God’s Charge to Joshua– and to Us!

by | Sep 9, 2025 | Articles, Mentors Corner

Joshua 1:8-9 have been very encouraging verses to me.  Joshua is about to take over leadership of the Israelite nation and lead them into the Promised Land!  An overwhelming challenge to be sure! Up to now, for the past forty years, Joshua had been content to follow Moses’ leadership. Now that Moses was gone, it was now Joshua’s job to lead the people! As anyone in leadership knows, leading people can be overwhelming. So God Himself encourages Joshua with these words, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:8-9) God commands Joshua to follow God’s law. be courageous and then he will have prosperity and success.  God also promises that He will be with him every step of the way. When I looked up the words prosperity and success I was surprised by the Strong’s definitions.  Prosperous means to “advance forward”.  Success means to “act wisely and comprehend”. The way our world defines those words is much different.  Prosperity is financial and success is temporal in our definitions. So, in other words, if Joshua knew God’s word and followed it, he would “advance forward” in the purpose God had given him and comprehend and know he was headed in...