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Muhammad Ali, the famous boxing champion, said this about courage: He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. We learn from Joshua 2 that when the ancient Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, both their spies and Rahab the Innkeeper showed great courage. The spies risked their lives by entering a strange land to gather intelligence. Rahab risked her life by hiding the spies. Rahab’s faith in God gave her the courage she needed. She told the spies, “We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and every one’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.” Rahab believed what she had heard about God. Based on her confidence that God had decided to give her land to the invading Israelites, she concluded that her best option was to ask the invading Israelites to show mercy to her family. She extracted a promise from the spies that they would spare her family when they entered the land. God rewarded her courage. God delights to give us courage when we trust Him–His purpose, His plan, and His power.
