Studies in the Life of Joshua

# 2 “Be Strong and Courageous” -- Joshua 1:1-18

If we are to conquer the enemy  and claim our inheritance in Christ, we must have spiritual

strength and spiritual courage. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10).

What a new leader needs is not advice but encouragement. “To encourage” literally means “to put heart into.” General Andrew Jackson said “one man with courage makes a majority,” and he was right. As God’s people today face the challenges that God gives us, we would do well to learn from the encouragement found in this chapter.

In a number of ways, the preparation for invasion and the conflict that lay before Joshua and the people begins in this chapter. And it is significant that this preparation in chapter one proceeds out of God’s communication:

1.      First, God speaks and commissions Joshua (1:1-5) and then calls him to be strong and courageous (1:6-9).

2.      In view of this word from God, Joshua speaks to the people and gives them instructions for preparing to cross the Jordan in three days (1:10-15).

3.      This is followed by the response of the people which, of course, had its source in the Word of God (1:16-18).

God’s revelation should always be followed by a response that is in keeping with His inspired Word.

The Commission Given  (1:1-5)

(Joshua 1:1-5 NIV)  After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: {2} "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. {3} I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. {4} Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. {5} No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Leaders don’t lead forever, even godly leaders like Moses. There comes a time in every ministry when God calls for a new beginning with a new generation and new leadership. Except for Joshua and Caleb, the old generation of Jews had perished during the nation’s wanderings in the wilderness; and Joshua was commissioned to lead the new generation into a new challenge: entering and conquering the Promised Land. It was God who had chosen Joshua, and everybody in Israel knew that he was their new leader.

Over the years I’ve heard of situations that flounder and almost destroy themselves in futile attempts to embalm the past and escape the future. Their theme song was, “As it was in the beginning, so shall it ever be, world without end.” Often godly Christian leaders are criticized, persecuted, and attacked simply because, like Joshua, they had a divine commission to lead a ministry into new fields of conquest; but the people would not follow. More than one minister has been offered as a sacrificial lamb because he dared to suggest that the church make some changes.

Change is difficult…make no mistake about that!  But it doesn’t necessarily mean it is wrong or unscriptural! J. Oswald Sanders writes: “A work originated by God and conducted on spiritual principles will surmount the shock of a change of leadership and indeed will probably thrive better as a result” (Spiritual Leadership, p. 132).

A wise leader doesn’t completely abandon the past but builds on it as he moves toward the future. Moses is mentioned 57 times in the Book of Joshua, evidence that Joshua respected Moses and what he had done for Israel. Joshua worshiped the same God that Moses had worshiped, and he obeyed the same Word that Moses had given to the nation.

There was continuity from one leader to the next, but there wasn’t always conformity; for each leader is different and must maintain his or her individuality. Twice in these verses Moses is called God’s servant, but Joshua was also the servant of God (24:29). The important thing is not the servant but the Master.

Joshua is called “Moses’ minister” (1:1), a word that described workers in the tabernacle as well as servants of a leader. (See Ex. 24:13; 33:11; Num. 11:28; Deut. 1:38.) Joshua learned how to obey as a servant before he commanded as a general; he was first a servant and then a ruler (Matt. 25:21).

“He who has never learned to obey cannot be a good commander,” wrote Aristotle in his Politics.

God commissioned Joshua to achieve three things: lead the people into the land, defeat the enemy, and claim the inheritance. God could have sent an angel to do this, but He chose to use a man and give him the power he needed to get the job done.

Joshua is a type of Jesus Christ, the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10), who has won the victory and now shares His spiritual inheritance with us.

The victory and possession of the land which follows is a direct result of the Word of God and of man, in this case Joshua, hearing and responding to His Word. This should illustrate for us that there is absolute­ly no victory or chance for us to experience the blessings of our new life in Christ apart from the Word of God. Whenever any believer begins to turn away from the Word through indifference or apathy for whatever reason, he is turning away from the Lord and into defeat.

Joshua’s commission comes only after the death of Moses (vss. 1-2). This is significant. The commission of Joshua and the continuation of God’s purposes to move Israel into the land, for certain typological reasons, comes only after the death of Moses. Why is this?

Moses was the great lawgiver who represented the Law of Sinai, that awesome legislation which demonstrates the perfect holiness of God and the sinful condition of man who stands separated from God (Rom. 3:23). But the Law, though holy and good, could never give life or spirituality nor could it provide justification. It was instead a ministra­tion of death that revealed man a sinner and in jail to sin (2 Cor. 3:7; Rom. 7:7; Gal. 3:19-22).

Moses portrayed the law which cannot lead us into the saving and abundant life of Christ. It was only a tutor, a temporary servant which must pass away (Gal. 3:23f). Though it did point to Christ in the tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrific­es, it could not take away sin or provide deliverance from the flesh. Why? Because it was weak in that it was dependent upon man and his ability (Rom. 8:3-4). The Law provided a righteous standard, but no power or grace for the flesh or indwelling sin (Rom. 6:14; 8:3f).

Thus, Moses had to pass from the scene before Joshua could be commissioned and given orders to take the people across Jordan and into the Promised Land. A further reason is seen in Joshua’s name which so clearly reminds us that “Yahweh is Salvation.” As the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus, Joshua typifies the Lord Jesus and His saving life who provides us not only with redemption, but with the power we need to enter into the possession of our possessions in Christ.

