“Be Strong and Courageous” Joshua 1:1-9

One of the most difficult jobs in all of Bosque County is to be the next pastor at First Baptist Church, Clifton. How does he hope to measure up to Jerry Smith?

Jerry was more than pastor of First Baptist; he was the pastor of Clifton. He had served faithfully and more than capably for 30 years, and during that time he ministered to three, sometimes four, generations in a family. It could be argued that Jerry was pastor to Bosque Baptists.

The task of following Jerry Smith is not going to be an easy one. But it is a task that will have to be taken. There will be someone who answers God’s calling and becomes the next pastor of that church.

This might give us an idea of what Joshua awaited when God called Him to be the leader of Israel.

Background

Moses had been a faithful servant of God. He grew into the position, no question, but for 40 years, Moses stood between God and the people of Israel. It was Moses who took their complaints and their concerns to God. It was Moses who declared God’s will to Israel. It was Moses who represented God to the people, and he did it increasingly well for a long time. With God’s leadership, Moses took Israel from slavery in Egypt to the very edge of the Promised Land.

Moses had disobeyed God while leading Israel, and the result was that Moses was not to enter Canaan himself. God allowed him to see the land from the top of a mountain, but Moses died before he himself could enter the land he had hoped for his entire life.

The job of leading Israel into the Promised Land to take possession of the land fell to Joshua. Joshua had been Moses’ aide for most of the time Moses led Israel. It was Joshua, along with Caleb, who trusted God to conquer the land, even when the other 10 spies said it was suicide to try to enter the land, much less conquer there. Of those who were of fighting age at the time of the spies’ report, only Joshua and Caleb now stood ready to enter the land. All the others had died in the wilderness because of their stubborn rejection of God.

Now the nation of Israel stood on the brink of all their hopes and dreams. There was still fighting to be done. There would be struggle and suffering, but it would only be temporary. The people would enjoy the fruits of their labors as long as they trusted God.

They needed a leader, and God chose Joshua for the task. When God called Joshua, He equipped him and prepared him for what God had in mind for him to do.

Central Truth: When God calls us to His work, He equips us to be successful in His eyes.

When God calls us to His work, He:

Gives us a clear message (vs. 1-5)

God’s call to Joshua was not a surprise to him. As Moses was preparing to die, Moses stood before the people and announced that Joshua would succeed him as leader of Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 31:1-8). In this proclamation, Moses made some of the same statements that God later made to Joshua directly. There was the assurance that God would lead and destroy the nations (Deut. 31:3-5). Moses urged the people to be strong and courageous, to not be afraid (v. 6). Moses summoned Joshua and gave him the same promise and charge: God would lead and fight, so do not be afraid; be strong and courageous (vs. 7-8).

Still, hearing the words from Moses was one thing. Joshua needed to hear God’s words as well. With the words, “Moses is dead” (v. 2a), God was telling Joshua that an era had ended; that a new era was beginning. Rather than look back at the good old days of Moses (a problem Israel exhibited too many times in the wanderings, thinking with fondness of all the good times in Egypt), Joshua was to look ahead. He had a job to do and God would lead him in fulfilling the task.

The task before him was the conquest of the Promised Land. God’s words are words of comfort and encouragement. God refers to the place as “the land I am about to give you” (v. 2b). God reiterates the fact that what they are about to possess is a gift from God—“I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses” (v. 3). God explains the extent of the land, and He concludes with this promise to Joshua: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (v. 5b).

With these words, God have given Joshua a clear understanding of what God is expecting Joshua to do. He did not give Joshua a detailed instruction about how it was to be done or how long the task will take. All Joshua needed to know is that God had a plan, that Joshua played a part in that plan, and that Joshua needed to simply trust and obey. God was not going to leave Joshua on his own; God would be with him always.

The same is true to us today. Granted, it is very rare that God speaks directly to us as He did to Joshua, but God speaks to us nonetheless, if we will have the heart and the spirit to listen for Hi and listen to Him when He does speak. God lets us know in broad terms what He wants of us, and He is with us always in accomplishing the things He calls us to do. Sometimes, the task will be more specific—go speak to this person; go do for this group; say these words. Other times, it will be the broad statements we often find in the Word of God. God’s promise to us is that He will always be with us and He will guide us if we will listen.

Equips us to succeed (vs. 6-8)

Up until this moment, God has not spoken to Joshua about his attitude or how he will accomplish God’s calling for him. Now, God speaks directly to what Joshua needs. Repeatedly, God tells Joshua two things: Be strong and courageous, and what Joshua needs to do to be prosperous and successful.

The call to be strong and courageous is necessary. It is the rare person who hears God’s call and says, “It’s about time. I’ve been waiting for this all my life. Let’s go.” Almost always, God’s call is followed by a deep sense of inadequacy on the part of the one being called—am I up to the task? What if I fail? What if I can’t do it? This is Satan’s way of trying to dissuade us from following God. God’s words are what rules here, though. We trust in the Lord. If God calls us to a task, He believes we can do it. Therefore, even if we doubt ourselves, we never doubt God. With that faith in Him, we are able to be strong and courageous.

