September 6, 2026: Joshua Leads Courageously | Joshua 1:1-11

In Genesis we see the call of Abraham and the promise of a great people.  By the book of Exodus we see Abraham’s family captive, slaves to another authority. They have grown as a people and it is time to leave the incubation of Egypt. They are sent a deliverer.  A man named Moses sent to bring them out from the powers of the world and the spiritual wickedness around them. They are a newly born nation. God has called them out to represent Him.  The people around them take notice. 

In the book of Joshua, we see the results of their new birth.  God will be with them as they enter this new phase and new land.  God himself has led them to this place. Their success and conquests will depend on their trust and obedience to God.

 Many consider the entering of the Promised Land to be a picture of our entry to Heaven.  However, let us consider that in Heaven we will no longer have battles, strife, disobedience or sin to overcome.  The entry into the Promised Land is a picture of the christian life. God draws us. Leads us out of the authority of the world, tells us how to live, and protects us from ourselves and the evils that surround us.  The conversion, the acceptance of Jesus as Lord of our lives,  is very real.  With it will come many conflicts. There  is much to learn and much to overcome, with God as the King.  

Our lesson begins with Joshua.  His name means Jehovah saves. He is thought to have been nearly 80 yrs old by this time. His name is the New Testament word for Jesus. He has proven himself to be a leader. An average man with a great calling.  He did not get his calling from a burning bush and like us, He follows in the footsteps of those true leaders that came before him.  Our lesson begins today as God states clearly “Moses my servant is dead.”

  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.

 Freed from the slavery of Egypt,  the young nation watched as an entire generation died in the wilderness. They have been wandering for forty years in the deserts between Egypt and the land God had promised Abraham and Moses.Their every need has been provided by God Himself.  They have lived in tents under the open sky.  They are a people who are never always quiet and submissive. They are usually grumbling and murmuring, yet not even the shoes they walked in were worn out.

And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 29:5-6)

Moses, their deliverer and lawgiver is dead.  Now they have reached the promise. They will cross into the Promised Land. A new life.  A new way of living. A new season, a new leader,  for the soon to be conquerors of a land flowing with milk and honey. 

Joshua has been Moses’ second in command for over 40 years.  God had planned for this succession. 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. And Moses did as the Lord commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. (Numbers 27: 18-23).

 God begins by speaking to Joshua, to remind him that the plan has not changed. What God  promised He intends to do. God reaffirms the people and  the land are ready for their entry.

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.

When God calls he qualifies.  In our own strength we are not much.  Joshua had seen first hand how God worked through Moses.  Any doubts he may have had, God has answered.  God will be with Joshua in the same manner as he was with Moses.  As a little side note, he will do the same for you.  Whose shoes do you need to fill?  What fears keep you away from your calling?  God is your strength and the author of your success.  

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Phillipians 4:13)

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 withersoever thou goest.

God isn’t asking for additional education or advanced talents.  He requires only strength and good courage.  Where do these come from?  They are not born of worldly accomplishments. Nehemiah wrote: Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10).

King David shared this: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)  It appears that strength and good courage go hand in hand.  If you know that your strength comes from God and not of yourself, then you have no need to fear.  Courage will come as you recognize God’s victories!

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.

God has given Joshua and each of us everything we need. In our christian life, we can face each new season (each new role), in confidence. God’s words, used in prayerful study, is our preparation.  God’s joy is our strength. His salvation is our good courage.    The word of God is truth.  His words take some effort to learn.  His book is not  a one time read.  God’s book will require life long study, Holy Spirit tutoring, and continual application. Without the meditation and application of the word of God, there is no strength or good courage.  Without strength and good courage there are no truly successful leaders. 

 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.

Joshua is prepared.  He knows the God of Moses on a personal level.  He has trained under Moses’ role as a leader.  He has learned. He is ready for his opportunity to be a leader, a courageous leader.  As we follow Joshua, we will find that his new role was filled with many discouragements.  Even with his preparation, Joshua faced many trials and disappointments. He had watched Moses handle the same. 

Even as a christian, each new season is not a guaranteed walk in the park. Becoming a christian will not result in never having problems.  We will suffer trials and disappointments while here on earth. We will be required to battle the flesh and the temptations around us.  We will experience events that change our lives completely. However, God will be there with each of us. There will come a day when our battles will cease and our victory is won.  What a day that will be!

What is your role?  What season are you in?  May we all learn to build our success on our faith in God and believe His word. Let us seek not to be wise in our own sight, but rather to be wise in His.  Encourage each other to hold fast. 

Through it all, God asks us to remember He is in control.  We are not to lose faith. We are not to forget His promises.  As a believer, we are to stand strong in His word and move forward courageously.  This is rarely the first response we have but it is always the next right thing to do -  in every season. 

 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. (Psalm 61:1-4).

Thank you for studying with us! God bless!