Do the words, “be strong and of good courage” epitomize Joshua? Do they also encourage us? Does God's promise to Joshua, “I will not fail you, nor forsake you,” also apply in principle to us? Let’s look at Joshua 1.
After the death of Moses, what did God speak to Joshua about?
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. 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. (Joshua 1:1-5 KJV)
Did this promise just apply to Joshua, or did the author of Hebrews see God’s character in this, and thus a promise to us also?
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT Joshua 1:5)
What encouragement did God give to Joshua? Can we also take courage from these words in our very different circumstances?
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous to be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be prosperous wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will be prosperous. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be in dread or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:6-9 LSB)
What was Joshua’s first command to the people of Israel?
Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are going to cross this Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.’” (Joshua 1:10-11 NASB)
What did Joshua remind the two and a half tribes of, whose inheritance was east of the rest?
But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ 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, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land 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.” (Joshua 1:12-15 NIV)
How did the two and a half tribes answer Joshua? Did they echo God’s words?
So they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage.” (Joshua 1:16-18 NKJV)
Did the apostle Paul also write similar words to the Corinthians?
Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong! (1 Corinthians 16:13 WEB)
Do the words, “be strong and of good courage” epitomize Joshua? Do they also encourage us? Does God's promise to Joshua, “I will not fail you, nor forsake you,” also apply in principle to us? You decide!
