BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS
Key verse: 7
NIV
Joshua Installed as Leader
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,(A) the Lord said to Joshua(B) son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River(C) into the land(D) I am about to give to them(E)—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot,(F) as I promised Moses.(G) 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon,(H) and from the great river, the Euphrates(I)—all the Hittite(J) country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.(K) 5 No one will be able to stand against you(L) all the days of your life. As I was with(M) Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake(N) you. 6 Be strong(O) and courageous,(P) because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors(Q) to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey(R) all the law(S) my servant Moses(T) gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,(U) that you may be successful wherever you go.(V) 8 Keep this Book of the Law(W) always on your lips;(X) meditate(Y) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.(Z) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;(AA) do not be discouraged,(AB) for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”(AC)
Cross references
- Joshua 1:1 : Ex 14:31; Dt 34:5; Rev 15:3
- Joshua 1:1 : S Ex 17:9
- Joshua 1:2 : S Nu 13:29; S Nu 35:10
- Joshua 1:2 : S Ge 15:14
- Joshua 1:2 : Ge 12:7; Dt 1:25
- Joshua 1:3 : S Dt 11:24
- Joshua 1:3 : Ge 50:24; Nu 13:2; Dt 1:8
- Joshua 1:4 : S Dt 3:25
- Joshua 1:4 : S Ge 2:14
- Joshua 1:4 : S Ge 10:15; 23:10; Ex 3:8
- Joshua 1:4 : Nu 34:2-12; Ezr 4:20
- Joshua 1:5 : S Dt 7:24
- Joshua 1:5 : ver 17; S Ge 26:3; S 39:2; Jdg 6:12; 1Sa 10:7; Jer 1:8; 30:11
- Joshua 1:5 : S Ge 28:15; S Dt 4:31
- Joshua 1:6 : 2Sa 2:7; 1Ki 2:2; Isa 41:6; Joel 3:9-10
- Joshua 1:6 : S Dt 1:21; S 31:6; S Jdg 5:21
- Joshua 1:6 : Jer 3:18; 7:7
- Joshua 1:7 : Dt 29:9; 1Ki 2:3; 3:3
- Joshua 1:7 : Ezr 7:26; Ps 78:10; 119:136; Isa 42:24; Jer 26:4-6; 32:23; 44:10
- Joshua 1:7 : ver 2, 15; S Nu 12:7; Job 1:8; 42:7
- Joshua 1:7 : S Dt 5:32; Jos 23:6
- Joshua 1:7 : ver 9; S Dt 4:2; 5:33; S 11:8; Jos 11:15
- Joshua 1:8 : S Dt 28:61; S Ps 147:19
- Joshua 1:8 : S Ex 4:15; Isa 59:21
- Joshua 1:8 : S Ge 24:63
- Joshua 1:8 : Dt 29:9; 1Sa 18:14; Ps 1:1-3; Isa 52:13; 53:10; Jer 23:5
- Joshua 1:9 : S Dt 31:6; Jos 10:8; 2Ki 19:6; Isa 35:4; 37:6
- Joshua 1:9 : S Dt 1:21; Job 4:5
- Joshua 1:9 : S ver 7; Dt 31:7-8; Jer 1:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
God Commissions Joshua
1 After the death of Moses the (A)servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' (B)assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 (C)Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 (D)From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5 (E)No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just (F)as I was with Moses, so (G)I will be with you. (H)I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 (I)Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and (J)very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law (K)that Moses my servant commanded you. (L)Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success[a] wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but (M)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 prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? (N)Be strong and courageous. (O)Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Joshua 1:7 Or may act wisely
Cross references
- Joshua 1:1 : ver. 13, 15; Ex. 14:31; Num. 12:7; Deut. 34:5
- Joshua 1:1 : Deut. 1:38; [Ex. 24:13]
- Joshua 1:3 : Deut. 11:24; [ch. 14:9]
- Joshua 1:4 : Gen. 15:18; Ex. 23:31; See Num. 34:3-12
- Joshua 1:5 : Deut. 7:24
- Joshua 1:5 : ver. 17; Ex. 3:12
- Joshua 1:5 : ver. 9, 17; ch. 3:7; 6:27; Deut. 31:8, 23
- Joshua 1:5 : Gen. 28:15; Deut. 31:6, 8; 1 Chr. 28:20; Cited Heb. 13:5
- Joshua 1:6 : ver. 7, 9, 18; Deut. 31:6, 7
- Joshua 1:7 : ch. 23:6
- Joshua 1:7 : ch. 11:15
- Joshua 1:7 : Deut. 5:32; 28:14
- Joshua 1:8 : Ps. 1:2; 119:15
- Joshua 1:9 : ver. 6, 7, 18
- Joshua 1:9 : Deut. 1:29; 7:21; 20:3; 31:6, 8
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JOSHUA
(KeyVerse= 1:6,7)
After Moses' death Joshua became the shepherd of Israel. He was a soldier. He was a young man at the time of the Exodus. He became Moses' aide. He fought and defeated the Amalekites while Moses prayed (Ex 17:1
). When Moses went up Mount Sinai to receive the Law and the Commandments, Joshua went with him part of the way (Ex 24:13; 32:17). When the Israelites repented after the golden calf incident, Moses pitched a tent outside the camp and went there daily to meet God, seeking his forgiveness. Joshua stayed in that tent to guard it (Ex 33:11).
Joshua opens where Numbers and Deuteronomy end- with Israel encamped on the plains of Moab, on the east bank of the Jordan, just opposite Jericho. Forty years before, when they had reached to border of Canaan, Joshua was one of the 12 spies sent in to survey the land. Only he and Caleb had urged the people to obey God and go in and take the land. Their advice, however, was not followed. So the people received 4
years of wilderness training. Now, they were at the border of the promised land, ready to go in and conquer it.
In Deuteronomy, Moses reviewed the history and the law, gave instructions about how to conquer and live in the land, appointed Joshua to lead Israel, then climbed Mount Nebo and died. God had promised Abraham that he would give the land of Canaan to his descendants. This promise had sustained the people through 4
years of slavery in Egypt and 4
years in the wilderness. Now, Joshua must lead them into the land to conquer it and claim God's promise.
Joshua 1-12 -- Entering and conquering the land
Joshua 13-24 -- Dividing the Land
1. I will give you the land (1-5)
After Moses died, the leadership of God's people passed to Joshua. He had served God well as Moses' aide, but what would he do under the pressure of real responsibility? God told him what he must do. He and the people must cross the Jordan and claim the land God promised to give them. God promised to be with Joshua as he was with Moses. God's promises are for those who claim them, and for those who obey God's commands. Jesus gave a similar command and promise to his disciples in Matthew 28:19,2
.
2. Be strong and very courageous (6-9)
Three times God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. Before conquering the land, he must conquer himself. He can do this by obeying God's word. This is faith in action. God said, 'Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth...Do everything written in it.' Strength and courage come from God's word hidden in the heart and from believing God's promise. Fear is the opposite of faith.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be strong and courageous to obey your word and claim your promises.
One Word: Be strong and very courageous
