“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, the children of Israel.” Joshua 1:2
After Moses died, and was buried by the Lord Himself, there were about thirty days that the people of Israel spent in mourning for him. Scripture tells us that since the death of Moses, “…there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” (Deut. 34:10) Joshua, Moses’ servant, had been chosen by God to take the people of Israel into the promised land, conquer and possess it. However, though Joshua had been commissioned by God, and Moses having laid his hands upon him, Joshua did not initiate the conquest of Canaan. For though he was a man, “full of the spirit of wisdom,” he had learned a great deal from Moses, especially in the matter of waiting upon God. This he did until the Lord spoke to him. Joshua, in his book, relates how that “…it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Num, Moses’ assistant.” (Josh. 1:1) The time had come in God’s mind and heart to begin the conquest of Canaan, and this would be by His spoken word to Joshua. The command was very clear: “Arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them.” It is at this moment that Joshua, who was like Moses, a servant of the Lord, would believingly obey in full assurance of faith, certain that what God had called him to trust Him for, and to do, would be accomplished. There were several things that would accomplish this calling of Joshua, which would be essential for the success of the conquest.
The first of these were two promises to Joshua. The first promise dealt with EVERY PLACE, within the limits of the territory which the Lord would give His people. God promised: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you, as I said to Moses.” There would be no place in the will of God where God would not give Joshua the victory of conquest, even though the people had never come that way before. There was thus the assurance that the land had been given by God for them to possess.
The second promise had to do with Joshua’s adversaries. The promise was: “No man shall 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 leave you nor forsake you.” (Josh. 1:5) God, by this promise, gives to Joshua the certainty of victory over every foe that would oppose the conquest. Not only would the promise of the land, which God had given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, along with their descendants, be certainly given and possessed, but no enemy, or obstacle, great or small, would be able to overcome them. Certain victory was declared but assured.
With the promises given to Joshua came basically two commandments that would be essential for the conquest, and for maintaining communion with God. The first had to do with the constant attitude that Joshua must choose to have. It was based wholly upon God. He was commanded to “Be strong and of a good courage,” to give the land as an inheritance to the people, but also to overcome every form of opposition, both physical and spiritual. The summation of the commandment was this: “Have not I commanded you, ‘Be strong and of a good courage; to not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go?'” (1:9)
The second commandment was to know the “Book of the Law,” keeping it always in one’s heart, meditating upon it day and night, in order to obey it fully. It would be by a life of faith-filled communion with God in obedience to His word, that Joshua’s way would be prosperous, accompanied by good success.
Dear Father, Lead us today clearly forth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.