Why we can be so brave
Be Strong & Courageous (Part 2)
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Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. … Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:7,9 (ESV)
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Now we get to the heart of these verses.
Which is obvious considering how much it’s repeated.
Be strong and courageous.
Interesting that it’s a command from the Lord. I wouldn’t think that this kind of thing would be commanded by God.
It’s an overflow of a life lived by faith.
The person who has true faith in God -- who trusts God with all they have and all they are -- would naturally be courageous.
Perhaps this is more of a supernatural fulfillment for us today.
After all, faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit.
Making this both a choice for us to make and a fruit that the Spirit grows within us.
Well, we have that reality now, but the people in Joshua’s day didn’t have the Spirit living within them yet. Which is important to remember anytime you feel like judging the foolishness of the people you read about in the Old Testament.
The sad thing is that I’m often struggling just as much, if not more, than they do.
But God is gracious & merciful and He gives us so much -- including strength & courage for the spiritual battles.
Why can we be so courageous?
Why could the people of Israel be so courageous back then?
Because God is with us.
Indeed, living within us.
You have complete access to all the strength and courage you could ever need.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2026 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
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Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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