A Mosaic Call to Fearlessness: Part 3

One of my favorite elements to The Lord of the Rings trilogy is the theme of fellowship and friendship. After the Fellowship of the Ring begins to break apart, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn chase after the hobbits Merry and Pippin who have been taken to Isengard by the Urukai. They are faithful to the Fellowship by fighting for each other. And as Aragorn leads the men of the West into the final battle near the black gates of Mordor, what does he famously say before charging ahead into the fray? “For Frodo!” 

Even at the very end, it was all about fighting for each other.

In the book of Deuteronomy, it is easy to contrast the unity of Israel with the disunity of the Amorites. There are two different groups of the Amorites with two different kings. But there's only one Israel. In the book of Joshua, Israel defeats over 30 different Canaanite kings and their people. But there's only one people of God. They are a unified people, but their enemies are disjointed and scattered. We need to see the implicit togetherness and fellowship in the fight.

God calls us to fearlessness (Deu. 3:2, 22). And His command is grounded in the fact that He fights the battle for us. Yes, we fight. But the Lord is fighting on our behalf at the same time. Victory is sure in Him. And if we fear the world around us instead of the God within our midst, we will rob ourselves of a blessing: the fellowship in fighting for the Lord’s people. 

In Deuteronomy 3:18, we see that God commands all the armed and valiant men to lead the sons of Israel as they charge across the Jordan River. And it seems like he's speaking specifically to the men who were part of the Trans-Jordanian tribes. They had proven themselves in taking their own land successfully, and God was commanding them to lead the charge across the river. 

I like what one commentary said about a Hebrew phrase in verse 18. A Jewish study Bible described these men as shock troops. A shock troop is prepared and trained to carry out a sudden assault and render heavy casualties. So, these men will be used by God to do damage against the enemy. His plan for them is not a nice, peaceful life of just grilling out in Bashan. His plan for them is to serve the people of God who are in need. 

Brothers, do you understand that that is what God has for us? 

His desire is not that we would just be halfway obedient, but rather that we would be fully obedient. And his desire is that men would be so diligent and obedient that He could bless them in such a way that He might use them to bless the rest of His people. 

If you are striving and maturing in the Christian faith and submitting yourself to the ways of the Lord and finding that to be a delight, and God is causing your marriage to flourish and your parenting to flourish, and He’s building you up in wisdom and in Christian maturity—He's equipping you to lead others.

In Deuteronomy 3:21, God speaks to Joshua, who will lead the next generation of Israelites into the rest of the land. The Lord says to him: “your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings.” 

Brothers, the amazing deeds of God are historical facts. The Bible is not a myth. The Bible is certainly many things, but at the very least, it is a historically accurate documentation of the works and wonders of God in His world for the sake of His elect people. And God is saying to Joshua: “You are an eyewitness to my power as your Lord.” God is encouraging Joshua to understand that the logical basis for believing in His future faithfulness is His proven track record of keeping His word to His people. 

We can trust the Lord because His resume and record speak for themselves. We can put our trust in Him in the future, because we can see in the scriptures His past faithfulness; We hear God speak in His word about the wonders and deeds of Christ.

As we walk in fellowship with one another to bless each other, we do so on the foundation of the character and nature of God. We don't stand on sinking sand. But rather, we launch out in service and in leadership as men with our feet firmly planted on the solid rock of Jesus himself.

We serve a King in Jesus who fellowships with us. We have communion with Him. And He equips us and uses our life experiences and gifts to bless His people. We are not to terminate it all on ourselves. We get the honor, joy, and privilege of serving the Saints. But only if we believe the Lord. If we do that, fearlessness in our hearts will help us to forge ahead into the promises of God and lead others. But if we give way to fear in this world, we will rob ourselves of the blessing, and we will rob the Church of the service we might have rendered for its good. 

Be bold. Trust the Lord and be fearless! The Lord loves you and has a plan for your life. Walk by faith, fear only the Lord, and fellowship with the saints in whatever capacity the Lord has called you to.

Nate Xanders is the pastor of Christ the King Church (PCA) in Louisville, TN and serves as an editor for Reforming Men.