With the mention of the death of Moses, Joshua is then told, “Now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people.” By way of application for today, the words “Now therefore arise,” (in view of the death of Moses and what he represented) teach us the truth that no man can live the Christian life by keeping a set of laws or taboos. While the Christian life involves obedience to the principles and impera­tives of the Word, it is more. It is a life to be lived by faith in the power of God. We simply cannot live the Christian life in our own energy or by our own determination. The Christian life is not just being Mr. Nice or merely keeping a set of Christian principles and rules. It is a faith relationship with God to be lived out in the power of the Spirit and in the light of the Word.

With the Words, “arise, cross this Jordan,” the Lord is saying, “get out of the desert and move on into Canaan.” God’s will for the believer is never in the wilderness. It is in Canaan, the place of deliverance and conquest. “Arise, cross” by the parallel of New Testament truth says, “take up your armor, use your supernatural resources, stop trusting in yourself, trust me and move out.”

“You and all this people” illustrates that spirituality is not just for an elect few, but it is for all believers. The abundant, maturing Christian life is God’s plan and will for every single believer. It is only limited by our lack of avail­ability to His constant availability to us. Every believer is blessed with every spiritual blessing, is a priest of God with abundant grace available for every situation. We need to remember all Israel got out of Egypt the same way—by faith in God’s grace, and they would all cross over Jordan in exactly the same way, by faith in God’s deliverance.

The words, “to the land which I am giving you” and in verse 3, “every place on which …” illustrates the truth of Ephesians 1:3 and Colossians 2:10. “I am giving you” and “I have given it to you” shows us God was then in the process of bringing to pass that which had been theirs all along. Joshua 2:9-11 reveals that the land had virtually been theirs for 40 years. It was just waiting to be possessed.

And like that, from the moment of salvation, God has provided every believer with every spiritual blessing and provision. Of course, as this book makes perfectly clear, having title deed to the land (or our blessings in Christ) does not mean our lives will be without testing, conflict, struggles, and pressures. It indeed will, but since the battle is the Lord’s, since God has done the most for us in Christ, with the testings and temptations comes God’s deliver­ance through faith and the application of the Word.

In verse 5, Joshua is given the promise, “no man will be able to stand before you,” but this promise is also a warning. While the land was theirs for the taking, it would not be taken without conflict or battle. And likewise, as the land of Canaan was full of fortified cities and enemies that needed to be driven out, so the Chris­tian life is a life of conflict with enemies which must be overcome.

Though the outcome is assured if we claim God’s sufficiency and the saving life of Christ, we must still do battle and reckon with the fact of the enemy throughout this life. This is a wake up call, a reality that must be faced: life is full of battles and conflict. We wrestle with the flesh, with the devil and supernatural powers of darkness, and a world system that is antagonistic to God, to His Word, and to godly living (cf. Rom. 7:15f; Gal. 5:16f; Eph. 5:15-16; 6:10f; 1 Pet. 5:8-9).

Nevertheless, the positive side is that these words, “no man will be able to stand before you …” are also a promise of continued deliverance in battle after battle after battle. Because of the infinite sufficiency of the saving life of the Christ through His finished work on the cross, His triumphant presence at the right hand of God, our identification with Him in His death, resurrection and session in heaven, and through His gift of the Holy Spirit, there is no enemy we can possibly face which the Lord (our Joshua) has not already conquered. Our need is to appropriate what He has already done for us through the wise faith-application of His Word.

Though still active and roaming about, Satan’s power has been broken and we can resist his deceptions and attacks. Though the sin principle still dwells within or the flesh is still active in our members, its power over us has been broken through our union with Christ in His death and resurrection. This means the victory of possessing our possessions is through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 6 and 8) and the sanctifying power of a Word-filled life (John 17:17; Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16).

Application: We all entertain the desire to live in an ideal world, where life moves along smoothly without problems or stress. In fact, we were created for such and it is not wrong to long for that time which will come with the return of the Lord Jesus, our Joshua. But the doctrines of the apostasy of the last days, the evil nature of this day and time, plus the presence of our enemies are constant reminders that such cannot be the case now any more than we can have lasting and true world peace without the return of the Lord. We must face the facts and be prepared to face life as it really is. In Christ we are super-conquerors and through His saving life we can overcome the individual battles of life, but we must be prepared to fight the good fight.

We all like to rock along without anything upsetting our schedules or forcing us out of our comfort zones. When we attempt to get away from the struggle, God jars us back into reality through some unpleasant condition or experience and we are again faced with reality. After vacation we must go back to work and face that co-worker who is so hard to get along with. We are going along and then suddenly, there is a threat to our health or that of our spouse or child. Or we may face the death of a loved one which brings heartache, loneliness, along with new pressures and responsibilities. Such is your life and mine, but the words “no man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life” intrudes into our lives with two realities: a warning and promise.

The words, “just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you,” call our attention to one of the great truths of the Bible. Israel would get into the land the same way they got out of Egypt. Likewise, we enter into the abundant life of Christ the same way we were delivered from wrath—by faith in the saving life of Christ. Just as we trusted in Christ and the accomplishments of the cross for justification and redemption, so we must reckon on those same accomplishments as the basis for our security and daily deliverance (Rom. 6:4-11; Col. 2:6-3:3).

Encouragement from God’s promises (vv. 3-6).

