Can You Be Strong and Courageous...Even if You're 80?

God goes before us all the days of our lives.

Apr 18, 2024

He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”Joshua 5:14

Joshua was in his 80s as he led the Israelites in battle. Moses was also in his 80s when he led Israel out of Egypt. Abraham and Sarah were in their 90s when they had Isaac, the son of promise. John was around 90 when God revealed His Revelation. Joseph and Mary, Joseph (beloved son of Jacob), and Daniel were all young people when they were called to serve. It was never about their own strength; it was always because God went before them. They just humbly served.

God doesn’t care about age

“For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night”.(Psalm 90:4).

Our culture places so much emphasis on age, and categorizes the years as what we deem appropriate “for our age”. You’re too young to get married at sixteen, like Mary. You’re too old to be of any use at eighty. That is what our culture says. It’s like a Goldilocks story…too this and too that, unless you are in an obscure window of “just right.”

God has plans for all of us. No matter what our age; no matter what our physical condition’; no matter what our social standing…none of this matters to God. If we live and breathe, we have purpose. And our number one reason for living is to glorify God in whatever we do.

If you’re seeking your “best life now”…this is it. Today is the best day to serve the Lord. Tomorrow is the best day to serve the Lord. This is how we live our best life every day. Don’t let deceivers deceive you with shiny trinkets and fancy words.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”(Colossians 3:17).

Whatever you do, wherever you are, and whatever your age, God goes before you. And His Holy angels are there as ministers for us, just as they were for Joshua. It isn’t by our own strength that we fight our battles; it is because the Lord goes before us. Because if He doesn’t, we will be deceived and defeated.

Our age never disqualifies us in the eyes of God. As an old person, sometimes we can actually be more useful to God than when we we were physically in our prime. Wisdom tends to come with age, and tempers the foolishness of our selfish pride. And the inexperienced teen isn’t disallowed to represent God either. God loves the heart that longs to serve Him with youthful enthusiasm.

Wherever you are today on the age timeline, God is calling you up as His warrior. You may be a homebound senior, alone and disabled; you may be a corporate superstar jet-setting from one meeting to another; you may be a mid-life dad who struggles with diaper changes; you may be a single mom wondering how to get everything done…there isn’t a cultural standard in God’s kingdom, or an excuse for dismissal either (too busy, old, poor, fat, lazy, skinny, stupid, broken, tired, unemployed, self-employed, overwhelmed, broke, broken, beat up, uneducated, ugly, inept…there is no excuse). Whoever you are today…your time is now.

Don’t take God’s name “in vain” living an empty, worthless, useless, selfish life.

Our life is meant to be shared with others. You don’t bake a cake and then sit down to eat it all by yourself, right?

We are all His warriors for the Kingdom. Our strength was never meant to be from our own abilities. It was always from God - we just may have not realized it. The less we are, the more God’s Spirit shines through us.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”(2 Corinthians 12:9).

Be strong and courageous today as you stand up and put on your armor, and get back to doing the Lords work. We all have work to do and life is too short. If you don’t do your part, someone else has to pick up your slack.

Someone today needs a hug, a good word, a smile, a prayer, a surprise, a fresh baked loaf of bread, a dollar…we can all give something today for the Kingdom of God.

Trust Him to show you what He wants to do today in your life. And then get out there and bless someone.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ ”(Matthew 25:21).

Today’s Question

Bible Study

God orders Joshua to be strong and courageous

“Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead; so now arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. …”(Joshua 1:1-3).

Israel had built up a reputation among the nations after the battles lead by Moses. The first was from the Amalekites - descendants of Abraham through Esau - when they attacked Israel as they were traveling in the wilderness. God promised to eventually wipe the Amalekites off the face of the earth for their rebellion against His people (Exodus 17:14 - 16, Deuteronomy 25:19).

“The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken.” (Obadiah 1:18).

At Rephidim (Exodus 17:8) the cowardly descendants of Esau attacked the rear of the Israelites where the most vulnerable travelled- “the sick, the elderly, women and children, and anyone else at the back of the line struggling to keep up with those traveling to Sinai to receive God's laws” (Deuteronomy 25:17 - 18, source). But God gave Israel supernatural victory.

Joshua is now the leader of Israel after the death of Moses

Joshua and the people reestablished their covenant with God; all males were circumcised; Passover was celebrated; and now the men will go to war. The time had finally come, after over 440 years; Israel was going home to the land God promised.

Establishing the land, and dividing it up among the 12 tribes would be a strategic plan of many battles. The first one that Joshua led is probably the most known in our churches as the battle of Jericho has been sung about in Sunday schools across the land.

“Joshua fought the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down…”

^“No one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not desert you nor abandon you.”(Joshua 1:5)

God promised He would be with Joshua as he led the people through all the battles that were ahead. Joshua was now in his mid 80s when it was his time to lead. He had the memory of the spies in the land from 38 years ago when Israel decided it was too risky to kill the giants, and those aligned with them. Joshua was much younger then and probably much more physically able-bodied.

Now, however, as an elder, Joshua wasn’t a young, strong military powerhouse any more. God’s compassion on Joshua is evidenced by the fact that he bolstered Joshua’s courage by revealing His angelic hosts.

Joshua encountered a “man”

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I have come now as captain of the army of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”Joshua 5:13-14)

God sent His holy army to fight with Joshua as he rid Canaan of the giant tribes. The battle on earth may have looked one way, if one could have observed it, but the true battle was always spiritual. God’s army - his holy angels - went before Joshua and led him in victory as he destroyed evil in the land.

Tomorrow in our Friday Recap, we will finish the week with a look at Rahab, a special character in the Joshua wars…

Verses to Explore

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”(John 1:3).
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.”(John 3:35).
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”(John 16:3).
“…that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus,whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you.”(Acts 3:20-22).
Today’s Prayer

Father I pray that today, and every day, we glorify your name. I pray you give us the courage and the wisdom to spend our days in your service. I pray for those today who have lost their purpose, or are just lost. Pick them up, give them times of refreshing, and encourage them today. Reveal to them your will and purpose. Help them see themselves as you see them. When you look at us, you see us through the eyes of a loving Father. We may not know what that looks like Lord. Some have never experienced the compassion or genuine kindness and love of a human parent. I pray today that you help them see themselves as you do. Let them know the purpose of their life today. Help them to take even small steps of trust. Bless them with your Holy Spirit. Reveal the watchful eyes of your angels so that they know they aren’t alone. Shower them with joy, courage, and peace. We seek you today and pray that we bless others with your love. And Lord, bless us. We praise you and thank you for all the things in our lives. May all glory and honor be yours. Amen ❤️

Israel used Gilgal as their HQ for all the battles coming up. After the victory at Jericho, they set out to defeat the rest of the seven giant tribes. (source).