Courage Part Two

I keep in my car a devotional written by John Eldredge. I find his insights into living the Christian life thought provoking. On May 10 he quoted Deuternomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid..."
And of course I am very familiar with this verse. So I was interested in his devotion for the day. He qouted G.K. Chesterton: "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die." 

The best example would be a soldier surrounded by the enemy, who is alert and fighting to save his life because of his desire to live, to return to his family and friends, and yet he is willing to give up that life for what he believes is worth more than his life.  That is courage. To walk into the battle even when you know there is a chance you will not come back. You go in prepared and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal AND return alive, yet knowing the possibility is real that you will die.

Deborah in Judges 4 knows there is a chance she will die if she joins the battle, but she also knows that she has to fight for her people. She also knows that God has said the enemy will be defeated. Now that is not a guarantee of life. All battles have casualties. Yet in reading the story I sense that Deborah would have given up her life if she had been asked. Her mother's heart required her to enter the battle.

There is another woman who was courageous like Deborah: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16 NIV  Esther knew there was a real possibility she would die if she went to the King without being summoned. It was the law. Yet the King was the only one who could also grant mercy if he so chose. And Esther needed to the King's help to save her people.

Now most of us do not have a nation of people who depend upon us. But most of us do have a family or church family or work family that does depend on our strength and courage in these troubling times.  It's not just the economy, but also the pervasive lack of kindness, a growing attitude of what-about-me-me-me? I think it takes courage to smile, to listen to others, to come alongside our family as they struggle through our very daily lives. It takes courage to get out of bed everyday and do the best you can to love God and love others.  Yet how do I find that courage every morning?  How do we bring it to others?

Courage Part One

I did a search on the word courage in the Bible, and from there I went to a list of Personal Bravery scriptures. The usual heroes were there, but one name stood out as I scanned the list. Deborah. My own name. Deborah's story is found in Judges 4 & 5.  Deborah was a prophetess and a leader of Israel. God spoke to Deborah and she told a military leader that God said he would turn the enemies over to him. The military leader said he would only go if Deborah went with him.  What?  This man leading an army of 10,000 men wanted a woman to go with him.

"Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh."  Judges 4:8-10 NIV

Amazing!  Deborah went. She lived approximately 60 miles from the fighting, had her own Palm tree shop set up to settle disputes, and yet she agreed to go with Barak.  She was courageous. Why? How?

 "Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel."
Judges 5:7 NIV

The commentaries I read focused on the last part of this verse. Her description of herself. She was a mother in Israel...as a mother she had to go when called. As a mother...not only did she nurture and encourage, but protect. For her children.....Israel.....she would brave the journey and the battle because she was a mother and she had listened to God. 

Make no mistake, this was a woman who followed her God. She was close to Him. Close enough for God to send instructions through her to others.  If Barak doubted her anoiting and was testing her faith in her message, then he was enlightened. God showed up and the enemy was delivered into the hands of a woman. Not Deborah. Another brave woman. Jael.

Where does courage spring from? How could she have been fearless in the face of a battle of tens of thousands? I have found scriptures that say JOY is the cure for fear. That remembering the faithfulness of God will give us courage. Here it is a mother's desire to protect her own, to fight for her children and her people, that gives Deborah the courage to travel many miles from her home and into the battle. Would I do the same? Would you?

Where to Begin

I am a perpetual student. I love books, words, lessons, organized plans for accomplishing something. In the case of this season of my life I want to learn to not be afraid. The question is where to start?  The Bible, of course. So I did a search on the word fear, fear not, do not be afraid, and courage, just to start. As I read through the verses that popped up, I was surprised at the good company I am in. Adam was afraid, Joseph was afraid, Joshua, Abraham, Sarah, the apostles, and more. It is an affliction that strikes many, yet they found a way to serve God, to overcome their fears. I will research and study and see what I can learn from those in our spiritual family tree.

"Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD." Psalm 31:24 NKJV