Joshua had been a young leader from the tribe of Ephraim when the twelve spies were sent to scout the land of Israel (Numbers 13:8); perhaps he was in his mid- to late twenties. Then forty years of moving from camp to camp in the wilderness had gone by, before they came back to the edge of the Promised Land once more: at that point Joshua would have been in his mid- to late sixties. He had seen what God had done, from the miracles in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea, and all the ways God provided for the people in the wilderness; but although he had seen God speak to Moses during those decades, he may not have had any direct experience of hearing God speak to him personally. It’s only after Moses had died that we read of Joshua hearing God’s voice addressing him (Joshua 1:1).

We should ponder on the way the Lord told Joshua to be strong and stand firm, noticing that the instruction came three times (1:6, 7, 9). There’s a reason that you would repeatedly encourage someone to be strong and courageous, of course: it’s because the road in front of them is dangerous, and they will naturally be afraid.

Throughout the lives of that generation of the people of Israel, Moses had been the only leader they had known. What would it be like for them, now that Moses was gone? Would they be willing to accept Joshua as Moses’ successor, to lead them across the Jordan river and into the Promised Land? Would Joshua himself feel ready for this assignment?

From a human perspective, it must have looked daunting all the way around. But God promised to be present with Joshua every step of the way (1:3). “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (1:5). All Joshua needed to do was obey the commandments that God had given through Moses: “Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the Law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to left, so that you may be successful wherever you go” (1:7)

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Help us, Lord. We understand your call to obedience, but we are not good at that. We hear your call to courage, but we are often afraid. Teach us to be steadfast and strong, like Joshua: never dismayed, and confident that you are with us wherever we go.