Unleashing Success
Embracing Faith, Courage, and Obedience
I have yet to encounter someone who doesn’t aspire to succeed. While some may have lost hope or resigned to their fate, believing success is unattainable or even becoming skeptical of it, I’ve never met someone who genuinely desires a life of failure. We all yearn for success, but the question remains: are we willing to pay the price? In this post, we’ll explore Joshua 1:1–10, where God gives us a charge for achieving success in any endeavor He places in our hearts.
God spoke to Joshua, appointing him as the new leader of the Israelite people following the passing of Moses. Moses was a remarkable and accomplished leader who had a close relationship with God until his last breath. Stepping into Moses’ shoes would be no easy task.
The new leader had to walk closely with God, just as Moses did, while also earning the trust and respect of the people who had followed their Hebrew prince since his return from the wilderness until his eventual demise. These individuals had witnessed God’s power demonstrated time and time again through Moses. Thus, anyone stepping into Moses’ role needed to demonstrate that same power.
God’s appointment of Joshua came accompanied by a promise. God promised Joshua victory in every battle he would face to claim the promised land. Ordinarily, one would think that hearing God speak those words should be enough to encourage anyone to take action. After all, who can overcome us when God is on our side?
Unfortunately, we humans often face doubts and uncertainties. We may acknowledge God’s power and have heard His voice, yet we also see the challenges and adversaries before us. Not everyone possesses the unwavering faith of Joshua. In his generation, he was one of only two men who witnessed Israel claiming God’s promised land.
Joshua wholeheartedly believed that God could deliver what He had promised. Conversely, an entire generation, comprising thousands of men, perished without experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promise because they lacked faith. They relied on what they could see, which was tainted by their limited understanding of their own abilities, rather than on their understanding of God. To witness God’s power in our circumstances, we must have faith that defies the evidence before our eyes.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5 (NIV)
If you’ve ever embarked on a journey with someone who abandoned you along the way, or if you’ve had to halt your progress because your companion quit, you understand the significance of God’s promise to never forsake you. Jesus stated in the New Testament that before constructing a house, one should calculate the cost to ensure one possesses what it takes to reach the end. Countless unnecessary hardships can be avoided by simply considering the cost before commencing any venture.
However, when God assures you that He will never leave your side, no visible obstacles should deter you. God does not lie or change His mind. If He tells you He has your back, He truly does.
“Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 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. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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 afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6–9 (NIV)
Joshua’s immediate response to God’s instructions is truly inspiring. He wasted no time and rallied the people, essentially proclaiming, “Alright, folks! Let’s go and claim what God has given us!” He didn’t question God or doubt himself. He didn’t compare himself to Moses or belittle his abilities. He simply heard God and obeyed without hesitation. That’s courage demonstrated through action.
Just because God calls and sends us on a mission does not mean that we won’t face challenges. In fact, God’s adversaries will rise and fight precisely because you have been entrusted with a significant assignment. Their hatred for God will lead them to despise and oppose both you and your mission.
This is why strength, courage, and complete obedience to God are crucial. Your strength and courage will sustain you when the adversary strikes, preventing your downfall. Through obedience, God’s enemies will find no foothold to infiltrate your camp and defeat you. Ahead of us lies a war, but each battle will end in victory if we follow this path.
