Are You Misusing the Verse 'Be Strong and Courageous’?
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What does it mean to strong and courageous? The phrase shows up in a few verses tied to the story of the Israelites entering the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy, Moses spoke to the people who were about to embrace God’s direction for their lives, and in Joshua God speaks to the man about to lead these people. The verse is part of a God-destined narrative. Let’s take a closer look at that story and how we can apply its meaning to our own lives.
What Does Be Strong and Courageous Mean?
At the beginning of Joshua 1, the Israelites are getting ready to enter a new phase of life. After wandering in the desert for 40 years, they were on the brink of a fresh start. God promised them this new place after he delivered them from slavery in Egypt.
Escaping Egypt wasn’t easy. 10 plagues and a flip-flop Pharaoh later, the Israelites were on their way to the Promised Land. God protected his people, even as an angry Egyptian army charged toward them at the edge of the sea. He instructed Moses to raise his hand parting the waters and allowing a safe escape route. When the Israelites were safely across, he closed the path covering the Egyptians in the process.
You’d think the Israelites would be grateful. Look at all God had done, the miracles he’d performed. Instead, when times got hard, they complained. They questioned God’s plan of leading them out of slavery and into freedom.
Because of their complaining and disobedience, many of the Israelites didn’t make it to the Promised Land. God turned their exodus into a 40-year journey. After this length of time, part of the generation would die and not enter the Promised Land since they lacked faith.
The leader hat had been handed off to Joshua and there he was, ready to take the survivors to their new life at last. God speaks to Joshua before he leads the people onward.
Joshua 1:2, 5-6: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites…No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”
Joshua was about to lead the Israelites into what God promised them. It wasn’t just any old land. It was a specific place. As God promises in Jeremiah 29:11, he has great plans for our lives. We’re each created uniquely for a purpose.
God told Joshua he was ready to take what was his, to lead in his purpose. Moses had been the people’s leader for 40 years. Taking over that role was a big deal. Joshua needed to be strong. He needed to be courageous.
Of course, he wasn’t leading the people alone. God reminds him he will be with him. He will show up, just like he showed up in Egypt and the Red Sea. Joshua and the Israelites had been walking in the wilderness for a long time. It was time to take what was theirs.
What Is the Context of Deuteronomy 31:6 and 'Be Strong and Courageous'?
Deuteronomy 31:1-6: “Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
During his journey in the wilderness, Moses disobeyed God. He was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Instead, he encourages the people to be strong and courageous as they continue without him.
Moses gave this encouragement in front of all the people, highlighting Joshua as an example of strength and courage. God places people in leadership roles on purpose. He gifts leaders with the skills needed to lead well, however, they still need to choose to do what God has asked them to do. Moses is encouraging Joshua to not only be strong and courageous himself but to be an example of strength and courage to the people.
The passage also references Sihon and Og. While the Israelites were traveling, they needed to pass through different kingdoms. Their people fought back, trying to prevent the Israelites from reaching the land God promised them. With God’s help, the Israelites ultimately defeated Sihon and Og and were able to continue on their journey. God protected his people then, and he will protect them as they move forward into the Promised Land.
How Can This Verse Be Misinterpreted?
We need to discern when to be strong and courageous. These words were written for specific people at a specific time. God has a calling for each of our lives. If a situation doesn’t seem to be lining up with God’s will, we should seek direction. When we walk within God’s will for our lives, we can be confident he will provide the strength and courage we need.
We should not, however, use this verse as ammunition to complete any task, especially if the actions don’t line up with the heart of God. Be strong and courageous. Go rob a bank. Not so much.
It can be difficult to know if a certain decision is within God’s will. We can take one step at a time praying for direction. Isaiah 42:16 says, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them.” God will walk with us, taking our hand and leading us through the wilderness and to our own promised land.
How Can We Apply 'Be Strong and Courageous' in Our Lives Today?
We can be confident that God will give us the strength and courage needed to move forward to the places he has called us. God showed up for the Israelites time and time again. We will show up for us too.
God wasn’t asking the Israelites to do something easy. They were to embark on a new life in a new land. That had to be scary. Many times we also face a daunting situation, but we can be confident God is with us.
Being strong and courageous doesn’t mean we have to rely on ourselves. We can summon God’s strength and courage. As born-again believers, God is living within us as the Holy Spirit. His strength is our strength, and his courage is our courage.
Life can be challenging, but we don’t have to go through it alone. We can dip into God’s strength and courage to accomplish what God has set out for us to do. God told Joshua to be strong and courageous before he moved forward with God’s plan into the land God promised him. God doesn’t promise everybody everything. We all have our own unique paths and purposes. As we make decisions in our lives, we need to seek God and his will. When the decision lines up with his plan, he will give us all the strength and courage we need.
Further Reading
How Can Christians Be Strong and Courageous Like Deuteronomy 31 Says?
Be Strong and Courageous: How to Rest in God When Fear Overwhelms You
Photo credit: GettyImages/Orla
Jenna Brooke Carlson is an elementary dual language teacher in the Chicago suburbs. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers, she enjoys spending time with other writers and perfecting her craft. Her debut novel, Falling Flat, spreads the message that healing can occur, even after tragedy. Along with writing, she’s pursuing her dreams of creating a community of brave young women, who she can encourage to live out their dreams amid challenges and imperfection. Her days are busy, but she’s determined she can conquer anything with a fuzzy blanket and a hot cup of tea. To find out more about Jenna, visit her website at jennabrookecarlson.com.
This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy-to-read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. We hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in your life today.