Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“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. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:6-9
Notes
6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
If in relating the story of Abraham we understand the ‘why’ of God’s purpose and in relating the story of the twelve sons of Jacob, a descent of Abraham, we understand the ‘who’. We then look to the time of Moses to discover the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of His purpose. When we arrive at Joshua we begin to understand the ‘where’ and through the leadership of Joshua, we begin to watch not a flash campaign, although there are moments of fast-paced seizures of enemy lands, but an effort that is slow and steady. God’s people were to not just seize, but settle in the promised land and with that goal in mind, Joshua had to be both strong and courageous in times of battle, but also in the slower moments of establishing a nation where God had called them to claim ownership.
Three times God mentions Joshua to be strong and courageous and most minds revert to militaristic stature, but what God is trying to emphasize is the strength his chosen leader will need to lead, serve, fight and yet be humble. These are the areas where Joshua knew he was to take charge and may have felt his courage fail him:
He knew the people he was supposed to lead
Joshua had watched the grumbling, complaining and rioting of the Israelites. He watched his great leader stumble and fail at times when it came to the protests of God’s people and now he must take the same people into the promised territory. I imagine that Joshua could have thought to himself If Moses could not manage then how can I?
The promised land was fruitful but occupied
It is no slight thing to attempt or even succeed in conquering a nation and its lands. The prospect of Canaan must have widened the eyes of those who beheld it. Only half a century earlier they had been slaves and now they could possess a land that overflowed with abundance. The problem was they could not walk in, but had to take it. Even in that, the beginning of the Israelite’s settlement in the promised land was a slow daily procession in daylight, not an all-out attack in the darkness of night.
He was cognizant of the man he was to succeed
Like Elisha or the apostles, it must have been a daunting task for Joshua to follow in the footsteps of so profound a leader. Moses not only helped lead the people out of slavery but also provided them with their laws and guided them through the desert. Although Moses was not perfect, I am sure Joshua felt the uncertainty of success where he saw his mentor fail.
He served an almighty and powerful God
Joshua had witnessed the earth opening and swallowing people alive, the striking of people at Mount Sinai and the restriction of Moses to not enter the promised land. God had shown both his power and anger at his people and although Joshua’s faith was strong, it is also feasible to believe that he trembled before God.
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.
Here God is encouraging Joshua in his faith and to follow His instructions. At this point, Moses would have written the five books of the Pentateuch – the first five books of the bible – which together were known as the Law. From the beginning of creation to where they stood, Joshua had access to what God called and intended for his people, all laid out. He needed only to follow the course set before him and God provided him with assurance of his success.
8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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.
It was not enough that Joshua had the Law nor that he could refer to its holy instruction as needed, but God called him to KNOW the Law, inside and out. Always on your lips brings me to the importance and value of memorization. Joshua is to not have his opinions or beliefs at the ready, but the word of God is to flow from his speech.
Are you more ready with your own opinions and remarks or are you filled with the Word of God and able to share His promise?
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
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Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.
Psalm 119:133
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Great peace have those who love your law,and nothing can make them stumble.
Psalm 119:165
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9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
This verse does not permit believers to do whatever they will and God will be with them. No, instead the command is given after stating that the Law must be followed and that the commands be ready on lips and dwell in hearts. The desire for selfish gain and the need for unaccountable freedom fade away in light of the demand to follow God. We relinquish our petty feuds, divisive language and our mindless opinions for the encouragement that God will be with us and not forsake us.
There is an emphasis in vs. 9 on the very nature of Joshua’s call. God is commanding, not requesting or simply encouraging, him to be strong and courageous. Although God is mighty and powerful he also reassures Joshua that He will not abandon him. As Joshua goes forth and conquers the many nations in the land of Canaan, the sustaining power of God would go forth before the Israelites. All Joshua needed to do was be strong and courageous and not shrink back but be faithful.
In what area or with whom do you need to be strong and courageous? Where do you need to be faithful and not shrink back?
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,
“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith.
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Hebrews 10:35-39
MEMORY VERses
James Bartlett Rich. The Road Along Deep River, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 20th century. The Minneapolis Institute of Art
Related Verses
More verses about being strong and courageous:
“We have to be braver than we think we can be, because God is constantly calling us to be more than we are.”
— Madeleine L’Engle
MANÁ 
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