J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Hobbit leans more toward the fanciful and child-like side of story-telling, at least when compared with his epic sequel trilogy The Lord of the Rings. But there are profound adult-level life lessons to be unearthed within.
Take for instance this easily skipped-over scene when Bilbo is creeping down a tunnel inside the Lonely Mountain, toward the lair of the Dragon, Smaug.
“It was at this point Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterward were as nothing compared to it…
He fought the real battle that day in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait.”1
Bilbo’s moment of decision illustrates a weighty truth.
Courage is cultivated in unseen places.
No one shows up ready-made to face a dragon. The same goes for mountain climbing, church planting, parenting in the modern world, actual battle-fighting and every other great but perilous human endeavor. There is a necessary preparation that has to occur – a working out of the cost.
It usually happens alone and unglamorous, where no one else can see.
Accomplishments that come after can seem flashy. But existential bravery is often a mere implication. Great stands are the product of internal choices already made.
It’s tempting to think of the people we read about in the Bible who did great things as larger than life. But the authors of scripture take great pains to present their characters in human color – often to embarrassing degrees.
Peter continually getting called out for being wrong.
David’s adultery and awful parenting.
Abraham practically pimping out his wife to Pharoah.
Yeesh!
Some figures, however. take a little more study to bring down to earth and make them relatable – like Joshua.
The book of Joshua begins “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ‘Moses my servant is dead.’” (1:1)
Joshua’s story emerges from the shadow of Moses. To really get Joshua, we have to begin here.
Moses is an incomparable person of salvation history. Even today, he is considered the most important person in all of Judaism – the giver of God’s law.
Despite being a Hebrew, Moses was brought up and educated as Egyptian royalty, making him one of the most privileged people to ever walk the earth. He enjoyed a special relationship with God – speaking with him intimately, and being physically exposed to God’s Glory. Over the course of his life he authored the Pentateuch, performed miracles, and of course delivered the entire people of Israel from slavery.
Talk about a larger-than-life figure!
But now he’s gone. All leaders die and need to be replaced. Now, it’s Joshua’s turn to step up and take the nation forward.
But once-in-a-generation-leaders make for a hard act to follow. There is a reason we call them “once-in a generation” and not “twice.”
Jump on Wikipedia and read about the legacies of Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Alexander the Great, and Martin Luther King Jr. Even in the cases where men like these had a clear successor, that person is rarely considered a success.
Niccolo Machiavelli, writing on power dynamics in the Italian courts during the Renaissance, remarks,
“There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.”2
Countless second-generation leaders have found these words to be painfully true.
Unlike Moses, Joshua was born a slave. As a young man, he must have shown some ability and prowess. By the time we arrive at Exodus chapter 17, he’s already functioning as a commander in the (albeit rag tag) Hebrew army.
From this point forward, we always find him by Moses’ side. Most significantly he was one of only two tribal leaders who trusted God to lead them into the promised land.
His faith in God triumphed over his fear of giants. You can read all about it in Numbers 13:1-33). The integrity and courage he demonstrated that day, alongside his friend Caleb, made him the natural choice to lead the people once Moses passed.
But at this moment, Joshua isn’t just facing down a leadership transition. He’s also reeling from the loss of a friend and mentor.
Joshua must have loved Moses. You can hear deep admiration in some of the closing and summarizing words of the Pentateuch. Joshua almost certainly penned these additions. He calls Moses “the greatest prophet”, and the “most humble person on earth.”
We read in Exodus 33:11 that “[God] would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return…but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” Joshua wasn’t just Moses’ secretary. He was a faithful apprentice, there for all the highs and lows of Moses’ leadership – and constantly learning.
To borrow New Testament terminology, this relationship was one of discipleship. We read in Deuteronomy 34:9 “Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him…”
Just as Jesus prepared his disciples to lead the church, and Paul in turn prepared Timothy, so Moses spent years training Joshua to lead the people of Israel.
Now the moment has finally arrived.
The Word of the Lord came to Joshua giving him his first point leadership assignment. “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.” (1:2).
It’s important to understand that Joshua’s task was both specific and new. God wasn’t calling him to do the same things that Moses did. Moses had brought them to the banks of Jordan River, but Joshua would be the one to lead the people through the water and into the promised land.
Doing so meant war. They would have to battle against an evil and oppressive society that God had judged after many years of patience. In fact, their entry to Canaan had been delayed in God’s sovereignty precisely because “the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:16).
But now the time has come for the kings of Canaan to be deposed, and God’s ancient promise to Abraham to be fulfilled.
So, God says, “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.” (1:3-4).
Moses never led such a campaign. But we can imagine that as Joshua looked out over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, he couldn’t help but wonder – “do I really have what it takes to do this?” Despite all his training, gifts, experiences - at the end of the day he still wasn’t Moses.
