Joshua 1:6-9

⁶Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

⁷“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Introduction

What are your bases of choosing a leader? Do you look at stature, credentials, attitude, or character? Do you choose someone who would promote your agenda? 

God prefers the obedient as leader. When Israel was about to enter Canaan, Joshua was chosen to lead Israel. Why did God choose Joshua? Was it because he led Israel against the Amalekites? Was his military exposure qualified him to be Moses’ successor?

God told Joshua to be strong and courageous. It is not a good choice to have a weak and frightened person as leader, especially when going to battles, right? When Joshua was chosen to lead Israel before they enter Canaan, God told him a promise to their ancestors—that was to inherit the land, why? Why did Joshua need to hear it?

1. Promise

⁶Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

Holding onto God’s promises inspires, strengthens and encourages us. When God promises something, He wants us to know and realize that His word is alive and functional. God’s promise includes blessings. One thing that God cannot do is to lie.

In Numbers 23:19, ¹⁹God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?

Actually, to believe that God would surely fulfill His promises exhibits active faith. Is it right to claim, “I have faith in God!” yet ignore His promises? Should we not expect believers to hold onto God’s promises? Do you think that all promises of God are intended for each believer? Or does God give specific promise to each believer?

Sure there are blessings intended to general public [sun, rain, air] but God’s promise to the individual believer helps relationship with Him grow stronger and deeper. 

It’s very helpful to believe God’s promise if it is very clear and not mysterious. The Bible teaches that God tells exactly what He wants His people to hear. God has many promises but the promise we receive is His instrument to reveal Himself to us.

It says in Joshua 1:5, ⁵No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

It’s clearly stated but to whom did God give this promise? Was it to all Israelites or to Joshua only? Can we [as believers] claim this promise? Similar promise was given in Hebrews 13:5, ⁵Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Not a few individuals encourage others that God will never leave nor forsake.

Does it really encourage others? When God promises something, He reveals His love and care. The recipient will know it that it is for that person only, not for others. There are conditions before God’s promise will come to reality. 

Does God’s promise of “not to leave or forsake” applicable to anyone? The Bible teaches that God would not leave or forsake those who keep their lives free from the love of money and those who are contented of what they have. To have less or just enough, prosperity or no prosperity, when there’s contentment, God’s promise is carried out. 

2. Prosperity

⁷“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

The Lord told Joshua that they will have prosperity and success if they keep His Law.  Prosperity and success are God’s blessing to those who are careful to obey His law. Careful obedience to God’s law is possible by God’s grace. When we meditate on God’s law day and night and we carefully obey it, God’s grace is actively at work in us.

God’s instruction to Joshua is exactly what David teaches in Psalm 1:1-3. ¹Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. ³That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.

When God calls someone to leadership ministry, God has designed it that the obedient leader would be prosperous and successful. God has designed His laws as His means to pour out blessing and give success to the obedient believer. 

Prosperity and success that comes from the Lord is blessedness. Some Bible versions translate blessedness as happiness. Blessedness is to enjoy success and prosperity, and not worrying about other things—like safety, security, or even health. 

It is not blessedness to have big house but live in the hospital, have fancy car but always ride in ambulance, have fancy clothes but wear hospital robe, have millions of dollars but scared to be robbed or kidnapped, have groceries but no appetite.

To be blessed by God does not depend upon qualification or talent. Faith in God is all we need to receive His blessing. Faith involves obedience and joy of meditating God’s word. Readiness and eagerness to listen to the Lord’s instruction exhibit faith in Him. His instructions are designed instruments to pour out blessings.

God promised prosperity, success and His presence when He instructed Joshua to lead Israel. God expected Him to be strong and courageous as Israel’s leader.

3. Presence

⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Three times in our passage that God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. God did not expect Joshua to lead Israel by his human effort. God’s commands require godly effort. His promise and presence would boost and increase Joshua’s strength and courage so that he won’t to be afraid or discouraged.

Shepherd Boy

David was a lowly shepherd boy. His brothers have no respect of him. When David was inquiring about Goliath, his older brother was angry. His older brother might have been concerned of David’s safety, or he might have thought that David was just a curious inquisitive young person meddling in adult’s affairs. 

1 Samuel 17:28, ²⁸When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”

Nevertheless, David saved the Israelites, and eventually became king of Israel. It would have been very tough for David’s older brother to accept what happened. 

King David has experienced many challenges in life but he had always found comfort and success in the Lord. Indeed, joy in the presence of God is the nearest and simplest description of unlimited blessing of God. 

King David describes what he experienced in the presence of the Lord in Psalm 21:1-6.

¹The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give!

² You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.
³You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
⁴He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—length of days, for ever and ever.
⁵Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. ⁶Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

The presence of God includes blessedness and joy in what he does. It eliminates doubt, aversion, or being scared of anything. God’s presence generates joy and gladness. 

When the Lord instructed Joshua to be strong and courageous, the Lord did not expect him to use his own strength and courage. God’s promise of His presence assured Joshua of successful mission that God has given him.

God gives us missions or purposes. Unfamiliar, surprising, unguarded moments, or even terrible mistakes are strategically designed by God to test the growth of our faith. Faith in Him includes experience of His presence. Joy in the Lord is a proof of His presence. The joy of the Lord is our strength to overcome those challenges God allows.