Joshua had been a young man when the Israelites had left Egypt, and he had seen how God divided the sea, how he led the people through the wilderness from day to day, how he had miraculously provided food and water for them along the way. As assistant to Moses he had observed how God gave Moses the words of the covenant on tablets of stone, and how God spoke to Moses with words that Moses then declared to the people. Yet in all these years the Bible gives us no indication that God had ever spoken directly to Joshua. Many of us have prayed, and then received a nudge or a prompting – we have a sense of what God wants us to do, but would not claim that God spoke to us in sentences that we could write down. That may well have been Joshua’s experience as well, with no first-hand experience of hearing God’s voice directly addressing him. But that changed after Moses had died and Joshua began to lead the people of Israel (Joshua 1:1).

The admonition that Joshua received has a notable emphasis, with a command repeated three times (1:6, 7, 9). Of course, we can see the reason that you would encourage someone to be strong and courageous: what they need to do is dangerous, and they will naturally be afraid.

For the generation ready to enter the Promised Land, 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 their new home? Would Joshua himself feel ready for this assignment? The whole project 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.

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