(Joshua 1:3-6 NIV)  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. {4} Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. {5} No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. {6} "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.

Since Joshua had a threefold task to perform, God gave him three special promises, one for each task. God would enable Joshua to cross the river and claim the land (vv. 3-4), defeat the enemy (v. 5), and apportion the land to each tribe as its inheritance (v. 6). God didn’t give Joshua explanations as to how He would accomplish these things, because God’s people live on promises and not on explanations. When you trust God’s promises and step out by faith (v. 3), you can be sure that the Lord will give you the directions you need when you need them.

First, God promised Joshua that Israel would enter the land (vv. 3-4). Over the centuries God had reaffirmed this promise, from His first words to Abraham (Gen. 12) to His last words to Moses (Deut. 34:4). God would take them over the Jordan and into enemy territory. He then would enable them to claim for themselves the land that He had promised them. There would be no repetition of the fear and unbelief that had brought the nation into defeat at Kadesh Barnea (Num. 13).

God had already given them the land; it was their responsibility now to step out by faith and claim it (Josh 1:3; see Gen. 13:14-18). The same promise of victory that God had given to Moses (Num. 11:22-25), He reaffirmed to Joshua; and He carefully defined the borders of the land. Israel didn’t reach that full potential until the reigns of David and Solomon.

The lesson for God’s people today is clear: God has given us “all spiritual blessings . . . in Christ” (Eph. 1:3), and we must step out by faith and claim them. He has set before His church an open door that nobody can close (Rev. 3:8), and we must walk through that door by faith and claim new territory for the Lord. It is impossible to stand still in Christian life and service; for when you stand still, you immediately start going backward. “Let us go on!” is God’s challenge to His church (Heb. 6:1), and that means moving ahead into new territory.

God also promised Joshua victory over the enemy (Joshua 1:5). The Lord told Abraham that other nations were inhabiting the Promised Land (Gen. 15:18-21), and He repeated this fact to Moses (Ex. 3:17). If Israel obeyed the Lord, He promised to help them defeat these nations. But He warned His people not to compromise with the enemy in any way, for then Israel would win the war but lose the victory (23:20-33).

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. Since the Jews began to worship the gods of their pagan neighbors and adopt their evil practices, God had to chasten Israel in their land to bring them back to Himself (Judges 1-2).

What a promise God gave to Joshua! “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you” (Josh 1:5, niv). God had given a similar promise to Jacob (Gen. 28:15), and Moses had repeated God’s promise to Joshua (Deut. 31:1-8). God would one day give this same promise to Gideon (Judges 6:16) and to the Jewish exiles returning from Babylon to their land (Isa. 41:10; 43:5); and David would give it to his son Solomon (1 Chron. 28:20).

But best of all, God has given this promise to His people today! The Gospel of Matthew opens with “Emmanuel . . . God with us” (1:23) and closes with Jesus saying, “Lo, I am with you always” (28:20, nkjv). The writer of Hebrews 13:5 quotes Joshua 1:5 and applies it to Christians today: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (nkjv).

This means that God’s people can move forward in God’s will and be assured of God’s presence. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31) Before Joshua began his conquest of Jericho, the Lord appeared to him and assured him of His presence (Josh. 5:13-15). That was all Joshua needed to be guaranteed of victory.

God’s third promise to Joshua was that He would divide the land as an inheritance for the conquering tribes (Josh. 1:6). This was God’s assurance that the enemy would be defeated and that Israel would possess their land. God would keep His promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (Gen. 12:6-7; 13:14-15; 15:18-21).

The Book of Joshua records the fulfillment of these three promises: the first in chapters 2-5, the second in chapters 6-12, and the third in chapters 13-22. At the close of his life Joshua could remind the leaders of Israel that “not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed” (23:14, nkjv).

Before God could fulfill His promises, however, Joshua had to exercise faith and “be strong and of good courage” (1:6). Divine sovereignty is not a substitute for human responsibility. God’s sovereign Word is an encouragement to God’s servants to believe God and obey His commands.

As Charles Spurgeon put it, Joshua “was not to use the promise as a couch upon which his indolence might luxuriate, but as a girdle wherewith to gird up his loins for future activity” (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. 14, p. 97). In short, God’s promises are prods, not pillows.

The Call to Courage (1:6-9)

(Joshua 1:6-9 NIV)  "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. {7} Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. {8} Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. {9} Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

While the first five verses deal with Joshua’s commission to take over after the death of Moses, the major thrust of verses 6-9 concerns something that was vital to Joshua’s ability to do that. And what was true for Joshua is equally true for us.

There is a word or theme repeated at least three times in these verses that we need to pick up on and relate to. Three times God tells Joshua, “be strong and courageous” (1:6, 7, 9). Then later, as it pertains to their obedience to God, Joshua will relate the same charge to the people (1:18; 10:25) who will likewise face the challenges and fulfillment of God’s purposes for the nation—dwelling in the land as a priesthood nation as God’s representative to the nations.

So the issue before Joshua was a call to be strong and coura­geous in view of the mantle of leadership that was being passed on to him. God was calling him to a very special and difficult ministry, one with tremendous challenges and obstacles far beyond his own skill or abilities. But life for all of us is filled with such challenges so let us not pass over this without seeing the personal applica­tion this can have for each of us. Verses 6-9 are fundamental for obtaining the strength and courage anyone needs for the challenges of any ministry or responsibility.

