Who Will Win the Big Game Today?
It was football game day for Joshua. He was the new quarterback. Moses was gone, and Joshua took his position. Israel had the ball. This was Joshua’s first play ever as quarterback. He went to the huddle—made up of just him and God.
Did you ever wonder what they say in huddles? In this one, God did all the talking. We read about it in Joshua 1:1-9.
First, God had Joshua envision winning. In fact, He assured Joshua of victory, simply because God was going to be with him. The Promised Land was the end zone they were aiming for. God told Joshua how big that zone was “From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 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.” (Josh. 1:4-5)
From there, God had one thing He wanted to convey to Joshua. It was important, because He stated it three times in the next four verses: “Be strong and of good courage.” God knew the apposing team would be intimidating. Imagine playing your first game against a scary bunch of men. Simple survival might become your goal. But really, the objective was bigger than that. The goal was to win.
For us, isn’t every day a new game? The sun rises to a new field with new, as-yet-unseen challenges. It’s a good idea to start the day in a huddle with God. Let Him speak to you through His word and His Spirit. He wants to encourage you, and He has the same promise for you as He had for Joshua. “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.”
God knows the challengers you will face, and some might be scary. He would tell you three times, “Only be thou strong and very courageous.”
The requirement of you (and of Joshua) is in verses 7-8. “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.” (Josh. 1:7-8)
In summary, God’s advice in your morning huddle is to trust and obey. Trust your loving, victorious God, and obey His word.
Joshua had a huge team of Israelites to lead to the Promised Land. God knew it would be tough. Joshua’s team would not always work together. And the opposing team would be sly and brutal at times. But he had God with him. So there was no need to fear, even though it would seem there was plenty to be afraid of.
God has the same message for you today. Be strong and courageous, no matter what comes up. God is with you. Keep your heart on God and His word. Apply what you know from the playbook. Your goal is not to just survive. Your goal is to win. That means you have to be courageous.
How? Read Eph. 6:11-18. Three times in Eph. 6:11-14, Paul tells his readers to stand. As you are courageous today, don’t shrink. Don’t fall down. Stand.