He Makes Me Brave

Have you ever accidentally bumped your phone and suddenly a song from your playlist comes on?  Early Sunday morning I was hiking up Elise’s peak and I’d just taken a picture of the sun breaking through the clouds and as I was nearing the top of the mountain a worship song started to play.  I’d almost forgotten about the playlist as one of my kids put a few songs on it several years back.

The fascinating thing about it was as I climbed up the mountain I was thinking about the book of Joshua which I was reading through in my quiet time. In chapter 5 Joshua looks over Jericho, the first fortified city that stood in the way of Israel taking the promise land. I imagine Joshua being a bit overwhelmed at the prospect of what he and the children of Israel faced.

The story goes on and Joshua’s attention shifts from what seemed to be an impossible task to a man standing before him with a drawn sword. Suddenly Joshua found himself on his face worshiping the “Commander of the LORD’s army,” and told to take of his shoes for he was on holy ground (5:14-15). Most Biblical scholars believe this was an encounter with Jesus before His incarnation.

Pondering this story I rounded a corner and saw how the dense clouds could not hold back the brilliance of the sun, I thought of how Joshua’s whole vision shifted from Jericho to Jesus. Any fears and doubts about what was ahead were now consumed by the brilliant glory of “The Commander of the LORD’s army!”

I was deep in thought about some of my own “Jerichos” and the overwhelming challenges here in Africa and our world. When all of the sudden I was surprised by music.  At first I couldn’t figure it out and then it dawned on me what had happened.  The words to the bridge of the song kept repeating….

“You make me brave, You make me brave, No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way, You make me brave, You make me brave, You call me out beyond the shore into the waves, You make me brave, You make me brave, No fear can hinder now the promises You’ve made.” (You Make Me Brave, Amanda Cook).

It was a holy moment to say the least. It was as if the Spirit was asking, “Tim are you looking at Jericho or Jesus, the stronghold or the strong and mighty Sovereign King who now reigns over all and keeps His promises.  As I walked to my favorite prayer spot I recalled these words from Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua could bravely march around Jericho because He saw the One who marched ahead of Him into battle. How much more have we seen in Jesus Christ who not only defeated our enemy at the cross but was raised from the dead to reign forever as our conquering King. Be encouraged today as you may also face a Jericho  that Jesus, The Commander and Chief of the LORD’s army dwells in you with His courageous Spirit, and you can sing out:

“You make me brave …No fear can hinder now the Love that made a way…The promises You’ve made!”