I. Background:

Feel free to use a study Bible, commentaries, Bible study books, or other online resources like Desiring God or Ligonier Ministries. I recommend reading through the passage and trying to answer the questions for yourself first and only using the study aids as needed after you’ve spent some time thinking and studying through the passage.

II. Read the passage: Joshua 1.

III. Ask Questions:

A. Joshua’s Assignment:

Arise: Get up
Go: Move Forward
Lead the people and Conquer the land! (Wilderness and the River Euphrates: geographical challenges; Hittites: political/military challenges)
Claim the promise: God’s promise did not die when Moses died; God’s promises endure and will be kept!

B. God’s Promise:

v. 3-4, 6: Promised Land
v. 5, 9: I (God) will be with you. I will not leave or forsake you.
v. 7-8: good success wherever you go; prosperous

C. God’s Command:

v. 6: Be strong & courageous
v. 7: Be strong & very courageous; be careful to follow God’s Word
v.8: Talk about the Word, meditate on God’s Word day & night, and obey God’s Word.
v. 9: Be strong & courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed.

D. Joshua’s Response:

v.10-11: Prepare for travel and possession of the land.
v. 12-15: Reminder to remember God’s promise and help others remember and claim them!

Joshua 1:13

Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ (ESV)

E. The People’s Response:

v. 16-18: The people followed, obeyed, rehearsed God’s promise of His presence, and encouraged Joshua to “Only be strong and courageous” (18).

IV. Meditate

Joshua 1:7-9

[7] Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [8] 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 good success. [9] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (ESV)

V. Apply

A. How is God asking you to trust Him?

B. Why did God have to tell Joshua and the people to be strong and courageous? Why did he need to command them to not be frightened or dismayed?

C. What causes you to fear or doubt God? What promises of God are you not believing today? What dismays you?

C. Have you lost someone? What challenges are you facing as a result of that loss?

D. How can you obey God’s commands?

E. Who will you share this Truth within the next 48 hours?