Joshua: Strong and Very Courageous (Part Two)

It’s almost ironic that my plans for the beginning of this series on Joshua have not worked out quite the way that I thought they would; and that instead, God has come in and changed things up a little bit. The book of Joshua breaks down quite nicely into four “acts”, which we had planned to cover over the next four weeks – but whilst digging into the first part of book, we remembered just how much there is to unpick in the first half of Joshua. In my Bible, I use a pink highlighter to underline verses that are foundation truths that we can hold on to in faith; and the first chapter of Joshua is covered in pink.

So, here’s the plan, we’re going to start at the very beginning of Joshua, and work through the book together over the next few weeks; it might just take some time to unpick everything that God is saying to us through these pages. I encourage you to come along with us on the journey: find your Bible, and read through this beautiful story with us week-by-week.

In chapter one, Joshua has taken over from Moses, and God is essentially giving a pep talk to the man that He had called to be a leader. There are so many promises in this part of the book, which become key as Joshua stands firm on them while going forward into the purpose that God had given him. Here are some of the highlights from chapter one – I recommend grabbing a highlighter and making a note of these:

“I will give you every place that you will set your foot” (verse 3)

“No-one will be able to stand up against you, all the days of your life. (verse 5)

(Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and very courageous” (verse 8-9)

These are massive promises, that God gave Joshua and his army at the very start of their journey: it was a promise that He would provide and do the work through them; and yet this still needed them to be strong and courageous – He was going to do the work for them, and yet they still needed to set their foot. Because God was making them strong and mighty, it was His strength that their enemies were up against, not that of man.

He Never Sets Us Up to Fail

We can hold on to the very same promises from God: when we step out and do the things that He has called us into action for, He is fighting the battle – He goes before us, and He will give us every place that we set our foot. This is an amazing promise, but it requires us to not try and fight the battle on our own. When we are stepping out and setting our feet in new ground for God, He will come through, every time. Our God never sets us up to fail, He always knows what He is doing; and we can step out confident in the knowledge that He is carrying us.

McLaren, a great Bible scholar, says this: “Courage that does not rest on Christ’s presence is audacity rather than courage; and is sure to collapse like a pricked bladder when the sharp point of real peril comes into contact with it”.

God gives Joshua this instruction:

“Do not let the book of Law depart from your mouth: meditate on it day and night, so you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (1:8-9)

In the context of being strengthened with God, we will prosper if we have His word on our hearts. We will be successful, because we walk in His truth, His strength and His wisdom.

Go Ahead of Your Brothers

God is setting Joshua up to go and take more land with the people. But, there are some who were already where they needed to be:

“But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manassah, Joshua said: “Remember the command that Moses gave you: the Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land. Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay, but all your fighting men, fully armed must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land” (Joshua 1:12-15

The Lord had given them the land, and they could rest – but God was not calling them to a place of comfort yet – he was asking them to help their friends. They were to go on this journey ahead of their brothers – there was bravery and sacrifice required, until they had been given everything that God was going to give them, too. While this seems like a big ask, there was a promise here too: that they would come back and be able to enjoy the land – that they would literally walk off into the sunset at the end of the battle. God wouldn’t have made that promise if He didn’t intend to keep them safe. 

Rather than remaining in that place of comfort and safety, the people keeping going ahead of their brothers meant that they would all get where they needed to be.

Rest is Not the End Point – It’s the Springboard:

God has done so much for me, and He has done so much for you, and it is easy to sit in a place of comfort and safety with Him, where we can see His goodness. But this place does not need to be the end point for us – it can be the spring-board into us being able to love, and help, and serve.

As Christians, when we reach the promised land, we should be looking around for the ways that we can help our brothers and sisters. After that, there is a promise that we will be able to walk off into the sunset.

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