The wise, old leader
looked about
The young and
fledgling nation,
The people he had led
would soon
Embark on a great
mission.
This leader knew his
days on earth
Were numbered,
quickly fleeting,
He knew the battles
they would face—
Temptations of
retreating.
The realization of
their hopes
And dreams spread out
before them,
But such would not be
theirs without
A struggle and
invasion.
Much was uncertain in
the thought
Of conquering their
strangers,
And in what little
they did know
Left sense of ominous
danger.
This trusted leader
knew that he
Would not be going
with them,
Instead, the baton he
must pass
To one whom God had
chosen.
His young successor,
Joshua,
Was next to take the
lead.
With courage and a
father’s care,
He charged him
valiantly:
“Be strong and of
good courage—“
The words echoed in
his ear,
“The Lord thy God
will go with you;
Be not dismayed, nor
fear.”
Many battles fought
and won
By Joshua’s army,
Were by their courage
in the Lord—
They fought so
valiantly.
Courage is not the
absence of
All sorts of dread
and fear;
Courage comes from a
focus on
What’s greater
than your fear.
Another solder,
Joshua,
Once stood upon a
hill,
Amidst a heated
battle—
The foe he could not
still.
To him the charge was
given,
“Whatever you may do,
‘Give your life before
the hill,’
“Don’t let them get
through you.”
Five times the foe
charged up the hill
Attempting their
attack,
But every time, his
fighting troops
Sent them repelling
back.
Now his troops were
almost out
Of all their ammunition,
And of three hundred,
eighty men
Were left to keep the
mission.
They huddled low
behind the rocks,
Desiring
reinforcement,
But no help came,
despite his plea
To aid his regiment.
Just when they felt
their very weakest,
The foe was lining up
With even more than
all before…
But Joshua stood up.
His weary men looked
up at him,
Waiting for
instruction,
His thoughts raced
with pounding heart
As he pondered his
direction.
He couldn’t retreat
{“…Give your life first…”}
This was the higher
ground,
{“What’er you do,
don’t lose the hill.”}
He heard the battle
sound.
Perhaps, the whole
entire war
Depended on his call;
If he should lose,
the ones behind
Most certainly would
fall.
The enemy ran up the
hill
For one final attack,
“I might die now.” He
thought, “But not
With a bullet in my
back.”
“Fix bayonets! And do
it now!”
He urged with
courageous surge,
With his sword drawn
he led his men,
“Charge! Charge!
CHARGE!”
The enemy, confused,
reeled back,
Threw down their
weapons, fled.
This one man’s
courage, with his men,
Great victory had
led.
Is there a challenge
in your life,
A mountain you must
keep?
Are there “giants in
the land”
That make you feel so
weak?
Has the enemy
advanced, though
You’re low on
ammunition?
Do you feel you’re
losing ground
In a dreadful situation?
Though uncertain you
may be
Of coming future
days,
And fear the hard
decisions
That you may have to
face.
Be strong and of good
courage,
Fear not, nor be
afraid;
The Lord thy God is
with you,
The vict’ry He has
made.
Copyright © Elisabeth Linzey 2015
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