Courage

Numbers 13:30
Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, “Let’s go up now and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!”
 
The passage above is from one of my favorite sections of scripture. In Numbers 13-14, Moses sent the leaders from each of the twelve tribes out to scout the land of Canaan. It was the land that God promised to give the Israelites. All twelve men went out to scout the land. The land was beautiful, flowing with milk and honey, just like they were told it would be. But the land was inhabited by people who the Israelites thought could overpower them. So the leaders spread a bad report about the land and decided they couldn’t conquer it. But Caleb quieted the people, and insisted they could conquer the land. Joshua also refused to bow to the fear of his peers. In that moment, Joshua and Caleb expressed godly courage. This show of fear and cowardice led to grave consequences for the cowardly, but great reward for Joshua and Caleb (read Numbers 13-14).
 
Godly courage is different than worldly courage. Joshua and Caleb were not confident in their own strength and courage. They were confident in the God who sent them on the mission and the courage He poured into them. They knew that if God called them to a land to conquer, He would provide the victory. In summary, the God-given courage and the reward He promised, were far greater than the adversity and pain they would face to claim it. What ground has God given you that you don’t have the courage to conquer? What has He already promised you that you are too afraid to seize? The road will be tough, the terrain will be rocky, the enemy is growling, and the people between you and there may look powerful. But God is the conqueror. I’ve spent too much time cowering in fear to things God has already defeated. Let’s quit letting fear keep us from what God has called us to and display the courage to act. I’d rather stumble on the way to Canaan than strut through the wilderness. How about you? After all, God’s people don’t draw back.
 
Hebrews 10:39
But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.