Still Looking for Joshuas: Strong & Courageous Men Today

Today’s Passage – Joshua 1 – 4 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 1 Thessalonians 1 – 5; Proverbs 12; Psalms 56 – 60)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – James 4:10

Read the “0312 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this passage – “What Mean These Stones?”

In a world full of uncertainty—political chaos, cultural pressure to conform, families under attack, and churches needing bold leadership—where are the men who will stand like Joshua? God is still looking for a few good men who will answer the call to be strong and very courageous.

“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” – (Joshua 1:5-8)

“18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.” (Josh 1:18)

Three times in Joshua chapter one, God admonishes Joshua to be strong and courageous. Joshua had a very difficult task ahead of him: he was to take over for perhaps the greatest leader the world had ever seen – Moses. He was to bring the congregation of Israel into the land of promise, and he was to lead them in battle against all of the inhabitants of the land. This was a huge job for any man, and God wanted to make sure that Joshua was mentally prepared for what lay ahead for him.

Joshua had already demonstrated courage and strength in his life prior to his being given the position as the leader of the nation. Consider the following qualifications that Joshua already had going for him:

• He served the man of God. He was “Moses minister.” It takes a strong and secure man to serve another man faithfully. Joshua was the “behind the scenes guy” in much of the first five books of the Bible, but we never read of Joshua murmering or rebelling in any way against the leadership of Moses. He served Moses for 40 years as they wandered through the wilderness.
• He stood for right. When the rest of the congregation, including Aaron, was worshipping a golden calf, Joshua was separated from them, waiting patiently for the return of Moses. When ten of the spies came back with an evil report after spying the land, Joshua and Caleb came back ready to fight. They knew that their God was far superior to any giants that were opposing them in the land of Canaan.
• He studied the Scriptures. He was an expert in the Law that God had given Moses. God stated that the “Book of the Law” was in his mouth. He knew the Bible. He had studied the Scriptures with his mentor for 40 years.

Those three things are the ingredients of a great leader. Joshua was someone who knew what was right to do and was strong enough to do it, even when the rest of the crowd might be pushing him in the other direction. We could use some more Joshuas in America today:

• Fathers leading their homes spiritually despite busy schedules and cultural headwinds.
• Husbands defending biblical marriage and family values kindly but firmly.
• Church members willing to serve quietly (like Joshua did for 40 years) rather than seeking spotlight.
• Men in the workplace or community standing for truth when it’s unpopular.

Listen to the song – A Few Good Men sung by The Clark Family

What this dying world could use is a willing man of god
Who dares to go against the grain and works without applause;
A man who’ll raise the shield of faith, protecting what is pure;
Whose love is tough and gentle; a man whose word is sure.

God doesn’t need an orator who knows what just to say;
He doesn’t need authorities to reason him away;
He doesn’t need an army to guarantee a win;
He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry-
Men who’ll face eternity and aren’t afraid to die-
Men who’ll fight for freedom and honor once again-
He just needs a few good men.

He calls the broken derelict whose life has been renewed;
He calls the one who know His Son to stand up for the truth.
Enlistment lines are open and he wants you to come in-
He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry-
Men who’ll face eternity and aren’t afraid to die-
Men who’ll fight for freedom and honor once again-
He just needs a few good men.

Men full of compassion, who laugh and love and cry-
Men who’ll face eternity and aren’t afraid to die-
Men who’ll fight for freedom and honor once again-
He just needs a few good men.

So men, the question isn’t whether God is calling—He is. The question is whether you’ll answer. Start today: serve faithfully where you are, stand for what’s right even when it’s hard, and hide God’s Word in your heart. He’s not looking for perfect men—just willing ones. Will you be one of the few good men?