When Joshua faced the daunting prospect of years of intense warfare in leading the children of Israel into the land of Canaan, God said to him:

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:7-9).

God would be with Joshua through the entire process and would make him victorious if he would be willing to go with God.

Of key importance to Joshua’s faithfulness to God was the Book of the Law. Joshua was to meditate on it day and night so that his thoughts would be shaped by God’s thoughts. Psalm 1:2 says of the righteous man, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.” Instead of viewing Bible study as drudgery, the righteous person views it as a delight. As Joshua’s predecessor, Moses, reminded Israel, God gave the law for their good (Deut. 6:24; 10:13). Psalm 19:7-11 tells of the benefits of God’s law; it restores the soul, makes the simple wise, rejoices the heart, and enlightens the eyes. The law of Moses is still beneficial to us today; it produces comfort and hope (Rom. 15:4). When we realized how beneficial God’s word is to our souls, it will produce a desire to spend time with it; thus, we echo these sentiments: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa. 119:97).

The New Testament portion of God’s word benefits us as well. Jesus said His words are “spirit” and “life” to those that hear them (Jn. 6:63). Faith comes from hearing God’s word (Rom. 10:17; cf. Jn. 20:30-31). If we are to grow as children of God, we must desire the pure milk of God’s word (1 Pet. 2:2). As Paul had his final meeting in Miletus with the elders of the congregation of Ephesus, he said, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

Joshua was spiritually successful when he continued to meditate on God’s word, neither turning from it to the right or left. When faced with daunting prospects in our lives, we can be courageous and built up in faith knowing the Lord is always with us as we meditate daily upon His word: the Bible.

– Mark Day