Real Courage fights with God.

Joshua has a decision to make now.  The Angel of the LORD just gave him the battle plans for Jericho.  They need to march around the city one time per day for six days.  On the seventh day, the Israelites need to march around the city seven times and then make a loud blast with the ram’s horn.

“And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him." (Joshua 6:5 ESV)

Now the question comes into play.  Will Joshua present this battle plan to the Israelite leaders?  Will he tell them that the battle plan is to just walk around for seven days?  Will he tell them about his encounter with the LORD?  Will he have courage that is real enough to overcome his doubts, his fears, and his enemies?

So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD." And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD." (Joshua 6:6-7 ESV)

Clearly, the answer is, “Yes.”  Joshua did have courage real enough to follow through on God’s plan.  Joshua understood what we should remember as well: “Real courage fights with, not against, God.”  When we fight against God, we will always lose.  When we fight with God, we win.  The choice is ours.

And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout." So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually. (Joshua 6:8-13 ESV)

How about you?  Do you have courage real enough to approach your relationships, your marriage, your family, and your life in God’s ways?  Do you draw near to God, fight the real enemy, and love people?  Do you fight with, or against, God?