The Book of Joshua is often read as a book of conquest and victory. This is because the story continues of crossing the Jordan River, of the walls of Jericho falling, and of taking possession of the land of Canaan. However, what this book truly seeks to convey to us is not the war record of one nation, but the truth of salvation—how God delivers those who are bound by sin and leads them into the land of promise.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

The name of this book we now open comes directly from the name of its main figure, Joshua. Just as many books of the Bible are called after the names of their authors or main figures, this book, too, took as its title the name of Joshua, the great leader who succeeded Moses and led Israel into Canaan. Yet hidden within this name is a truly deep and marvelous truth of the gospel.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

Joshua chapter 1 is the scene in which, after Moses died, Joshua is raised up as the new leader of Israel and sets out toward the land of Canaan. Its key themes are God’s promise, courage, obedience to the Word, and the unity of the community.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, God raised up Joshua the son of Nun, who had been Moses’ assistant, as the new leader of Israel. Moses had only looked at the land of Canaan from afar, and the task of leading the people into that land and fighting its spiritual battles was entrusted to Joshua. God commanded this Joshua to be strong in heart and very courageous, and to have the people obtain as an inheritance the land He had sworn to their fathers. It was the word that the Lord Himself would be with him, so he should go forward boldly, fight, and take that land.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

God told Joshua to occupy the land of Canaan, and said that to do so he must be strong in heart and courageous, and that He would be with him and protect him. This word was spoken not only to Joshua; it is the word given to you and me today as well. I believe that when we carry out God’s work, God is with us and blesses us.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

Today I want to share the word about faith briefly and clearly. How should we live our life of faith in order to live it well? Every person lives carrying worries of his own. There is no one who has no anxiety at all. Each carries his cares in his own circumstances, and then hears the word of God, believes in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, and receives the remission of sins. Yet even after receiving the remission of sins, the anxieties of the heart can still remain.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

When God raised up Joshua as the leader of Israel, He charged him with two things. One was to be strong in heart and courageous, and the other was to observe and do all God’s law and not turn from it to the right hand or to the left. He said that if Joshua did not let this Book of the Law depart from his mouth but meditated on it day and night and observed to do according to all that is written in it, his way would be prosperous. Today I want us to think together about this Law — why God told Joshua to keep the Law and meditate on it, and why that word is so important.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35

Joshua succeeded Moses and became the leader of Israel. Before crossing the Jordan and entering the land of Canaan, he first gave a command to the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh: their families and livestock were to remain on this side of the Jordan, while their men of valor were to cross over first with their brethren and help them in the war. At first glance it looks like a simple practical instruction, but because this was the first command issued by the new leader, it carried great meaning. Today, through this word, I want to share with you why there must be a leader in the life of faith.

https://www.bjnewlife.org/
https://youtube.com/@TheNewLifeMission
https://www.facebook.com/shin.john.35