Whatever the fear, look it in the eye!

'...I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you...our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he [is] God in heaven above, and in earth beneath'. [Joshua 2:9,11]

In Deut. 1:38; 3:28; 31:6-8; 23; Joshua 1:6-7,9,18. At least 6 times, almost like a mantra, Joshua keeps being told “be strong and courageous”. In Deut. 31:6 the whole company is told the same thing. Clearly this was going to be a major requirement in the conquest of the land, Deut 7:17-19.

This is a reflection of the nature of the season that surrounded a people that were entering into God’s promise. If we take the land as representing all the purpose of the Lord for the church, then clearly this same quality (i.e strong and courageous) will be required of us at this time. The implication is that, like Israel, we have to overcome “nations greater and mightier” than ourselves. If we revert to natural sight and thinking then we will be overcome by fear.

In Joshua chapter 2 we are given an inside look into the mind of the enemy. The nations that Israel had to conquer were large and strong, so that God had to keep saying to Joshua ”be strong and courageous”. Jericho itself was an enormously fortified city. Yet the real truth (Rahab reality), that would never have been apparent from outside, was that the nations were terrified of Israel.

This is a picture of the demonic realm as it contemplates the arising and advance of an invading militant church in these last days. In the past many believers have lived in fear of attacks of the enemy; we now know that he is terrified of us.

See Matt. 8:28-32 'And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?' and note the authority of Christ and the response of the demons.

'And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.' [Matt 11:12] A violent Kingdom requires violent men and women. The enemy is afraid of you.