- Only be thou strong, and very courageous, that thou may observe to do all the Law, which my
servant Moses commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand, or to the left, that thou mayest prosper wherever thou goest. - This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shall thou make thy way prosperous, and then thou shall have good success.
- 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, wherever thou goest.
Joshua chapter 1 is a magnificent new beginning: Moses, God’s chosen leader of His people, has died and God chooses Joshua to succeed him in leading the people to the Promised Land. By verse 7, God is repeating His instructions to be strong and very courageous—going even further, commanding Joshua to not be afraid or dismayed. It’s understandable that Joshua would be overwhelmed at having to fill the shoes of Moses, but why so overcome with fear that God would have to repeat Himself three times?
The journey of the Israelites reveals profound truths about the human condition—we live with doubts and fears that have been with us since Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. Regardless of whether we view their journey from the perspective of the people, or the ministry, we see stumbling blocks, real and imagined, are common. The Israelites faced them as they were led out of Egypt, both Moses and Joshua faced them as leaders—and we face the same mental barriers in our time. Fear, doubt, insecurity, the weight of responsibility—struggles that aren’t new but are woven into the fabric of fallen humanity.
Although we are not under the ceremonial Law of Moses, God’s moral commandments are written on our hearts through the New Covenant—which carry the same promises when we are obedient to Him. Not only did God repeat the instruction to be strong and very courageous, He also repeated the promise of prosperity and success. So why is it that the promises don’t stand out to us as much as the instructions do? Even though we are reminded of God’s promises in the New Testament—stress, anxiety, and fear often play a bigger role in our lives than any of us would like to admit.
Since the fall from grace humanity has been conditioned to expect and see the worst, while not feeling worthy of God’s best. Jesus tells us in John 10:10: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The thief Jesus speaks of is the same adversary who stole grace from Adam and Eve, brought death upon mankind, and led to the destruction of a perfect earth. His strategy remains the same today—his desire is to steal your confidence, kill your courage, and destroy your trust in God’s love for you. Every time we stress over financial strain, feel unworthy of love when a relationship fails, or give up prematurely we actively assist the thief.
Simply put, when we mediate on God’s Word, obey His instruction, and walk in His truth, we are not only guaranteed power to stand, love to endure, and a sound mind to remain steady and at peace—we will also prosper. And the beautiful thing is, this is how we make our own way prosperous. Scripture tells us, “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” It does not depend on prayers to be answered. Good success follows the person who follows God in study, in obedience, and in faith.