Joshua — Courage to Follow God

Joshua began his story as Moses' aide, one of twelve men sent to scout the land God had promised to Israel. Ten spies came back afraid; Joshua and Caleb came back believing God would keep His word. When Moses died, Joshua inherited an impossible task: leading a nation of former slaves into a land defended by fortified cities and stronger armies. God's charge to him wasn't a vague pep talk — "be strong and courageous" was tied to obeying the law Moses had given, not to military confidence. Joshua's courage was covenant courage: the steadiness of knowing God's word and doing it, one command at a time, from the Jordan to Jericho to the covenant renewal at Shechem.