I N T I M I D A T I O N

Joshua 5:1

What advantages are yours when you know your opponents are intimidated by you and your teammates?  Do you ever sense their fear?  Can you see them hesitate or compete tentatively?  Have you watched as the intimidated team was overcome by a momentum shift?  Such intimidation is not limited to the arena of sport.  In today’s scripture, we see it in the Bible.

In the Old Testament book of Joshua at chapter 5 and verse 1 it says, “Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.”

Did you hear how Joshua described the intimidation felt by his opponents?  He said their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face them.  This happened because of the stories being told by others.

This happens all the time in sport.  Teams read the newspaper or watch the polls on the web and hear stories of how powerful their upcoming opponents will be.  Often, just hearing the news is enough to melt their hearts and to drain every drop of courage from their souls.

As you approach today’s competition, expect the news about your team to have made it to your opponent’s locker room.  Watch for the ferocity of your competitive drive to melt their hearts.  Look for the opportunity to drive the courage from the souls of your opponents and to achieve a great victory.

Bible Reading Plan:
Matthew 12:22-37
Acts 17:16-34
Psalms 28