| Joshua: Strength and Courage |
Joshua: The Promises of God
Joshua: Strength and Courage Joshua 1
Vs. 1 Joshua is specifically called the “assistant” of Moses. Whereas Moses (and Joshua after him) is
specifically called God’s “servant.”
Vs. 2 God is giving the people the land. This was the long-standing promises going all the way back to
Abraham 500 years earlier. It is this promise that is connected to “be strong and courageous.” Note that God
speaks directly to Joshua just as He did to Moses.
Vs. 3-5 God promises to be with Joshua as He was with Moses. This is key because Christ, who is God,
promises to also be with us always. How can that change the way you live life, knowing that God is with you?
God also promises to never forsake Joshua (this means that Joshua will succeed in the endeavors God
commissions him). Being with Joshua is one thing – it can be taken as a passive thing. But “forsake” or “fail”
puts this into action. Joshua is not to sit around enjoying God’s eternal presence. He is to carry on his work
knowing he will not fail – or better, God will not fail him.
The originally geography was much larger than we think of Israel being, especially today.
Vs. 6 “Be strong and courageous.”
Strong = firm, mighty, in the trust of God.
Courage = altogether undismayed, and why should he be? God promised to be with him and never forsake him!
The land promise, the presence promise, the never-forsaken promise – all lead to strength and courage.
Vs. 7 The leader must be the example for the rest. Even the slightest deviation is transgression and can
have most devastating consequences. As True Men of God we have to live a life with a higher standard
applied to us. And we can as we live with strength and courage, which come from and are strengthened by
God’s promises to us (that today, come through Word and Sacrament).
Vs. 8 Joshua is the leader, but cannot be lax in his meditation and study of God’s Word. More than simply
doing so as an example to the people, really doing it because God wills it. This is how a True Man remains
strong and courageous.
Vs. 9 This promise of victory is ours today through Christ who gives us victory over all our enemies as well
as the heavenly promised land (which is also larger than we have imagined it will be (C.S. Lewis “further up
and further in.”))
But as True Men of God we also have the same command given to Joshua – to read, study, and hear the Word
of God. To arrange our whole life according to it. We will have the success Joshua had in the things we
undertake under God’s guidance.
Vs. 10-11 For the first time in over 400 years, what has become the Nation of Israel will be entering the
Promised Land (that God is giving them). While it is the end of one journey (the wilderness wanderings) Joshua
makes it clear that there is much more to do. He tells them to prepare for another journey – this one of
conquest. It will take about 25 years.
Vs. 12-18 The Tribes of Reuben and God and half the Tribe of Manasseh choose to settle on the eastern
side of the Jordan River. But they will send their troops with Joshua to help with the conquest. At the
beginning, at least, the Tribes worked together.
True Men should never have to “go it alone.” We should have a band of brothers.
Vs. 1 Joshua is specifically called the “assistant” of Moses. Whereas Moses (and Joshua after him) is
specifically called God’s “servant.”
Vs. 2 God is giving the people the land. This was the long-standing promises going all the way back to
Abraham 500 years earlier. It is this promise that is connected to “be strong and courageous.” Note that God
speaks directly to Joshua just as He did to Moses.
Vs. 3-5 God promises to be with Joshua as He was with Moses. This is key because Christ, who is God,
promises to also be with us always. How can that change the way you live life, knowing that God is with you?
God also promises to never forsake Joshua (this means that Joshua will succeed in the endeavors God
commissions him). Being with Joshua is one thing – it can be taken as a passive thing. But “forsake” or “fail”
puts this into action. Joshua is not to sit around enjoying God’s eternal presence. He is to carry on his work
knowing he will not fail – or better, God will not fail him.
The originally geography was much larger than we think of Israel being, especially today.
Vs. 6 “Be strong and courageous.”
Strong = firm, mighty, in the trust of God.
Courage = altogether undismayed, and why should he be? God promised to be with him and never forsake him!
The land promise, the presence promise, the never-forsaken promise – all lead to strength and courage.
Vs. 7 The leader must be the example for the rest. Even the slightest deviation is transgression and can
have most devastating consequences. As True Men of God we have to live a life with a higher standard
applied to us. And we can as we live with strength and courage, which come from and are strengthened by
God’s promises to us (that today, come through Word and Sacrament).
Vs. 8 Joshua is the leader, but cannot be lax in his meditation and study of God’s Word. More than simply
doing so as an example to the people, really doing it because God wills it. This is how a True Man remains
strong and courageous.
Vs. 9 This promise of victory is ours today through Christ who gives us victory over all our enemies as well
as the heavenly promised land (which is also larger than we have imagined it will be (C.S. Lewis “further up
and further in.”))
But as True Men of God we also have the same command given to Joshua – to read, study, and hear the Word
of God. To arrange our whole life according to it. We will have the success Joshua had in the things we
undertake under God’s guidance.
Vs. 10-11 For the first time in over 400 years, what has become the Nation of Israel will be entering the
Promised Land (that God is giving them). While it is the end of one journey (the wilderness wanderings) Joshua
makes it clear that there is much more to do. He tells them to prepare for another journey – this one of
conquest. It will take about 25 years.
Vs. 12-18 The Tribes of Reuben and God and half the Tribe of Manasseh choose to settle on the eastern
side of the Jordan River. But they will send their troops with Joshua to help with the conquest. At the
beginning, at least, the Tribes worked together.
True Men should never have to “go it alone.” We should have a band of brothers.
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