Comparative thoughts are natural at junctures like these. It’s human to feel insecure and unworthy of undertakings so obviously incommensurate with our gifts and capacities.
But here’s the thing…
God never calls us to anything that he won’t also provide the resources to accomplish.
This is a crucial lesson all would-be spiritual leaders must learn.
As we keep reading, we see that God didn’t expect Joshua to just buck up and move. He takes time to encourage him and remind him of key life-giving truths. By doing so God is spiritually outfitting Joshua for the challenges that are coming.
Specifically, God points Joshua to four spiritual resources as a basis for courage and a balm for his potential fears.
He says, “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.” (1:5)
First, there is protection through God’s presence. He says, “I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.”
Fathers have a unique ability to bring comfort and security through their physical presence. Research shows that engaged fathers lessen anxiety in their children, enable productive risk taking, and facilitate growth and learning. They are a material and emotional safety net in the event of failure.3
Hop on YouTube and check out clips of “dad reflexes.” It’s a real thing. Adrenaline enabled awareness and protective instincts combine to lead to some pretty incredible saves. Some are just as impressive as anything you’ll see in primetime sports.
How much more comfort and security then should we derive from the spiritual presence of our heavenly father? God is never distracted by his phone. He never gets home late from work. He is with us in a constant and attentive way, unmatched by the best of parents.
The second resource God gave Joshua, were his memories of Moses. “As I was with Moses…”
Memories of mentors can take on new meaning once the person is gone from our lives – taken by either death or distance. When we find ourselves facing challenges, we can no longer just call them up to get advice. Now it’s time to synthesize their example and teaching with our own circumstances – deciding what applies, and what doesn’t.
Francis Schaeffer lists the deep lessons Joshua must have picked up from carefully watching the way that Moses lived, lead, and related with God.4
Sin is devastating and God must judge it
The power of God is greater than the sword
God is always near, even when he seems far
God can and will guide those who seek him
You can’t bind God with man-made rules
Even in judgment, God is merciful
True leadership is about glorifying God, not aggrandizing self
It’s ok if people turn on you for doing what’s right
God always keeps his promises
Schaeffer argues that while Joshua doesn’t rearticulate all of these truths, it’s clear they are there in the background and animate all of his decisions. These weren’t static principles to him – Joshua had seen them enfleshed.
It’s a great thing to have people like Moses in our lives. If you currently have the opportunity to stick close to someone a little further ahead and learn about God through their ways – seize upon it! But also understand that whatever they give you will be incomplete. Spiritual mentors and disciplers are gifts of knowledge and living inspiration for us. But they are only ever meant to help us on our way toward faithfulness to God himself.
Spiritual maturity will require us to someday walk without them. But by God’s grace, the formative affect they had on our lives can still be felt even decades down the line.
Third, God assures Joshua of ultimate victory. Verse six reads “be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.” (1:6).
Many outcomes in life are uncertain. Maybe even most!
But when it comes to God’s ultimate plans, he swears himself to see them through. While there will be plenty in-between that remains opaque to us, God is crystal clear in his Word about who wins the cosmic struggle between good in evil.
In this case – God’s direct promise is that Joshua will be successful. The people will follow him, Israel will defeat its enemies, and they will settle in the promised land. What a relief this must have been for Joshua to hear!
We don’t always receive parallel promises that our ministry endeavors will be successful. New age teaching suggests that if you want something bad enough you can manifest it – but scripture has no place for this sort of mystical human-centered wish fulfillment.
Good and faithful people often have to endure seasons of suffering and failure, trusting that God is working all things according to his good purposes.
But for the Christian – just like for Joshua – some things are absolutely certain. We also have been promised an ultimate victory, and one much better than just a new land. Spiritually, Paul reminds us we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). As children of God, our guaranteed future is to live in eternal bliss with him.
We call this fixed status and future with God, “salvation.” If you’ve been made right with God through Jesus – this is where your story ends – no matter what trials or temptations you might face in the years to come.
This great truth should give us confidence, even swagger, and as the text says, courage! We should be able to say with David, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
Mark Twain once spoke satirically of the “calm, smug, secure confidence of a Christian with four aces.”5 I like that image – although I don’t think we should ever come off as smug. But no matter how the game plays out in front of us, by God’s grace, we do in fact have the winning hand. Our attitude, manner, and lifestyle then should reflect this incredible fact. Because of it, we ought to be generous and courageous risk takers – people who go all in because we know we can’t ultimately lose!
Fourth, God offers Joshua dynamic wisdom through his Word.
He says, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” (1:7)
It's interesting to realize that Joshua was among the first people ever to benefit from the canon of scripture. The Pentateuch (the first five books of our modern Bible) was in essence finished with the death of Moses, and set apart as a holy text.