This passage is not just for a special class of leaders like shepherds or missionaries or ministers. God has called each of us to ministry. No believer is exempt. We are all gifted, we are all priests of God, and leaders in some sense with personal responsibilities to others.

People often run from ministry or difficult situations because of fear or because of the obstacles. As the former generation of Israelites had failed to enter into the land and possess their possessions because of unbelief and fear of the giants, so we too can fail to enter into God’s calling on our lives.

Application: Without God’s strength and personal courage, we will fail to tackle the challenges or take on the responsibilities that God calls us to. Others, being overconfident in themselves may seek to strike out in their own steam, an equally wrong way to try to serve the Lord as we will see illustrated in chapter 7 with the defeat at Ai.

Biblically speaking, where does moral strength and courage come from and does it mean the absence of fear? Moral strength and courage come from (1) faith in the sovereignty and provision of God and (2) in the fact that we are convinced what we are doing is right and best and essen­tial to life.

But there is much more as this passage will show us. Courage is that quality of mind that enables men to encounter danger and difficulty with firmness and resolve in spite of inner fears:

(1 Corinthians 2:3 NIV)  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

(2 Corinthians 7:5 NIV)  For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within.

In other words, courage is not the absence of fear. While not courting danger nor presuming on the Lord, Paul never evaded something if he knew it was God’s will or that it was right.

In his excellent book on spiritual leadership, J. Oswald Sanders wrote: Courage of the highest order is demanded of a spiritual leader—always moral courage and frequently physical courage as well …

The highest degree of courage is seen in the person who is most fearful but refuses to capitulate to it. However fearful they might have been, God’s leaders in succeeding generations have been commanded to be of good courage. Had they been without fear, the command would have been pointless.[1]

So where do strength and courage come from? These concepts teach us several important ingredients:

(1) Strength and courage come through Recognizing and Relating to God’s pleasure (His will) and having a sense of God’s calling and destiny (1:1-2).

Knowing God’s Word, the clearly revealed will of God, plus recognizing one’s gifts, abilities, and training, all of which are a part of understanding His pleasure or will for one’s life, is foundational for finding strength and courage to accept any area of responsibility in ministry. Without this understanding, one will hardly have the motivation or courage to move into the ministries God wants to call us to.

There is a specific process to be noted here in verses 1-9. There is first God’s Word to Joshua commissioning and encouraging him. The courage that is called for here is the direct result of the Word and knowing God’s will (see Eph. 5:9-10). Also, Joshua is reminded that he had been prepared and trained for this as the servant of Moses (1:1).

Joshua being spoken to in verse 1 is equivalent to us gaining biblical insight. It is this that forms the foundation for courage and con­viction and for faith and action. We need to pray and seek God’s will and wisdom. The first foundation for courage is knowing both the Word and God’s will.

Being the understudy of Moses illustrates a couple of key principles: (1) The principle of having a godly example (1 Tim. 4; 1 Pet. 5:1-3). (2) The principle of Luke 16:10 and its impact on the development of courage and motivation for ministry. Joshua had been faithful in the little things and would be faithful in much. Service in the larger areas of responsi­bility starts with faithful­ness in smaller things. We each need to find a place to serve and grow. It may become the training ground for other areas of ministry to which God may be calling you.

“Moses my servant is dead” (vs. 2). This statement reminds us that no one is indis­pensable and leadership changes. If we are not training others and being trained ourselves, we leave gaping holes (2 Tim. 2:2).

 “Now therefore arise” emphasizes the need for decisive action to fill the void left by the absence of Moses. And this is true for all of us in ministry for whatever reason there is a void left by the removal of the servants of God. A true grasp of the need is always a vital element to decisive­ness and action to fill that need; it’s part of the root that produces the fruit. But there is another element that is vital to courage and decisiveness in doing the will of God.

(2) Strength and courage come through Resting in God’s promises (1:2b-6).

Please note the promises given to Joshua here were given in relation to the ministry and work to which God had called him. This applies to each of us regard­less of the particular ministry God has called us to in the body of Christ. Read these verses carefully and see what application you can make from them to your life. Do you feel the tug of God on your life to serve him in a particular way, but you are afraid? Are you afraid of failure? Are you afraid of what it might cost you? Meditate on these verses.

We might also note some of the obstacles that can be observed in this passage because in claiming the promises of God, faith must face the obstacles.

“Cross this Jordan.” In Scripture, the Jordan often represents an obstacle, an impediment to growth, ministry, progress. There is good reason to believe that the Jordan was swollen over its banks at this time of year (cf. Jos. 3:15; 4:18). Here is one of the reasons courage is needed.

Further, to cross the Jordan meant to enter into a hostile land, a land full of enemies some of whom were giants and who lived in strongly fortified cit­ies. This was no simple challenge. Remember, the previous generation failed at Kadesh Barnea because of a lack of courage. But there is more here.

“You and all this people.” This was no small group! The very numbers made this a colossal task. But Joshua had the responsibility of leading a people who were noted for being stiff necked and throwing stones at their leaders. The word “all” reminds us that it is God’s purpose for all His people to mature and become strong, to be in His will and living victorious lives.

Nevertheless, regardless of the obstacles, God’s will had been clearly made known to Joshua. He needed to act on this fact by faith in the Lord’s person, promises, and provision.

