Strong and Courageous

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant (aide). He (the Lord) said, “ . . . 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey (do or observe) all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful (or act wisely) in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction (the Law) continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1, 5-9 (NLT).

After 40 of wandering in the wilderness, Joshua led a new generation of Israelites into the Promise Land (also called Canaan). Joshua had a spirit and heart for God (Numbers 27:18). He had a wholehearted devotion, faith, and love for the one true and living God (Joshua 24:15; see Genesis 26:5).  As one of the 12 spies to first enter Canaan (Numbers 13 – 14), only he and Caleb believed and trusted that God would help Israel triumph and possess the Promised Land.

God had promised the patriarchs of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) that the people of Israel would possess this great land (see e.g., Genesis 12:1-7; Genesis 15:12-20; Genesis 17:7-8; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:13-14; Exodus 32:13). Furthermore, God repeated this promise to Moses (Exodus 3:6-8; Exodus 13:3-5; Numbers 14:30–31; Deuteronomy 1:6-8; Deuteronomy 6:10-19). God always keeps His promises, as the Book of Joshua illustrates (Joshua 23:14).

God instructed Joshua to constantly mediate, study, and do God’s Word (Joshua 1:7-8). God’s presence and His success come by daily obeying and doing God’s Word (Joshua 1:7; see also Deuteronomy 8:1; Deuteronomy 11:8-9, 22-25; Deuteronomy 29:9; John 15:1-17). By faith and obedience to God, God’s people are victorious in spite of great challenges and obstacles (see also Deuteronomy 31:1-8). Victory comes from the power of God that is released when we obey God by faith. Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37)!

But before Joshua and the people could enter this great land and obtain God’s promise, God gave both Joshua and the nation teaching on the importance of obedience, courage, and faith in Him. As God appointed Joshua as the new leader, God’s instruction to Joshua to be “strong and very courageous” is repeated from Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23 and Joshua 1: 6-7, 9, 18 (see also Joshua 10:25). The Divine instruction from God is for a courageous faith centered on obeying God’s Word. True and lasting success comes from daily meditating, study, and doing God’s Word as one’s lifestyle (Psalm 1:2-3). God wanted Joshua and the people to be confident in Him and His Word. Without God and God’s guidance, Joshua and the people would not succeed (Proverbs 16:9). God’s victory can be claimed only by obedience, courage, and faith in God. God encouraged Joshua by giving His promise (Joshua 1:6) and His presence (Joshua 1:3, 5, 9) but his success came from obeying God’s Word (Joshua 1:7–8).

Thirty-nine years earlier, the people had an opportunity to enter the Promised Land. However, the previous generation was filled with fear and lack of faith in God (Numbers 13-14). As a result of their lack of faith and fear, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness desert for 40 years. The earlier Israelites failed to realize that obedience, courage, and faith in God brought victory (see also 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 51:16-19; Isaiah 1:11-15; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 9:13). As we faithfully obey and trust God, God is with us (Matthew 28:20; John 14:15-17). But we must first love, seek, and obey God and ask God to direct our daily paths (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:33).