Joshua Commissioned to Lead

Moses was one hundred and twenty years old, and his time had come. He gathered all Israel and said, 'I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, "You shall not cross over this Jordan." The Lord your God himself will cross over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua also will cross over before you, as the Lord has said.'

Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to give to their fathers, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'

After Moses died and was buried, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant: 'Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.'

The Lord continued with powerful promises: 'No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.'

Three times God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. The third time, He added the key to success: '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. 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.'

Joshua commanded the officers of the people to go through the camp: 'Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land.' The people answered Joshua, 'All that you have commanded us we will do. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!'