Let’s look at the promise in verse 2b: “To the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel” (vs. 2). Also note the words “which I have given to them” (vs. 3). They were going into the Promised Land, the land promised to the patriarchs, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob or Israel by God Himself who cannot go back on His promis­es. In fact, He was then and had for some time been preparing the inhabitants for defeat (cf. 2:9f). The land had been theirs for forty years but they failed to enter in because of unbelief and a lack of courage.

God’s Word is filled with hundreds of promises (vss. 3-6, 9). In essence, every principle of Scripture becomes a promise because with the princi­ple comes the inherent promise of God who is perfect veracity so that we can count on the principle. But we must know those promises and act on them by faith. God’s promises are given to carry us through the Jordan rivers of life, not necessarily to remove them but to enable us to step out in faith to cross them. They are not given so we can avoid or go around, but so we can cross them victoriously.

How do we claim and act on those promis­es? How do we make those promises a part of our lives?

(3) Strength and courage come through daily Renewal in God’s Principles (1:7-8).

Successful ministry according to a biblical definition of success is ultimately related to solid Bible teaching and study rather than to our human methods, techniques, and strategies which too often resort to pressure, coercion, and manipulation in order to achieve our own agendas or results.

The Word is intrinsically powerful and able to produce godly change in believers’ lives as it motivates, encourages, gives hope and direction, and exposes us to both our needs and God’s provision. The Word has been given to us to establish a communicative relation­ship with God. It is a means of fellowship with Him. But this takes time, quality time and diligence. Note the emphasis on this in these verses. “To do according to all the Law…; do not turn from it …” (vs. 7),  “but you shall meditate on it day and night …” (vs. 8).

What’s our tendency? The average person today wants a quick fix—three easy steps. We want God to do it now. But this kind of approach does not develop a relationship with the Lord. Relationship with God, knowing Him, as with any rela­tionship, takes time. It is this that provides us with success in ministry and in life, wherever we go and in whatever we do.

The Warning: Joshua was warned or cautioned in three things:

·         To “be careful” warns against danger, calls for prudence, observation or careful scrutiny, and conscientiousness (cf. Eph. 5:15).

·         To “do according to all” points to the con­cept of the whole counsel of the Word.

·         To “not to turn from it” points to the concept of the Scripture as our objective index or standard and warns against moral relativity.

The Process: Joshua was to do three things with regard to the Scriptures:

·         The Law was not to depart from his mouth; he was to talk about it (cf. Deut. 6:7). This would be a means of staying occupied with God’s thoughts and ways.

·         He was to meditate on it day and night; he was to think about it constantly (cf. Ps. 1:2; 119:97). In order to be able to talk about it and apply it, one must know it and see how it applies. We must have it on our mind and heart to fortify, encourage, and direct.

·         He was to do everything written in it; he was to conduct his life in obedience to all its commands (cf. Ezra 7:10; James 1:22‑25).

(4) Strength and courage come through Reckoning on God’s Person and presence (1:9).

Last, but certainly not least is the promise of the ever watchful and protective presence of God. There is no situation, no problem or enemy that we ever face alone. The Lord is always there as our constant support and supply. If we are concerned about our ministries or anything else, we can be absolutely sure God is infinitely more concerned than we are. Our need is simply to walk in the light of His presence and to count on His guidance, support, supply, and care by keeping our focus on Him (Heb. 12:1-2).

“Have I not commanded you.” What’s the important point here? It’s the source of the command and the promises. The ‘I’ refers to Yahweh. So note what follows.

“For the Lord (Yahweh) your God (Elohim) is with you wherever you go.” These words stress the nature of the one who gave the command. They focus our attention on who and what God is like. One of the secrets to boldness and courage is an awareness of God’s provision and presence, especially His presence as the one who has promised to never leave us.

Compare John 20:19 and the fear of the disciples before they experienced the presence of the resurrected Christ with the promise of His never-ending presence (cf. Matt. 28:18-20) with the boldness they displayed in Acts 4:13-20. What made the difference in the disciples? These were men who were now confident of Christ’s presence (Matt. 28:18-20), knew God’s will, His word, and who were filled with God’s Spirit (cf. Acts 4:8). When the Holy Spirit is in control of a man’s life and is instructing him in God’s Word, He imparts not “a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline”:

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline (2 Timothy 1:7).

“Timidity” is  deilia meaning cowardice, the opposite of courage. “Power” is dunamis, the ability to do what we should. “Love” is agaph, a mental attitude of sacrificial concern for others. This means the motivation and ability to make tough choices. “Discipline” is swfronismos meaning sound-mind thinking, a product of biblical understanding, which holds our fears in check, changes values and priorities, and gives courage and decisiveness.

In Hebrews 13:1-3, the author reminded his readers of the need of ministry to the saints. For instance he wrote, “let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, …” God wants us to be ministering people and this takes courage and obedience, and sometimes means sacrific­es. So also, he cautions us concerning our values and our sources of security and then reminds us of the promise of the presence and supply of God.

Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confident­ly say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?” (Heb. 13:5-6)

As we face the challenges and opportunities and calling of God, let’s remember these promises of God to Joshua. With the call of God to service there is always the matching provi­sion of God. The problem lies not with the Lord, but with our responsibility to follow the Lord’s admonitions as given to Joshua.

