Joshua 1: Be Strong and Courageous
After Moses dies, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel across the Jordan, promising his presence and pressing him to courage rooted in the Word.
Joshua 1 (WEB)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.
4 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.
5 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.
6 “Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, 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.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
9 Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 “Pass through the midst 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 Yahweh your God gives you to possess it.’”
12 Joshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,
13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God gives you rest, and will give you this land.
14 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
15 until Yahweh has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which Yahweh your God gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.’”
16 They answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so will we listen to you. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses.
18 Whoever rebels against your commandment, and doesn’t listen to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”
Joshua 1 (KJV)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
15 Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
Joshua 1 (ASV)
1 Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of Jehovah, that Jehovah spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, to you have I given it, as I spake unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of good courage; for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass through the midst of the camp, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Jehovah your God giveth you to possess it.
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, saying, Jehovah your God giveth you rest, and will give you this land.
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall abide in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan; but ye shall pass over before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and shall help them;
15 until Jehovah have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which Jehovah your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and possess it, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrising.
16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou hast commanded us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go.
17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only Jehovah thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
18 Whosoever he be that shall rebel against thy commandment, and shall not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of good courage.
Summary
After the death of Moses, the servant of Yahweh, God speaks to Joshua the son of Nun and commissions him to lead Israel into the promised land. He tells Joshua to arise and cross the Jordan, for every place the sole of his foot treads has already been given to him. God grounds the mission in his own presence, promising that no one will be able to stand against Joshua and that he will never fail nor forsake him, just as he was with Moses. Three times he charges Joshua to be strong and courageous, and he ties that courage to the law: Joshua must meditate on the book of the law day and night and carefully obey it, so that his way will be prosperous. The Lord caps the charge with a tender command not to be afraid or dismayed, because Yahweh his God is with him wherever he goes. Joshua then sends his officers to prepare the people to cross within three days and reminds the tribes who settled east of the Jordan of their pledge to fight alongside their brothers. The people respond with full obedience, promising to follow Joshua as they followed Moses and praying that the Lord would be with him. The chapter sets the tone for the whole book: God's faithfulness leads, and his people are called to courageous, Word-shaped obedience.
Main Characters
- Joshua — Moses' attendant, now commissioned as Israel's leader, charged to take the land and to be strong and courageous in obeying God's law.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The faithful God who keeps his promise to the fathers, pledges his unfailing presence, and commands Joshua to courage rooted in his Word.
- The eastern tribes — Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who settled east of the Jordan and now pledge to cross over armed and fight alongside their brothers.
- The officers and people — Israel's leaders and assembly, who receive Joshua's command to prepare provisions and vow to obey him as they obeyed Moses.
Key Verse
Joshua 1:9 (WEB)
Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
Lessons Learned
- God's purposes do not die with his servants; he raises up new leaders to carry his promises forward.
- Real courage is not self-confidence but confidence in the presence of God who goes with us.
- Obedience to God's Word is the path on which his promised success is found.
- The God who never fails or forsakes is the same God who calls us to step out in faith.
- God's presence is the ground of courage. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5, WEB). Our boldness rests on his nearness, not our strength.
- Courage and obedience belong together. Joshua is told to “be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law” (Joshua 1:7, WEB). Faith that honors God walks in his commands.
- The Word is to fill our minds. “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night” (Joshua 1:8, WEB). A prospering life is a Scripture-saturated life.
- Fear is answered by God's promise. “Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you” (Joshua 1:9, WEB). His pledged presence is the cure for a dismayed heart.
- Why do you think God repeats the command to be strong and courageous so many times in this chapter?
- How does God connect Joshua's success to the book of the law (verses 7-8)?
- What is the difference between courage that comes from self-confidence and the courage God commands here?
- How do the eastern tribes model partnership and obedience for the rest of Israel?
- Where is God calling you to step forward in obedience, and how might his promise “I will be with you” change the way you face it?
- The threefold charge (1:6, 7, 9) shows both the size of the task and the tenderness of God, who knows Joshua's fear. Repetition presses the promise home: courage is commanded, but it is supplied by the One who keeps repeating that he will be present.
- God ties prosperity not to military genius but to meditating on and obeying the law day and night (1:7-8). Success in his eyes flows from a life shaped by his Word. Help the group see Scripture as the path, not a side-room, of the obedient life.
- Self-confidence trusts in one's own ability and collapses under pressure; God-given courage rests on his presence and promise (1:5, 9). Invite the group to locate their assurance in who God is rather than in what they can do.
- Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their land yet still pledge to cross over and fight for their brothers (1:12-18). They model self-giving partnership and full submission to God's appointed leader.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name one place of fear or hesitation and to hear God's promise of presence spoken over it. As leader, keep the tone hopeful and let the focus rest on God's faithfulness rather than their adequacy.