How can we apply Joshua's courage in facing challenges in our lives today? Verse in Focus “Joshua 11:21: ‘At that time Joshua went and exterminated the Anakim from the hill country—from Hebron, Debir, Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction with their cities.’” Why This Moment Required Courage • The Anakim were towering warriors who had terrified Israel forty years earlier (Numbers 13:32–33). • Their strongholds sat on elevated, fortified terrain—humanly impossible territory to capture. • Joshua moved forward anyway because the Lord had promised victory (Deuteronomy 1:30). Key Principles Drawn from Joshua’s Example • Confidence in God’s promise precedes courageous action. • Obedience must be total, not partial; Joshua “devoted them to destruction,” leaving no pockets of compromise. • Courage grows when we remember past faithfulness (Jericho, Ai, the long-day battle of chapter 10). Practical Ways to Live Out Joshua-Style Courage Today 1. Identify your “hill country.” • A strained relationship, chronic illness, financial strain—any circumstance that feels higher than you can climb. 2. Anchor yourself in God’s unchanging word. • Meditate on a specific promise each morning (e.g., Isaiah 41:10; Hebrews 13:5-6). • Speak it aloud when fear surfaces. 3. Act decisively, not hesitantly. • Make the phone call, confess the sin, submit the résumé—whatever obedience looks like today. • Partial steps breed lingering giants; complete obedience clears the hill country. 4. Keep record of God’s past victories. • Journal answered prayers. • Rehearse them with your family or small group; yesterday’s deliverances fuel tomorrow’s courage. 5. Stay in community. • Joshua led an army, not a solo expedition. • Seek encouragement and accountability from believers who will remind you of God’s promises. Additional Scriptures to Strengthen Courage • Joshua 1:9—“Be strong and courageous… for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” • Psalm 27:1—“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” • Romans 8:31—“If God is for us, who can be against us?” • 2 Timothy 1:7—“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” • Ephesians 6:10—“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Walking Away With Courage Joshua’s victory over the Anakim shows that no challenge is too entrenched, too imposing, or too long-standing when God has spoken. Stand on His promises, obey fully, act decisively, and watch the “giants” fall. |
    |