It’s one thing to say to a leader, “Be strong! Be very courageous!” and quite something else to enable him to do it. Joshua’s strength and courage would come from meditating on the Word of God, believing its promises, and obeying its precepts. This was the counsel Moses had given to all the people (Deut. 11:1-9), and now God was applying it specifically to Joshua.

During the years of his leadership, Moses kept a written record of God’s words and acts and committed this record to the care of the priests (Deut. 31:9). He wrote in it a reminder to Joshua to wipe out the Amalekites (Ex. 17:14). Among other things, the “Book of the Law” included “the Book of the Covenant” (24:4, 7), a record of the journeys of the people from Egypt to Canaan (Num. 33:2), special regulations dealing with inheritance (36:13), and the song that Moses taught the people (Deut. 31:19).

Moses kept adding material to this record until it included everything God wanted in it (v. 24). We have reason to believe the entire five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) comprised “the Book of the Law,” the greatest legacy Moses could leave to his successor.

But it wasn’t enough for the priests to carry and guard this precious book; Joshua had to take time to read it daily and make it a part of his inner person by meditating on it (Ps. 1:2; 119:97; see Deut. 17:18-20). The Hebrew word translated “meditate” means “to mutter.” It was the practice of the Jews to read Scripture aloud (Acts 8:26-40) and talk about it to themselves and to one another (Deut. 6:6-9).

This explains why God warned Joshua that the Book of the Law was not to depart out of his mouth (Josh. 1:8). It has been said, “If you don’t talk to your Bible, your Bible isn’t likely to talk to you!”

In the life of the Christian believer, prosperity and success aren’t to be measured by the standards of the world. These blessings are the by-products of a life devoted to God and His Word. If you set out on your own to become prosperous and successful, you may achieve your goal and live to regret it. “In whatever man does without God,” wrote Scottish novelist George MacDonald, “he must fail miserably, or succeed more miserably.”

The questions God’s people need to ask are: Did we obey the will of God? Were we empowered by the Spirit of God? Did we serve to the glory of God? If we can answer yes to these questions, then our ministry has been successful in God’s eyes, no matter what people may think.

God’s commandments are still God’s enablements for those who obey Him by faith. Gabriel’s words to Mary are as true today as when he spoke them in Nazareth: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). I especially like the translation of this verse found in the American Standard Version (1901): “For no word from God shall be void of power.” The very word that God speaks has in it the power of fulfillment if we will but trust and obey!

In the years to come, whenever Joshua faced an enemy and was tempted to be afraid, he would remember that he was a man with a divine commission—and his fears would vanish. Whenever things went wrong and he was tempted to be dismayed, he would recall God’s command—and take new courage. Like Moses before him, and Samuel and David after him, Joshua had a divine mandate to serve the Lord and do His will—and that mandate was sufficient to carry him through.

Joshua Speaks to the People (1:10-15)

(Joshua 1:10-15 NIV)  So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: {11} "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'" {12} But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, {13} "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' {14} Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers {15} until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

The nation of Israel was so organized that Moses could quickly communicate with the people through his officers who formed a chain of command (Deut. 1:15). Moses didn’t assemble the leaders to ask for their advice but to give them God’s orders. There are times when leaders must consult with their officers, but this was not one of them. God had spoken, His will was clear, and the nation had to be ready to obey.

Forty years before, at Kadesh Barnea, the nation had known the will of God but refused to obey it (Num. 13). Why? Because they believed the report of the ten spies instead of believing the commandment of God and obeying by faith. Had they listened to Caleb and Joshua—the minority report—they would have spared themselves those difficult years of wandering in the wilderness. There is a place in Christian service for godly counsel, but a committee report is no substitute for the clear commandment of God.

Instead of the command to prepare food, you would have expected Joshua to say, “Prepare boats so we can cross the Jordan River.” Joshua didn’t try to second-guess God and work things out for himself. He knew that the God who opened the Red Sea could also open the Jordan River. He and Caleb had been present when God delivered the nation from Egypt, and they had confidence that God would work on their behalf again.

Though he trusted God for a miracle, Joshua still had to prepare for the everyday necessities of life. In modern armies the Quartermaster Corps sees to it that the soldiers have food and other necessities of life; but Israel didn’t have a Quartermaster Corps. Each family and clan had to provide its own food. The manna was still falling each morning (Ex. 16) and wouldn’t stop until Israel was in their land (Josh. 5:11-12). But it was important that the people stayed strong because they were about to begin a series of battles for possession of their Promised Land.

Note that Joshua’s words to his leaders were words of faith and encouragement. “You shall pass over! You shall possess the land! The Lord will give it to you!” Joshua had made a similar speech forty years before, but that generation of leaders wouldn’t listen. Now that generation was dead and the new generation was ready to believe God and conquer the land.

It’s unfortunate but true that sometimes the only way a ministry can move forward is by conducting a few funerals. The older we get, the more danger there is that we’ll get set in our ways and become “sanctified obstructionists”; but it doesn’t have to happen.

Caleb and Joshua were the oldest men in the camp, and yet they were enthusiastic about trusting God and entering the land. It isn’t a matter of age; it’s a matter of faith; and faith comes from meditating on the Word of God (1:8; Rom. 10:17). How I thank God for the “senior saints” who have been a part of my ministry and have encouraged me to trust the Lord and move forward.

