Every son needs to hear his father say, son, take on mighty challenges. Hebrews 11 33, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the alien. Hebrews 11. Chapter 7, Massive Deployment. The coordinated work effort for the massive deployment demonstrated during the Battle of Iwo Jima teaches lessons that are reflective of the teaching of Scripture regarding a boy's work life which forms the habits of the man he is becoming.
A father must communicate these lessons to his son if he is going to be involved in meaningful labor for the glory of God. Those who were involved in the Battle of Iwo Jima engaged in a Herculean effort that was the epitome of stress, fatigue, and gigantic labor. The battle for Iwo Jima was a logistical effort executed 4, 000 miles away from its planners. These planners sent 80, 000 troops across the ocean to a small two mile wide by five mile long island, 600 miles from the nearest mainland. It required over 800 ships to make it happen.
This was without question one of the most difficult and complex deployments in the history of warfare and this is the kind of immense conflict for which we ought to prepare our son. The preparations took on almost mythological proportions. The Marine 5th Division alone had enough food to feed the population of Atlanta, Georgia for a month. There were 1, 322 pounds of supplies and equipment for each of the 70, 000 assault troops. And get this, the Marines alone brought 100 million cigarettes.
Yes, that's 100 million. They brought water, morphine, fuel, grease, spare parts, carburetor rebuilt kits, blood plasma, paper and pencils, portable air strips and Marsden plates, roads, bandages, rope, maps, tires, bullets, batteries, bibles, cooking pilots, batteries, bibles, cooking supplies, K-rations, C-rations, dog food, garbage cans, welding rod, asphalt, flashlights, flares, blankets, toilet paper, socks, underwear, and my father's personal favorite, Hershey chocolate bars by the hundreds of thousands. Colonel Joseph Alexander described the challenges this way, Iwo Jima represented at once the supreme test and the pinnacle of American amphibious capabilities in the Pacific War. It was a buildup that even Hollywood could never reproduce. On February 19 at 9 a.m.
Admiral Turner ordered, Land the Landing Force. And what a force it was. The landing force was a tightening noose of ships that went seven miles out from the island as three marine divisions were landing. Even though the wind whipped up and made for some dangerous landing conditions, they kept on coming. There were fleets of tank landing ships, LSTs filled with amphibious tanks and alligators.
There were medium landing ships, LSMs. There were smaller landing craft tanks, LCTs, and packs of infantry landing craft LCIs gathered about the island. The ring of ships was drawing tighter. Small boats were moving out bearing flags to mark the rallying points from which the landing waves would deploy. The logistical problems were so great that the Japanese wagered we wouldn't try an invasion because of the difficulty.
They were dead wrong. They underestimated both our resolve and the largeness of the scale with which we were prepared to operate. What they discovered was a massive deployment beyond their expectations. God forbid that we would allow our boys to be lazy pleasure seekers who only love to hang out, play games, and produce nothing. We live in a day and an age where people are looking for a stress-free life of leisure.
The modern heart wants to escape pain and fatigue at all costs, and so we say Amen to the message quote you deserve a break today unquote this message does not serve us well and it must be remembered that there's another way to live the biblical way Boys need to be prepared from their youth to be ready to spend great efforts for their families, churches, and nation. A father must, number one, extol the energy required for great accomplishments. First let us communicate to our sons that great energy is usually required for great deeds. In all warfare and in all of life it is necessary to make great preparation, work with all our hearts and remember that, quote, he who has a slack hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich, unquote. Proverbs 10-4.
Lest we keep thinking only on an earthly plane, we ought to remind ourselves that the most glorious accomplishment in all of history was accomplished through endurance, Hebrews 12 1 to 4. Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endureth such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. He have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Hebrews 12, 1 to 4.
Number two, exercise their fear of great effort. This second lesson exposes the most common barrier that people face in doing anything of importance, the fear of great effort. So many important projects are never started because people are afraid of hardship and persevering labors. They get a great idea and then shirk back because it looks too big and will require too much of them. There's an undercurrent running in the souls of most of us that goes like this, quote, if it is easy, it must be right.
If it is hard, it must be wrong, unquote. A Christian might put it this way, If it is effortless, it must be of the Lord. I have known a number of people who have recoiled from starting companies and churches and many other pursuits because they were afraid of what it would cost them in time, effort, and difficulty. Boys should be filled up with the knowledge that God is almighty and that they have no reason to fear failure. The greatest deeds are accomplished only when fear is banished by faith.
The Lord desired to banish this same kind of fear in the spirit of Jeremiah, for he said, quote, Behold, I am the Lord of the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?" Unquote, Jeremiah 32, 26. The fearful, faithful, fracturing, frivolous, fretting of fathers is the most insidious influence on sons in this regard. Fearlessness in a father's heart and speech will have much influence. He must guard his own heart and tongue so that he does not spread the infection of fear.
He sets the tone. Number three, exhort sons to embrace suffering as necessary for a greater good. James explains, quote, My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience. James 5 10. Paul who understood fatigue and hardship and poured out his life as a drink offering said, quote, For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8 18. When a father comes through the door after a hard day's work his countenance tells all. Is he rejoicing in his sufferings as a necessary good Or does he come in dragging and complaining and obsessing about his need for relaxation? Number four, explain the stories of the great efforts given in scripture. This is how our great heroes of the faith functions.
Noah built an ark. Moses took millions of people through 40 years in the desert and Joseph labored for 14 years providing for a starving people of Egypt and the surrounding countries. We don't want boys to grow up like Peter Pan, but like Paul, who was so engaged in his work in the Gospel that he would glory in the sufferings to the point of saying, quote, I had no rest in my spirit, unquote. 2 Corinthians 2 13. Fathers must read their sons the stories in Scripture that catalog the great efforts displayed there.
Number five, expose sons to the truth that the battle belongs to the Lord while the availability and effort belongs to us. Proverbs 16, 1, the preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. James 2, 17, faith without works is dead. Let's be men like this, engaging in great deeds that involve great effort. Let's not be the kind of men who settle for small projects that require little effort and make little difference.
We shouldn't allow our children to waste their lives hanging out, playing games, and being entertained. Let's take them with us into the great projects God has given us. Let's get them early into high stakes accomplishments. Let's do something that matters even if it might be hard. Son, take on mighty challenges.