When I read more of the Exodus wanderings I find myself in sympathy with the poor Israelites crossing the vast expanse of desert…with only the word of this man Moses, that they  soon will come to the land that their forefathers had left 400 years before.  Of course they had seen God working for them.  Food, water, parting the sea and the tablets of stone with His own commandments written on them.
Now here they were…….just about to enter this land of Promise.  There was bounty to be hand, fields of grain, grapes for wine, a land flowing with “milk and honey.” But wait….not so fast!  Other people had moved in.  There were huge cities with high walls…well fortified and strong armies of men with the latest in fighting equipment.  Their ancestors were afraid to take the land and were punished for lack of faith.  Now that generation was dead……and here is the new generation, but once more, facing the same problems.  But no returning to Egypt.  This time it was different.  Yes, they were afraid, but God had provided for them.  Now they knew this was it. They must take this land……a land they could claim for themselves and their families.  Plus there was a forceful leader……Joshua  son of Nun.

 This generation had the courage that their ancestors had lacked.  Joshua had courage and it was contagious.  Courage determines which will dominate.  The same trials that wear down the fainthearted motivates the courageous and  gives them new strength and dedication.

Yes, courage is contagious and so its it opposite, discouragement.  How do we respond to our trials?

  1. We lose courage and try to second guess what will happen.  Will we return to “Egypt” or prepare for a future that God is leading us?

2. We lose courage when we allow our selves to complain trying to blame others, instead of taking responsibility for our problems and seeking a solution.

3. We lose courage when we have negative feelings, instead of remembering what God has done for us in the past and that He will bring about the best for us in His own way and in His own time!

We can be courageous and we can pass our courage on to others through our words of encouragement and prayer. Yes courage is contagious.  It’s not enough just to survive our trials and difficulties, for if we view them courageously they become a blessing not only to us but others!   Look what God is doing!! How can you and I encourage not only ourselves but be a source of encouragement to others?

Think about that……..