Joshua(s) are not for hire.

Have you ever been afraid?

There is no exact total amount of phobias out there. Some say there could be thousands if not at least hundreds of phobias. Take, for example, the following few:

Nomophobia (fear of being without a mobile phone)

Trypophobia (fear of clusters of holes), 

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words), 

Arachibutyrophobia (fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth)

Globophobia (Fear of balloons)

Gamophobia (an irrational fear, of marriage or commitment)

The list goes on and on.

There is not a human being on this planet that does not deal with some type of fear.

Fear is not a bad thing; it is an emotional reaction when your brain senses danger. This is known as "emotional fear." Let me give you one example where I experienced this kind of fear. Recently, my family and I were on a summer evening walk. A huge dog was sitting in the front yard as we were about to pass the house. Once we did, the dog started coming after us. I immediately saw my life and kids' lives pass before my eyes. So, what did I do? I did what any strong and buff dad/husband would do—I asked my wife to intervene.

Kidding.

I stood in front of that dog and starting yelling at him while I stood as my wife's knight in shining armor. Thankfully, the owner was outside and nobody got hurt.

That is fear—the body reacting to something real and dangerous.

There is also what some have called 'a spirit of fear.' In theological terms, this is when a person is experiencing being tormented by fear. The response to this comes in many forms but to list a few....

Night terrors. Insomnia. Anxiety. Depression. It is a fear of something that one thinks could happen to them or someone they love. It is a work of darkness and it can create massive panic while also throwing a person being completely out of control.

In Joshua 1, God reminds Joshua, the warrior leader, to not be afraid. He does it several times and in different ways. Check out the bold words.

1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it now Joshua turn to lead. (my version)

1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous,

1:7 Only be strong and very courageous..

1:8-9: This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

So, what is going on here?

Here's my summarization:

Moses is dead.

You remember Moses. The red sea parting-mana from heaven-twice 10 commandment guy. He was the one who's face looked differently after being in the presence of God. He's the leader of leaders. This guy is the MAN! (sort of like me taking that dog down!) Now, he is gone.

Joshua is next person up. He is to lead the people of God to the land he promised them. This was no easy task. The people of God had God-amnesia. Yep. They constantly struggled with remembering God and the all the ways he provided for them. Now, Joshua had to lead this rag-tag-god-calf-making-people. Yikes!

I am going to go on a limb here and say that Joshua was afraid. How could he not be?

I think he could have asked himself questions at night:

What if I am not like Moses (fear of comparison)

What if I fail miserably at this? What if I fail these people? Shoot! What if I fail God? (fear of failure)

What if I say the wrong thing or do not know how to cross that river? Or, take the land? (fear of lack of knowledge)

I think Joshua needed this reminder from God: "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you."

I think I need that reminder too. Just as God was with Joshua, so he will be with me.

And, so will He be with you.

Look. Joshua is not for hire. He's long gone. God is looking at YOU. Not to be like Joshua or Moses or anyone that you think seems to have it all figured out.

God is looking for you to be you. The way He created you and made you. He is not looking for you to be unafraid. He is looking for you to be honest about every fear and to trust him through it all.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go.