Joshua had a special word for the two and a half tribes that lived on the other side of Jordan and had already received their inheritance (Num. 32). He reminded them of Moses’ words of instruction and warning (21:21-35; Deut. 3:12-20) and urged them to keep the promise they had made. Joshua was concerned that Israel be a united people in conquering the land and in worshiping the Lord. The two and a half tribes did keep their promise to help conquer the land, but they still created a problem for Joshua and Israel because they lived on the other side of the Jordan (Josh. 22).

In the nation of Israel it was the able men twenty years and older who went out to war (Num. 1:3); and the record shows that the two and a half tribes had 136,930 men available (26:7, 18, 34). But only 40,000 men actually crossed the Jordan and fought in the Promised Land (Josh. 4:13). The rest of the recruits stayed to protect the women and children in the cities the tribes had taken in the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead (32:1-5, 16-19). When the soldiers returned home, they shared the spoils of war with their brothers (Josh. 22:6-8).

It was a concession on Moses’ part to allow the two and a half tribes to live outside the Promised Land. The tribes liked the land there because it was “a place for cattle” (Num. 32:1, 4, 16). It seems that they would rather have big flocks and herds than dwell with their brothers and sisters in the inheritance God had given them. They are willing to serve the Lord and help their brethren for a time; but when their appointed job is finished, they head for home to do what they want to do.

The key note of earlier verses and comments was God’s revelation to Joshua concerning His promises, His purposes for the nation, the great principles of the Law, and His abiding presence. This forms the backdrop, the motivation and inspiration for this section and all that follows. Now, in verses 10-15, Joshua speaks to the people to act on the revelation and promises of God.

Here the key note is Joshua’s immediate and obedient response regardless of the obstacles that lay before them. There is in this section a note of urgency, certainty, expectancy, and faith in Joshua’s commands to the people. As God had commanded the new leader was taking charge and following the Lord’s orders with confidence.

(1) He did so immediately, without delay or procrastination. There is an old adage, “strike while the iron is hot.” The longer we delay, the more reluctant we are to comply with God’s requirements. Delay is dangerous to our spiritual lives and can lead to hardening against God’s directives. Delay can also be disobedience. Procras­tination can evidence a lack of heart for God’s call and a lack of concern for God’s glory and God’s people. Psalm 119:60, “I hastened and did not delay to keep Thy commandments.”

(2) He did so with confidence showing faith in the Lord and courage to tackle the task that lay before him. Such immediate response shows faith in the Word and confi­dence in the Lord.

(3) He did so with a clear understanding of what they faced. This brings out the element of his courage even more. First, by his own experience he understood what they faced, for forty years earlier he was one of twelve spies who had had been sent to search out the land. He could have remembered with pessimism the negative report of the ten and anticipated the same kind of response from the new genera­tion. But Joshua’s eyes were solid­ly on the Lord. Too often we undermine our focus on the Lord and His power by thinking about all the negatives, about what might happen if we move forward. Second, Joshua may have also known what they were facing through the report of the two spies he sent into the land in chapter 2, which probably occurred before the com­mand of verse 11.[2]

Regardless, Joshua and the people faced a situation that in many ways paralleled the dilemma Moses and the Israelites had faced at the Red Sea (Ex. 14). “In each case, the obstacle occurred at the beginning of the leader’s ministry. Both were impossi­ble to solve through natural means. Both demanded implicit and absolute dependence upon a miracle-working God.”[3]

After forty years of wandering, thinking they had at last come to the Promised Land, they find the river overflowing its banks (3:15). They faced what was for them an insurmountable difficulty. Life is like that isn’t it? So often when our hopes are high, when things seem to be going our way, suddenly, problems loom up out of nowhere and we seem to be looking at an impossible crossing. But all things are possible for God who works all things together for those who love Him (see Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26; Luke 1:37; 18:27).

(Genesis 18:14 NIV)  Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son."

(Jeremiah 32:17 NIV)  "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

(Matthew 19:26 NIV)  Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

(Luke 1:37 NIV)  For nothing is impossible with God."

(Luke 18:27 NIV)  Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Two matters had to be taken care of before they could cross the Jordan. Later, in 3:1f, Joshua will give specifics on how the Jordan must be crossed, but first, as a good leader, he responsibly surveys the situation and sees two things that need to be done.

Logistical Plan­ning: Provisions Had to be Gath­ered (1:11)

(Joshua 1:11 NIV)  "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'"

The food gathered here is that which had been taken as spoils of their conquests through the wilderness. The manna was still available, but it could not be kept overnight without spoiling. They would be on the march moving from Shittim to the banks of the Jordan which was only about eight miles, but because of the number of people and all that was in­volved, they evidently would not be able to gather the manna.

Analogy: The issue here is sustenance in order to be able to cross over and possess their possessions and handle the battles they would face by faith in the Lord’s power. So likewise, we need to be nourished on the Words of the faith so we can continue to enter into our blessings in Christ (cf. 1 Tim. 4:6f and Heb. 3:7-19).

Strategic Planning: A Reminder of Responsibilities (1:12-15)

(Joshua 1:12-15 NIV)  But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, {13} "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' {14} Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers {15} until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

In verses 12-14, Joshua reminds the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh of their previous promises and respon­sibilities (Num. 32:16-32; Deut. 3:12-20). In this, we see a key to Joshua’s success.

(1) He was obeying his commission to “be careful to do according to all the law of Moses.” He was remembering and seeking to live by the principles and promises of the Word. Compare 1:13, “Remember the word which Moses … commanded you.” This had become the Word for Israel.

