It was a humanly impossible task! God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation when he had no son. God promised Israel freedom when they were slaves in Egypt. God promised Moses a promised-land when he was wondering in the desert for 40 years. Yet in all of these, God gave hope and kept His promise. When it seemed impossible, Isaac was born. When it seemed improbable, Israel was set free. When it seemed doubtful, the promise land came into sight.
The struggle for most of us is to quit, especially when the situation we are in seems to be hopeless. God does the impossible in those times. He has never been one to leave His children alone and without hope. He is with His children and will never leave His children. So when we are in what seems to be a hopeless situation, what do we do? Listen to the voice of God; Meditate on the Word of God; and Get going!
Joshua was given the impossible task of possessing a land that was filled with giants, mighty warriors, and impenetrable cities. How could God do what He promised in the light of these circumstances? Four times God says in Joshua 1 “Be strong and courageous” because He wants to encourage His children. God says in Joshua 1:8 “Meditate on My promises day and night” because He wants them to not forget. And God, in Joshua 1-13, does the impossible by giving His children victory.
The impossibilities that discourage are simply opportunities to let God be glorified. Yes, on our own it is impossible. But with God, all things are possible. It’s not about us, it’s about Him. So be strong, take courage, meditate on His promises, and press on. He will do what He has promised!