Be Strong and Courageous: God Is With You

Joshua 1 begins with a hard reality: “Moses, my servant, is dead.” God names the past honestly, but God does not let Joshua live there. Moses’ story had been massive, from Egypt to the wilderness, from the plagues to the manna, from Sinai to the edge of the promised land. The mention of Moses’ death connects all that came before to what God is still doing, because God has not ceased dealing with his people.

Joshua stands in a scary place. Joshua had been Moses’ assistant, had gone partway up Sinai, had served at the tent of meeting, and had been one of the two spies who believed God could give the land. Joshua had seen God use Moses in mighty ways, and now Joshua is being called to step into those footsteps. God’s first word to Joshua is not, “Feel nothing.” God speaks to a man who likely has doubts, concerns, and fears. The point is plain: feelings are real, but feelings cannot drive the ship.

God’s promise stands before Joshua across the Jordan. The past is over, but the promise is not over. The land is still there, and God says, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you.” God’s presence is the heart of the promise: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.” That promise is not soft talk. It is the ground under Joshua’s feet.

Joshua 1 then ties “be strong and courageous” to three real tasks. The first charge calls Joshua to play his part. Joshua must lead the people across the river, face the giants, and walk into what God has promised. The same call still presses on believers through repentance, baptism, evangelism, family discipleship, daily work, and whatever step God is putting in front of a person.

The second charge calls Joshua to plant himself in God’s Word. God’s Word must not depart from his mouth, and Joshua must meditate on it day and night. The phrase “be strong and very courageous” lands here because being planted in the Word is vital, not optional. God’s people are called to read it, study it, soak in it, and memorize it until it is planted deep inside.

The third charge calls Joshua to protect his mind and heart. God names fear and dismay because those feelings are real, but they are not rulers. Paul’s words call thoughts to be taken captive to obey Christ. Prayer guards the heart and mind with the peace of God, and Joshua 1 ends with the steady promise: “The Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Feelings are real, not rulers God created human beings with emotions, so fear, concern, and hesitation are not automatically sin. Joshua likely felt the weight of stepping into Moses’ place, and God did not shame him for being human. But God did command him not to be frightened or dismayed, because feelings may be noticed without being allowed to steer the life. [49:32]
• 2. God’s promises still stand today God told Joshua that Moses was dead, but the promise was not dead. The land still stood across the Jordan because God’s faithfulness was not buried with the previous generation. The believer’s confidence rests in the same kind of God, the God whose promises are “yes and amen,” especially the promise of forgiveness through repentance and faith in Christ. [32:21]
• 3. Play the part God gives Joshua could not create the promise, but Joshua still had to cross the river. God’s sovereignty did not make Joshua passive, and God’s faithfulness did not remove Joshua’s obedience. The call to play a part may look like repentance, baptism, evangelism, discipling family, serving at work, or taking the one step that has been delayed too long. [39:45]
• 4. Plant deep in God’s Word God gave extra weight to the second charge by saying, “be strong and very courageous.” Joshua needed the Word not as a decoration, but as something in his mouth, his mind, and his daily obedience. Scripture is meant to be read, studied, soaked in, and memorized until it begins to “seep out” because it has been planted deep inside. [45:42]
• 5. Take every thought captive The mind does not stay neutral when fear rises, so Paul’s words call for active engagement. Taking thoughts captive means thinking about what is being thought about, grabbing the lie, fear, or runaway imagination, and bringing it under obedience to Christ. Prayer then becomes the daily guard over the heart and mind, not a last resort after anxiety has taken over.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [16:17] - Introduction and Personal Background
• [17:45] - Stepping Into What Terrifies
• [19:31] - Reading Joshua 1:1-9
• [22:37] - Moses’ Death and God’s Ongoing Work
• [25:03] - Joshua, Moses’ Assistant
• [28:09] - Feelings Are Real
• [30:21] - The Past Is Behind Joshua
• [32:21] - God’s Promises Are Real
• [36:37] - Be Strong and Courageous
• [37:18] - Play Your Part
• [43:09] - Plant Yourself in God’s Word
• [48:25] - Protect Your Mind and Heart
• [53:46] - Three Tasks for This Week
• [57:09] - Closing Prayer

1. In Joshua 1:6-9, what three specific tasks does God tie to the command “be strong and courageous”?
2. Why does God repeat “be strong and courageous” three times in Joshua 1, and how does the wording change in verse 7?
3. According to the sermon, how does God’s promise “I will be with you” (Joshua 1:5) connect to the call to courage? [34:33]
4. What two New Testament passages are linked to the idea of guarding our minds and hearts (Joshua 1:9)?

1. Why might God have emphasized the middle charge (“be strong and very courageous”) more intensely than the others? How does this relate to the importance of Scripture? [45:42]
2. Joshua likely felt fear stepping into Moses’ role, yet God says, “do not be frightened.” How does God’s presence (Joshua 1:5) address human fears without dismissing them?
3. The sermon says, “feelings are real, not rulers.” How does 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 provide a practical strategy for this truth?
4. In Philippians 4:6-7, prayer is tied to guarding the heart. Why might prayer be described as a proactive defense rather than a last resort?

1. What “Jordan River” step (a specific act of obedience like repentance, baptism, or reconciliation) have you been delaying, and what would it look like to take it this week? [39:45]
2. How could you practically “meditate on [Scripture] day and night” (Joshua 1:8) in your current season? Would studying, memorizing, or discussing it with others help most?
3. When a fear or anxious thought arises, what lie or distortion might it contain? How could you “take it captive” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and replace it with a biblical truth?
4. The sermon says God’s promises are “yes and amen” even when circumstances feel uncertain. What promise from Scripture could you cling to in a situation where you’re tempted to doubt? [32:21]
5. Identify one area of daily life (work, parenting, relationships) where you need to “play your part” more intentionally. What small, faithful action could you start doing?
6. How might praying about worries before they spiral (Philippians 4:6-7) change your approach to stress this week? What specific concern will you bring to God first?