World English Bible
- Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
- “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go across this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land which I am giving to them, even to the children of Israel.
- I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.
- From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
- No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.
- “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. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
- This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
- Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
- “Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.’”
- Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,
- “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ’The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.
- Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall live in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but you shall pass over before your brothers armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them
- until the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”
- They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
- Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses.
- Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him shall himself be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
Joshua chapter 1 is a powerful passage marking a significant turning point in Israel’s spiritual journey. Moses, the great leader and servant of God, had died, and Joshua was now faced with the enormous responsibility of shepherding an entire nation into the promised land. We can imagine how daunting and overwhelming this must have felt to Joshua—yet in this very moment of transition, God spoke directly, clearly, and powerfully to him. God’s voice in Joshua 1 provides us today, thousands of years later, with profound wisdom about courage, faithfulness, obedience, and the divine presence.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River…’” (Joshua 1:1–2, New International Version)
Have you ever stood on the edge of a stage in your life—on the verge of change—wondering if you’ll have the strength and wisdom required? Joshua knew this moment well. Often, God places his people precisely in such vulnerable moments to teach true dependence upon Himself. Notice that the Lord speaks clearly, frankly acknowledging the painful reality: “Moses my servant is dead.” Yet immediately after facing that stark transition, God sets Joshua’s eyes directly toward a new calling and a new responsibility. In the Hebrew tradition, narratives frequently use stark contrasts to emphasize critical turning points. Moses, the greatest prophet in Israel, represented God’s past faithfulness, but Joshua portrays a future filled with promise, guidance, and ongoing faithfulness by the Lord.
In verses 3–6, God reaffirms the promise first made to Abraham centuries earlier (“I will give you every place where you set your foot…”, v.3). There is a critical Hebrew word here, רָקַע (“raqah”), meaning literally “to tread,” suggesting action and intentionality in claiming the promise. God’s blessing, interestingly, required active participation—the Hebrew understanding of faith emphasized obedience and action flowing from trust in God’s promise. He also assured Joshua that victory did not rely merely upon Israel’s strength, but upon His own divine presence (“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you,” verse 5 NIV).
Historical Christian theologians such as John Calvin saw courage and obedience as intimately connected; obedience does not stem from personal bravery alone but from steadfast trust in God’s promise.
In verses 7 and 8, we encounter one of the keys to Joshua’s sagacious leadership: God instructs him to faithfully meditate on and faithfully obey the Word of God. The Hebrew term for meditate (“Hagah”, הגה), means literally “to mutter” or “speak quietly to oneself,” implying a continuous, deliberate reflection. Joshua was to saturate his thoughts with scripture. Here, the Hebrew Scriptures are lifted up as the foundational guide of Joshua’s leadership.
Hebrew poetry often employs parallelism—expressing thoughts in pairs to highlight their emphasis—which we see in verses 8–9: it beautifully balances exhortations to strength and courage with commands toward obedience and reliance upon scripture.
In the remaining verses of Joshua 1, we find Joshua assuming leadership practically, gathering his people, and demonstrating wisdom and organization. The Israelites exchange promises of mutual commitment and unity. A western audience might overlook the communal nature of ancient Near Eastern society; Hebrew culture placed deep emphasis on collective responsibility, honor, and obedience. Faith was rarely private; the covenant relationship was communal. There was true spiritual power in unity—something echoed in the New Testament as believers are urged towards oneness in spirit and purpose (cf. John 17:20–23; Ephesians 4:1–6).
Joshua’s people, connected like a family, affirmed together: “Whatever you have commanded us we will do…” (v.16). Leadership is thus ultimately affirmed and stabilized when rooted in God’s calling, grounded in God’s Word, and secured by loyal communities of faith.
A wonderfully fitting hymn for reflecting on Joshua chapter 1 is “Be Strong in the Lord,” beautifully written by Linda Lee Johnson:
“Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord
And be of good courage, for He is your guide.
Be strong, be strong, be strong in the Lord,
And rejoice, for the victory is yours.”
Gracious Heavenly Father,
We find ourselves often at turning points, uncertain about the future.
Teach us to hear Your voice clearly in these crucial moments, as Joshua
did. Remind us of Your presence and good promises, and give us courage
to walk in obedience to You. Enable our hearts and minds, by Your Holy
Spirit, to meditate continually upon Your Word, that we may faithfully
serve You and strengthen one another as a unified body of believers. In
Jesus Christ, who promises He will never leave or forsake us, we pray.
Amen.