Joshua 1

The Lord speaks to Joshua (vs. 1-9)—Moses was dead, so now the leadership is turned over to Joshua, who was basically a military man, but still a man of great faith. The Lord will now give the land of Canaan to Israel (v. 2), fulfilling the promise He made to Abraham nearly 500 years before. 500 years before. The Lord works in His own time. In verses 3 and 4, He tells Joshua the extent of the land Israel will eventually possess; however, because of their disobedience and idolatry, they will only have that much land for a short time under David and Solomon. Jehovah encourages Joshua with the words “no man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life” (v. 5)—and Joshua believed Him. That’s why he was a great man and a successful one. God was with him, and he trusted in the Lord. In verse 6, the Lord tells Joshua to “be strong and of good courage;” indeed, He tells him that three times in these nine verses and Joshua receives the same exhortation from the people in verse 18. It’s interesting in what Jehovah wants Joshua to be strong; not in fighting battles, as one would think, but “that you may observe to do all according to the law which Moses My servant commanded you” (v. 7). Obeying God’s will can take great strength and courage, especially in front of a fickle multitude. This group of Israelites were better than the mob that died in the wilderness, but even so, the Lord encourages Joshua to be strong and courageous. And if he will do that, “then you will make your way prosperous and you will have good success” (v. 8). What Joshua was about to do was monumental, and the final words of Jehovah to him were “do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (v. 9). If only we believed that, too.

Joshua’s message to the people and the confirmation to the eastern tribes (vs. 10-18)—Joshua then spoke to the people (through the “officers of the people”, v. 10) telling them to prepare themselves, for “within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess” (v. 11). The event the Israelites had been waiting for for 500 years was about to take place. There must have been great excitement among the people.

Three tribes had asked for, and been promised, land on the eastern side of the Jordan River. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had already been given their allotment of land, providing the men of war helped the rest of the tribes conquer the land on the western side of the river. This is all recorded in Numbers 32. Joshua reminds them of that agreement in verses 13-15. The three tribes responded that they would honor their commitment to help their brethren, and indeed, “whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death” (v. 18). And their final message to Joshua was “only be strong and of good courage.” Again, these Israelites are a much different group than the disobedient people who came out of Egypt and perished in the wilderness.