How does Peter step out of a boat in the middle of a storm to walk on the water to Jesus? He does it with strength, courage, and a deep trust in the Lord. How does Philip travel to a road leading down to Gaza to share the Gospel with an Ethopian? He does it with strength, courage and trust in the Lord. How does Daniel survive in a lion’s den? With strength, courage and trust in the Lord.

Does the courage and strength remain with us always? No; Peter sank; John the Baptist questioned; Paul and Barnabas split their mission team. But in each case, the Word of God was there to lift Peter up, to assure John, to work through Paul and Barnabas separately. When the courage wanes, when the strength is sapped, that’s when we wait upon the Lord and rely on Him to give us renewed strength, renewed courage and lead us further on the task to which we have been called.

The person of God needs more than courage and strength, though. In these verses, God tells Joshua the key to success and prosperity is found in holding true to God’s word. “Be strong and 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. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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” (vs. 7-8).

Here, we need to make an observation. Oftentimes, when we hear the word “prosper,” we think of earthly riches and rewards. Be faithful to the Lord and He will increase your church attendance, and with it, the church’s income and with it, your salary. Be faithful to the Lord and He will bring new clients and customers, and your coffers will grow and you will be able to buy a bigger house, finer cars, eat better food.

But that’s not it. Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount are our key here. In Matthew 6:19-31, Jesus talks about placing our trust in God and things above, not on earthly reward. He reminds us we cannot serve God and money; we have to choose. Look at Jesus Himself. When told by someone that that person wanted to follow Jesus, Jesus reminded the man that Jesus didn’t have a penny to His name. Following Jesus was not the promise to the life of ease. But a life of obedience to Jesus is the life of success; prosperity comes in doing His word and following His way. Our reward awaits us with Him.

The way to prosperity and success in God’s eyes is with a life of obedience to Him and His commands. The best way to do that is to be in constant communion with Him, and one of the best ways to do that is to be aware of God’s word. Read and study the Bible; ponder it daily, meditating on its meanings and its implications. If our mind is on God and His commands, then we are where He wants us. The likelihood of disobedience falls drastically when we know God’s word and practice it.

God’s words to Joshua apply to us as well. Do not turn from God’s word to the right or to the left. Do not let His word depart from our mouths. Meditate on it day and night, being careful to do what the word says.

If we want courage, strength and success, we must hold fast to God and His word.

Assures us of His presence with us (v. 9)

God had given Joshua his instructions. He was to be Israel’s leader as they took possession of the land that God was giving them, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land far different from Egypt or the deserts they had wandered for the past 40 years. They stood on the brink of all they had hoped for, and it was Joshua they would look to. God’s words in v. 9 are words of encouragement and comfort.

First, God reminds Joshua that what Joshua was about to do, that which would be Joshua’s task for the rest of his life, was by God’s command. It is God who is leading Joshua, and Joshua will need to rest in the assurance of that calling. There will be times that Satan will cause Joshua to doubt. There will be times when Joshua will want to walk away from his task. Nonetheless, in the bottom line of Joshua’s life is this calling, this command, he received from God Himself.

Second, God reminds Joshua of what he needs to do in order to fulfill God’s command: Be strong and courageous. God also uses the negative in saying, “Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged.” God knows there will be times when the job will seem overwhelming, when the odds will seem to be too big against Joshua and his people. There will be times when it will seem God has called him to do the impossible. It can be terrifying, discouraging and defeating. Joshua must rely on God’s command and God’s word if he hopes to keep his strength and courage. He needs to lean on God through the trying times and the good times. That’s what Paul meant when he wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Finally, God tells Joshua, “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” There is Joshua’s courage and strength. There is his hope and assurance. Joshua will never be alone; God will always be with him. In my mind, there is no greater comfort or encouragement than to know that God is with us. He commands us to go, and He commands us to rely on Him and His word, and He reminds us to stay strong and courageous. We are able to do so precisely for the reason that God is with us.

Conclusion

Joshua could have looked upon this calling from God as something too big for him. Granted, he had led Israel’s armies in battle before, but Moses was always in charge. Now, Joshua was stepping up from being an assistant coach to a head coach—the mantle of leadership had fallen on his shoulders.

Joshua could never replace Moses, nor should he try to. No matter how hard he may try, Joshua would never be Moses. He needed to follow God not as Moses, but as Joshua. God knew what He was doing when He chose Joshua. He knew Joshua’s strengths and weaknesses. He knew what Joshua would bring to the position.

For Joshua to be successful in his calling, he needed to trust in God, follow His leadership and obey His word. Joshua needed to know the word, and he needed to walk daily with the Word. Success or failure would not be measured in numbers or victories, but in his obedience to God.

God calls all of us to a task or a duty. It may be one that others have done before us, and we may feel unworthy to stand in that place. But God has chosen each of us, and that makes us worthy. He has called each of us to a task, and that makes us capable. Trust in God. Be strong and courageous. And walk in God’s presence. We cannot fail.