored his request. Now it was his turn to give the voice of encouragement to the men of Israel. As they stood on the necks of those five defeated kings, Joshua declared to them,
“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” (Joshua 10:25)
Are you struggling with low self-esteem like Joshua? Do you feel very unqualified for the job the Lord has asked of you? Do your feet feel small in the big shoes God has offered you? Be strong and very courageous! Do not be afraid! If God has called you to do something you might be ordained by the laying on of men’s hands, but the anointing and commissioning has come from God Himself. He will empower you for the work. He will strengthen your resolve. He will equip you and teach you what you need to know to step into your calling. And He will help your feet grow into the role He has ordained for you, because He sees what you will become rather than what you are now and knows how big your shoes will need to be. You have all of Heaven’s resources at your disposal. Exercise your faith audaciously! Do not be afraid; the Lord Himself has also promised to go with you every step of the way. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
Be encouraged to step out to do great things for the Lord today!
P.S. You can read for yourself all the occasions that Joshua needed encouragement in the following verses: Deuteronomy 1:38; 3:22, 28; 31:(6), 7, 8, 23; Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18; 8:1; 10:8.