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 1:9
Charles Elwood “Chuck” Yeager was born in February 1923. He joined the Army during World War II and was assigned to be an aircraft mechanic with the Army Air Force. He enlisted for flight training and flew as a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot on the Western Front. Although he would often say, “There is no such thing as a natural-born pilot,” after the war, he became a test pilot. At age 24, Yeager was selected to fly the Bell XS-1, a rocket-propelled craft built for high speeds. On October 14, 1947, piloting the X-1 at an altitude of 45,000 feet over a dry lakebed in California’s Mohave Desert, Yeager punched through the sound barrier. He had been warned of the potential dangers of doing what had never been done before, yet, he said, “You do the best you can. If it turns out good, fine. If it doesn’t, that’s the way it goes.” Showing both strength and courage, Yeager proved he had “the right stuff.”
After 40 years of desert wandering, the Hebrew people were about to enter the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua. Three times God told Joshua to “be strong and courageous.” This was a directive, not a suggestion or request. God said “just do it“—it was a command. The Lord gave His promise to Joshua that He would be with him in every endeavor. Author Paul Apple says, “God’s presence is the difference maker.”
Fear could have kept Yeager grounded, but he knew every inch of the craft he would fly and had confidence in it. Fear could have kept Joshua east of the Jordan, but he knew the promises of God and had confidence in Him. Knowing and doing are two separate things. Theologian Charles Spurgeon said, “In Christ, you have strength for every weakness and the courage for every fear. … Trust God’s presence to dispel your fears and give you renewed strength and courage.” As with Joshua, the Lord’s words are more than suggestions. God has given you power; you have the “right stuff.” Pray for those in the military and those who support them as new technologies are developed and deployed.
Today’s Verse: Joshua 1:9
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.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Joshua 1:1-9
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 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. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 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.”
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
