Joshua 1

Read the full chapter here.

Joshua 1 picks up after the death of Moses. God’s people have been wandering in the wilderness, experiencing His supernatural provision, and have reached the border of the land promised to them. We see that Joshua has been faithful in his service to God and to Moses (v.1) and that he was now being appointed as God’s representative before the people (vv.2-4).

The promise to inhabit real lands was genuine, and we see that as the leader Joshua was called upon to be strong and courageous. The reason for his confidence and courage was the promise of the presence of God in vv.4-5, and Joshua is told that his obedience would surely bring success for the people (v.7). His obedience, though, was to be total: mouth, mind, and might (v.8). Underscoring His prior promise, God tells Joshua that His presence is the power through which all this will be achieved (v.9). 

The people are then told to wait and prepare (vv.10-11), old commitments are called upon (vv.12-15, cf. 1 Corinthians 12.25-26), and God’s Word to Joshua is confirmed through others in the community (vv.16-18). 

Joshua 1 sets us up so well for what is to come. I recently read this:

“Entrance into the land of Canaan was entrusted to a representative (v.3). Joshua was the trustee of the land for the people. In the same way, our representative Jesus goes before us and what we have in God we possess in Him”. 

As Joshua was appointed representative and leader of the people, as Joshua was given the task of taking God’s people into all that God had promised them, the same is true for Jesus. It is through Jesus that we pass over into all that God has promised for us. It is through His presence and power in our lives that our success is guaranteed. To step into all that God has for you, go first to His appointed representative, to the Lord Jesus.