Joshua 1: Stepping into God's Promises
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Joshua 1 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history. With the death of Moses, the mantle of leadership falls upon Joshua, and the people of Israel stand poised on the brink of entering the Promised Land. This chapter is not just a historical account; it's a powerful message of encouragement, obedience, and the intersection of divine promise and human responsibility, a message that resonates deeply with believers today.
From Mourning to Movement (Joshua 1:1-2)
"The LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun... 'Moses my servant is dead. Now... prepare to cross over the Jordan [River]' (Joshua 1:1-2)."
The opening verses acknowledge the profound loss of Moses, Israel's greatest human leader. His era is over. God's message to Joshua is clear: it's time to move forward. There's a profound lesson here for us. While honoring the past and learning from it is vital, we cannot remain stuck in nostalgia. The "good old days" should not keep us from embracing the new opportunities and challenges God places before us. Like Israel, we must look ahead, trusting in God's promises for the future, even when stepping into the unknown.
Claiming the Inheritance (Joshua 1:3-6)
"I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads... No one will be able to stand against you... Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:3-6)."
God's promise to Joshua is expansive: He has already given them the land. However, this promise is not a passive guarantee. It requires active faith and courageous action. They must "tread" upon the land, actively claiming what God has already legally given them. This illustrates a crucial principle: God's sovereignty and human responsibility work in tandem. God makes the promise, but we are called to obey and act in faith to realize it.
This principle mirrors God's process for believers. He offers deliverance through salvation in Jesus Christ, development through sanctification, and destiny, which is eternal life and rewards. The timing of experiencing these promises often depends on our willingness to embrace them, grow in faith, and commit to living in light of eternity. We are called to pursue God's promises, reaching out to touch heaven through acts of faith while our feet still walk on this earth.
The Key to Success: Obedience to God's Word (Joshua 1:7-9)
"Observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you... so that you will have success wherever you go (Joshua 1:7)."
True success, according to God, is not measured by worldly standards like popularity or prosperity. Instead, it is defined by fulfilling our God-given purpose. For Joshua and the Israelites, success meant obtaining their inheritance, and this was inextricably linked to obedience to God's Word.
The call to "meditate" on Scripture (Joshua 1:8) is a call to internalize it deeply. Just as a cow chews its cud, we should roll God's Word over and over in our minds, allowing it to permeate our souls and shape our actions. This ensures that our decisions are driven by God's perspective, not fleeting feelings or cultural opinions.
Unity and Shared Purpose (Joshua 1:10-15)
Joshua, having received his instructions from the Lord, wastes no time in preparing the people for action. He calls upon the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, who had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan, to join their brothers in claiming the rest of the Promised Land. This emphasizes the importance of unity and shared purpose within the community of faith. Joshua challenged them to reject selfishness and to battle alongside their brothers so that everyone could obtain the rest (i.e., the experience of God’s promise) that God had provided (Joshua 1:12-15).
A Leader Worth Following (Joshua 1:16-18)
The people's response to Joshua is one of complete commitment: "Everything you have commanded us we will do (Joshua 1:16)." They recognize the transfer of authority from Moses to Joshua and wholeheartedly embrace the new leadership. Their only request is that Joshua be "strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:18), which in essence, is a plea for him to obey the Lord. This highlights the responsibility of leaders to follow God, and the expectation of believers to hold their leaders accountable to that standard. Church leaders are to be followed inasmuch as they follow God.
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Joshua 1 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history. With the death of Moses, the mantle of leadership falls upon Joshua, and the people of Israel stand poised on the brink of entering the Promised Land. This chapter is not just a historical account; it's a powerful message of encouragement, obedience, and the intersection of divine promise and human responsibility, a message that resonates deeply with believers today.
From Mourning to Movement (Joshua 1:1-2)
"The LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun... 'Moses my servant is dead. Now... prepare to cross over the Jordan [River]' (Joshua 1:1-2)."
The opening verses acknowledge the profound loss of Moses, Israel's greatest human leader. His era is over. God's message to Joshua is clear: it's time to move forward. There's a profound lesson here for us. While honoring the past and learning from it is vital, we cannot remain stuck in nostalgia. The "good old days" should not keep us from embracing the new opportunities and challenges God places before us. Like Israel, we must look ahead, trusting in God's promises for the future, even when stepping into the unknown.
Claiming the Inheritance (Joshua 1:3-6)
"I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads... No one will be able to stand against you... Be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:3-6)."
God's promise to Joshua is expansive: He has already given them the land. However, this promise is not a passive guarantee. It requires active faith and courageous action. They must "tread" upon the land, actively claiming what God has already legally given them. This illustrates a crucial principle: God's sovereignty and human responsibility work in tandem. God makes the promise, but we are called to obey and act in faith to realize it.
This principle mirrors God's process for believers. He offers deliverance through salvation in Jesus Christ, development through sanctification, and destiny, which is eternal life and rewards. The timing of experiencing these promises often depends on our willingness to embrace them, grow in faith, and commit to living in light of eternity. We are called to pursue God's promises, reaching out to touch heaven through acts of faith while our feet still walk on this earth.
The Key to Success: Obedience to God's Word (Joshua 1:7-9)
"Observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you... so that you will have success wherever you go (Joshua 1:7)."
True success, according to God, is not measured by worldly standards like popularity or prosperity. Instead, it is defined by fulfilling our God-given purpose. For Joshua and the Israelites, success meant obtaining their inheritance, and this was inextricably linked to obedience to God's Word.
The call to "meditate" on Scripture (Joshua 1:8) is a call to internalize it deeply. Just as a cow chews its cud, we should roll God's Word over and over in our minds, allowing it to permeate our souls and shape our actions. This ensures that our decisions are driven by God's perspective, not fleeting feelings or cultural opinions.
Unity and Shared Purpose (Joshua 1:10-15)
Joshua, having received his instructions from the Lord, wastes no time in preparing the people for action. He calls upon the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, who had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan, to join their brothers in claiming the rest of the Promised Land. This emphasizes the importance of unity and shared purpose within the community of faith. Joshua challenged them to reject selfishness and to battle alongside their brothers so that everyone could obtain the rest (i.e., the experience of God’s promise) that God had provided (Joshua 1:12-15).
A Leader Worth Following (Joshua 1:16-18)
The people's response to Joshua is one of complete commitment: "Everything you have commanded us we will do (Joshua 1:16)." They recognize the transfer of authority from Moses to Joshua and wholeheartedly embrace the new leadership. Their only request is that Joshua be "strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:18), which in essence, is a plea for him to obey the Lord. This highlights the responsibility of leaders to follow God, and the expectation of believers to hold their leaders accountable to that standard. Church leaders are to be followed inasmuch as they follow God.