In Deuteronomy 17:18-20, God makes it clear that leaders would be uniquely expected to study and absorb the truth these books contain. This is so that they, “may learn to revere the Lord [their] God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider [themselves] better than their fellow Israelites.”
Through scripture leaders pick up more than just static knowledge of right and wrong – they develop orienting spiritual values. As we study the breadth of God’s word, we begin to see themes and realize what matters are the closest to his heart.
Circumstantial wisdom comes more naturally to people who understand God and his ways. When combined with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, knowledge of truth becomes powerful.
Also, in the New Testament we read that a core quality of spiritual leaders is that they “hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that they can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” (Titus 1:9).
God continues, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (1:8).
God tells Joshua to “meditate on it day and night.” The Hebrew word translated meditate is fun. It means “moan, growl, utter, muse, meditate, devise, plot, speak, roar, imagine.”6 So, what we have here is more than just a call to cross your legs and focus. God is saying that Joshua should engage all his faculties continually in searching out the truth.
From a New Testament perspective, truth is not just fortifying for the mind or for the uplifting of the soul. It is also a weapon to be wielded against Satan. We use it to rescue people held captive by his lies. That’s why Paul and other authors compare the scriptures to a sword (Hebrews 4:12).
God ends his encouragement for Joshua right where he began. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (1:9).
Courageous stands make sense when you have the God of the universe at your back.
Perhaps, at least in theory, we believe all this. But what if you (like me) still at times feel afraid?
The good news is courage and fear aren’t incompatible.
C.S. Lewis explains, “Perfect love, we know, casts out fear. But so do several other things—ignorance, alcohol, passion, presumption, and stupidity…It is very desirable that we should be cured of fear, but I think He never promises to do so in this world; at the most, He permits us to have courage.”7
What Lewis is getting is the nature of courage. Courage isn’t defined by a feeling state as much as it is by the decisions we make despite the way we feel.
Elsewhere Lewis says, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”8 What he means is that courage is what enables all other virtues to be exercised when it really counts.
For instance, one may believe in the importance of honesty, but when fear of punishment looms, it takes courage to be truthful no matter the consequences.
The same could be said for, say, generosity. To give to others at true personal cost requires circumstantial bravery - not just a general value for charity.
Joshua lived in a very different world from our own. He was a warrior raised up for God’s purposes during a savage and difficult time. We should be careful to not overly extrapolate his circumstances to our own.
Today, the Christian mission isn’t primarily political in nature. It doesn’t require taking land or fighting physical enemies. Jesus’ teaching and example are clear. His Kingdom is “not of this world.” (John 18:36) – at least not yet.
Our mission instead is to expand the spiritual boundaries of God’s Kingdom through sharing the Gospel and making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). This task is just as big if not bigger than Joshua’s. Rather than involving just the people of Israel and the land of Canaan, our mission field is the entire world and all its people!
As we go about our mission, Jesus promises to be with us, just as God was with Joshua. We have all the same promises as Joshua to depend on. But we have even more powerful resources, since we have the Spirit of God active and living within us.
Additionally, we have the full canon of scripture – not just the first five books! Think about the encouragement and wisdom we derive from the Psalms, or prophetic books like Isaiah. Think of the four Gospels, or all of Paul’s contextual letters. Joshua had none of these! Yet what God provided was sufficient for him. How much more so is this true now for you and I as we seek wisdom to navigate our world.
Something else this passage doesn’t touch on is the fact that courage can be communal.
We will all have to face certain defining moments alone, like Bilbo in the tunnel. No one can decide for us who we are going to be. But Tolkien’s other writing also reminds us that most of what we do we don’t have to do alone. God has given us the gift of other brave souls. “Fellowship” is what Christians often call it. Friends who share our mission, are willing to fight alongside us, and inspire us to greater deeds.
So, if you find yourself lacking in spiritual courage, consider drawing nearer to friends who seem to have it going on.
Finally, we should note that Joshua’s courageous leadership later became a symbol for something much greater. Jesus is the Greek adaptation of the name Yeshua. Joshua’s name was later chosen to be the name of the savior of the world. This was intentional. The name means “God is salvation.”
Joshua did indeed lead his people into the promised land and conquered a form of evil. But this victory was only temporary, as the rest of the narrative illustrates. Jesus would someday be the fulfilment of what Joshua started. He’s the true deliverer who would lead all people into God’s promise, and defeat evil once and for all at the cross.
The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli
https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people/articles/zvnhjsg
Summarized from “Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History” by Francis Schaeffer
Mark Twain’s Following the Equator (1897), Chapter XLVII.
https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1897.htm
C.S. Lewis, The World’s Last Night and Other Essays
C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters
This was a powerful and inspiring call to leadership. I loved your quote “God never calls us to anything that he won’t also provide the resources to accomplish”.