Daniel Fast- Called to Fight Until Victoryናሙና

Day 16: Brave Soldiers Win Battles

“Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.’”

Joshua 10:25

In the book of Joshua, God repeatedly calls leaders to courage, emphasizing that timidity and cowardice do not lead to victory. The narrative is filled with remarkable battles, such as those over Jericho, Ai, and the waters of Merom.

Courage is depicted as the garment of heroes, with the Lord granting great victories to the brave. The last words of David in 2 Samuel chapter 23 highlight courageous soldiers and a troop of 30 leaders with special dedication and purpose. Notable among them are Josheb, Eleazar, and Shammah, who demonstrated exceptional bravery in battles against the Philistines.

Who were these fearless soldiers of the king, and what did they do?

“These are the names of David’s mighty warriors: Josheb-Basshebeth, a Tahkemonite, was chief of the Three; he raised his spear against eight hundred men, whom he killed[c] in one encounter. Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas Dammim for battle. Then the Israelites retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead. Next to him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the Lord brought about a great victory.” – 2 Samuel 23:8-12. These are the three bravest of the brave thirty leaders!

Then Abishai, Joab's brother, who was commander-in-chief over the thirty, is described (2 Kings 23:18). He killed three hundred people with his spear and became as famous as the three.

Let us turn our attention next to Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, a man of valor, great in deeds:

- He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors.

- He went down and killed a lion in the snow.

- He killed an Egyptian, a man of prominence; and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, and he went to him with a stick, and took the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and killed him with his spear.

This is what Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, did and won the same glory that the three mighty warriors had! He was more noble than the thirty, but he was not equal to those three. And David made him the closest executor of his orders; another translation says that David chose him to be his bodyguard!

Why him? Perhaps he became especially close to David's heart because he was in the category of "Lion Chasers!" -David was in that category!

Chasing after a lion or a leopard is a bold display of courage! If conquered, it becomes a magnificent feat, a challenging risk adorned with triumphant success! Embracing a justified risk is a rare willingness, and unfortunately, many ordinary Christians and their leaders today opt for a routine of tranquility, deliberately steering clear not only of facing a lion but even avoiding its ferocious roar.

How might we characterize the day we come face to face with a lion in a ditch? Perhaps we'd exclaim, "That was the most frightening day of my life!" Conversely, it could be a day bringing immense glory to our God, joy, and triumph to us—a pivotal moment sparking dramatic shifts in our lives and careers. We often seek to minimize our perplexing, absurd, and challenging circumstances, but God intentionally places them in our path. They resemble hurdles in a horse race. Conquering each obstacle offers an opportunity for a fresh perspective, as God desires us to have a distinctive relationship experience with Him, gaining new insights into His character, possibilities, and glory. Acts of courage and victories for Him become the brilliance of His glory!

But cowardice not only leads to defeat, betrayal, and deplorable consequences. It also reduces our understanding of God and His glory to ordinary human measures.

Jesus is the lion of the tribe of Judah. Judah, the son of Jacob, was described as follows: "Your hand is on the backbone of your enemies; the sons of your father will worship you. A young lion Judah, with prey, my son shall go up...the scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the lawgiver from his loins, until the Reconciler come, and to Him shall the nations submit" (Genesis 49:8-12). The tribe of Judah bore the profound promise that their descendant would continuously occupy the throne of the house of Israel. This esteemed tribe was bestowed with a remarkable honor—the privilege of being the birthplace of the Messiah, the Leader of salvation!

“For the Spirit God gave us do not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:7

Reflection Questions:

1. It is written that the devil “walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Would these words, "brave" and "hunter of fierce lions," fit on your spiritual warrior resume, as they did for the warriors in Joshua's or David's special unit?

2. Are you among the brave warriors today?

Prayer

1. That God would fill our ministry teams with brave people.
2. That we would be brave to fulfill Jesus' Great Commission to the end.
3. That God would send leaders to gap areas and territories.