Be Strong And Prove Yourself A Man

There are two notable leaders that led ancient Israel, and the LORD God took a keen interest in them. Their story still applies to us today if we are willing to heed His words. They are Joshua and Solomon.

Joshua

Joshua was the warrior that fought against Amalek in Exodus chapter 17 and was also the assistant to Moses that went up to the mountain of God in Exodus chapter 24. Joshua was a leader in war yet humbled himself to serve Moses in the wilderness.

In Joshua 1:1-9, God spoke to Joshua and gave him his commission to lead the people of Israel over the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Three times God tells Joshua to be strong and of good courage.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ² “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. ³ Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. ⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. ⁵ No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷ Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua’s commission required him to conquer all the inhabitants of the land that God was giving to the people. He needed to have a powerful resolve and complete trust in God to complete this task. Verse 8 is the key to unlocking Joshua’s success.

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Joshua focused on God in every moment of every day. Because he kept his focus on God, God made him prosperous and successful.

Solomon

Solomon was King David’s son by Bathsheba. David had other sons, but he chose Solomon to reign after him. David gave instructions to Solomon in 1 Kings 2:2-4 on how to conduct himself.

² “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. ³ And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; ⁴ that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

Once again, a command to be strong is given to a leader. ‘Be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.’

The Hebrew word given for strong in both instances is chazaq (H2388). It means to strengthen, prevail, harden, be courageous, and to be resolute.

And yet again, the key that unlocks Solomon’s success can be found in verses 3 and 4.

³ And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; ; ⁴ that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

As long as Solomon kept God’s commandments, the Lord would fulfill His word to King David.

God is looking for men who will be strong, be courageous, and show themselves to be men. If those men will keep the Word of the Lord in their hearts and resolve to obey Him, they will be successful leaders in all they do!

I challenge you this day, become men of resolve. Seek the Lord God with all your heart, endeavor to obey His every command, and you will become more than you could imagine.