Strong & Courageous
Joshua was a strong and courageous man of God who lead his nation in to victory and fulfilled God’s purposes for his people. God promised Joshua success and prepared him for it. We can apply the principles of Joshua’s success to our own lives and see not just personal victories but advancement in God’s Kingdom.
God’s Promise of Greatness
(1) After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord , the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
(2) “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
(3) I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
(4) Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
(5) No 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.
(1) After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord , the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
(2) “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
What was Joshua’s relationship with Moses?
What role did God give Joshua that Moses was not able to complete?
(3) I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
(4) Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
(5) No 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.
What was God’s promise to Joshua? List the things God promised him.
God’s Call to Strength & Courage
(6) Be 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.
(8) Keep 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.
(9) Have 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.”
Describe how God encourages Joshua.
(8) Keep 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.
What were God’s instructions?
How would following God’s instructions help Joshua?
Why do you think God wanted Joshua to succeed?
Joshua’s Response and Victory
(10) So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
(11) “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’ ”
What was Joshua’s response?
(13) Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
(14) “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
(15) The commander of the Lord ’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
What does this tell you about the spiritual powers surrounding Joshua?
Who made Joshua successful and why?
Joshua 6:1-5 (NIV)
(1) Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.
(2) Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.
(3) March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days.
(4) Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
(5) When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Joshua 6:20 (NIV)
(20) When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.
Joshua 6:27 (NIV)
(27) So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
How was Jericho defeated?
How did God bless Joshua?
Ask
How has God given you strength and courage in the past?
In what areas could God give you victory and success?
Application
How could you apply what you learned from Joshua’s story to your own life?
What is something in your own life you need to have courage for?
Prayer
Lord, I pray for courage and strength do the things you given me to do. I want to faithfully follow your instructions and the plan you have for my life.
Key Verse
This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
