““At that time I gave Joshua this charge: ‘You have seen for yourself everything the Lord your God has done to these two kings. He will do the same to all the kingdoms on the west side of the Jordan. Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.’”
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Deuteronomy‬ ‭3‬:‭21‬-‭22‬ ‭NLT

Faith is a curious thing. It acknowledges that the world is larger, in breadth, than we have the capacity for, and deeper in scope than we can comprehend. To this end, it is often stated that faith is irrational because we cannot see it. This, of course, assumes that imperial evidence is the standard of something’s rationality. However, there plenty of things that we can know without direct observation. These things are rational to believe in, even without observation. In fact, the solid belief in these things often pushes them into the realm of the observable. This is why the Bible calls faith, itself, the evidence of unseen things. Here we can see that Joshua’s faith is being stirred. This is being done, not by observation of what lies ahead, but by interpretation of what came before. Moses gives him the the largest truth in breadth and scope that he must know for victory. If he walks behind God and allows him to fight for Israel, then no force will be able to withstand him. This is the truth that we must carry into our battles as well. Our behavior is a statement of faith in the testimony of the past. We trust a God who has a history. It is not irrational, though the coming victory is unseen. It is the only logical thing.

Definition of Faith: Faith acknowledges the world’s vastness and depth, often considered irrational due to its unseen nature, but is rational as it can be based on evidence beyond direct observation.

Faith as Evidence: Faith is considered evidence of unseen things, as solid belief can lead to observable outcomes.

Joshua’s Faith: Joshua’s faith is stirred by interpreting the past (Moses’ words) rather than observing the future, highlighting the importance of trusting God’s history in facing battles.