(2) He reminded the people of the Word. His authority for his challenge to these two-and-a-half tribes was the Word of the Lord.

“This was no natural prudence or a spirit of expediency which actuated Joshua to seek their co-operation.”[4] And it was not merely a matter of seeking more help because they would be insufficient without more resources. It was not asking this as a favor to himself. No, the appeal and authority came from the facts of the commands of the Word of God. Servants of God must learn to lean on the power of the Word to motivate and minister to others and to accomplish God’s purposes.

In principle however, this order from Moses and enacted here by Joshua was promoting the concept of the people of God as team. Here he was delegating specific tasks to these people. Each person was needed and each needed to do his part. They would act as shock troops going before their brothers.

There is also here another factor. In the words of verse 13b, “The Lord your God gives you rest, and will give you this land” followed by the words of verse 15, “until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, …” Joshua was reminding them of their obliga­tion to their people and placing an additional obliga­tion on them based on gratitude for what God had already done for them.

The People’s Response (1:16-18)

(Joshua 1:16-18 NIV)  Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. {17} Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. {18} Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"

The pronoun “they” probably refers to all the officers Joshua had addressed and not to the leaders of the two and a half tribes alone. What an encouragement they were to their new leader!

To begin with, they encouraged him by assuring him of their complete obedience (vv. 16-17a). “Command us and we will obey! Send us and we will go!” These officers had no hidden agendas, and they asked for no concessions. They would obey all his commands and go wherever he would send them. We could use that kind of commitment in the church today! Too many times we are like the men described in Luke 9:57-62, each of whom put something personal ahead of following the Lord.

In his novel The Marquis of Lossie, author George MacDonald has one of the characters say, “I find the doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plan.” That’s the attitude Joshua’s officers displayed. They were not so attached to Moses that they put him above Joshua. God had appointed both Moses and Joshua, and to disobey the servant was to disobey the Master. Joshua didn’t have to explain or defend his orders. He simply had to give the orders, and the men would obey them.

The officers encouraged Joshua by praying for him (v. 17). “The Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.” The best thing we can do for those who lead us is to pray for them daily and ask God to be with them. Joshua was a trained man with vast experience, but that was no guarantee of success. No Christian worker succeeds to the glory of God apart from prayer. “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” asked Corrie Ten Boom, a question that especially applies to those in places of leadership. When Joshua did not pause to seek the mind of God, he failed miserably (Josh. 7 and 9); and so will we.

They encouraged Joshua by assuring him that their obedience was a matter of life or death (1:18). They took his leadership and their responsibilities seriously. Later, Achan didn’t take Joshua’s orders seriously, and he was killed (Acts 7:15).

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46, nkjv) If God’s people today saw obedience to Christ a matter of life or death, it would make a big difference in our ministry to a lost world. We obey the Lord’s orders if we feel like it, if it’s convenient, and if we can get something out of it. With soldiers like that, Joshua would never have conquered the Promised Land!

Finally, they encouraged him by reminding him of the Word of God (v. 18b). Moses told Joshua to “be ye of good courage” when he sent him and the other men into Canaan to spy out the land (Num. 13:20). Moses repeated the words when he installed Joshua as his successor (Deut. 31:7, 23). These words were written in the Book of the Law, and Joshua was commanded to read that Book and meditate on it day and night (Josh. 1:8).

Four times in this chapter you find the words “be strong and of good courage” (vv. 6-7, 9, 18). If we are to conquer the enemy and claim our inheritance in Christ, we must have spiritual strength and spiritual courage. “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10).

The first step toward winning the battle and claiming our inheritance is to let God encourage us and then for us to encourage others. A discouraged army is never victorious.

“See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deut. 1:21, niv).

Be strong! The battle is the Lord’s!

In any successful enterprise of God’s people, the leaders must have the support of the people if the work is going to fly. We might title this section, Joshua’s Encouragement. He had honored God’s Word and now God was honoring Joshua by moving the people to respond. It is tremendously encouraging to leaders and people alike when people respond to the Word with obedience and commitment. By the same token, it can be discouraging to see the opposite. In such times, both the leaders and the people must continue to trust the Lord, examine their ministries, and look to the Lord to move them to obedience rather than resort to some form of manipulation or coercion.

The people were not only willing to obey, but they were willing to deal with any disobedience in their midst because of the demoralizing effect on others and the dishonor it brings to the Lord. This is always crucial for any people of God.

Application: This illustrates the need for the careful and loving application of church discipline in the body. Such is never easy. It requires real commitment, and must always be done with a view to reconciliation and to recover a sinning believer.

The statement, “only may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses,” can be taken in two ways. It may be taken as a condition or as a wish or prayer. If it is taken as a condition, they were saying they wanted to see clear evidence that Joshua was being led of the Lord, that he was truly God’s man walking with the Lord. If it is taken as a prayer or wish, it demonstrated their recognition of this need if they were to be successful. It stated the fact they recognized they were all insuffi­cient for the task, but that the Lord was sufficient. They needed a leader who was in touch with the living God.

Application: In this we see the need for God’s leaders to be examples to the flock (Heb. 13:7). People need and want to see mature spiritual reality in their leaders.

It was because of this that Paul encouraged Timothy with the following words:

1 Timothy 4:11-16: “Prescribe and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed upon you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things; for as you do this you will insure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”