Joshua 1:7

Berean Standard Bible

Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.

King James Bible

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

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The book of Joshua opens with a pivotal moment in Israel’s history, as the mantle of leadership passes from Moses to Joshua, and the people stand on the cusp of entering the Promised Land. In Joshua 1:7, God speaks directly to Joshua, saying, “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” This verse, embedded in God’s charge to Joshua, is not merely a pep talk or a practical directive but a profound theological statement about courage, obedience, and the path to true success in God’s economy. As we linger over these words, we uncover layers of meaning about God’s presence, the centrality of His Word, and the call to steadfast faithfulness for all who seek to walk in His purposes.

The context of Joshua 1:7 is critical to its significance. Moses, the great leader who brought Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness, has died, and Joshua, his aide, is now tasked with leading a nation into a land filled with challenges and enemies. The weight of this responsibility is immense, yet God’s words to Joshua are both a command and a promise, repeated three times in this chapter: “Be strong and courageous.” In verse 7, the call to courage is intensified with “very courageous,” underscoring the magnitude of the task and the depth of resolve required. This courage, however, is not rooted in Joshua’s own strength or abilities but in God’s presence and promise, as seen in verse 5: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Theologically, this establishes a foundational truth: courage in God’s service flows from His nearness, not from human capability. Joshua is not called to muster his own bravery but to trust in the God who goes before him.

The heart of verse 7 lies in the command to “be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you.” The law, referring to the Torah delivered through Moses, is the covenant framework for Israel’s relationship with God. It is not a mere set of rules but the revelation of God’s character, will, and promises. To obey it is to align with God’s purposes, to walk in His ways, and to embody His holiness as a nation set apart. The phrase “be careful” suggests intentionality and vigilance, a deliberate commitment to follow God’s instructions without compromise. This is no casual adherence but a wholehearted devotion, a refusal to “turn from it to the right or to the left.” This imagery of staying on the path evokes the biblical metaphor of life as a journey, where deviations—whether to the right (legalism or self-righteousness) or to the left (laxity or rebellion)—lead to spiritual peril. Joshua’s leadership, and Israel’s success, hinge on fidelity to God’s Word.

The promise attached to this obedience is striking: “that you may be successful wherever you go.” In the Hebrew, the word for “successful” (sakal) carries connotations of wisdom, insight, and prosperity, but not in a worldly sense. Success in God’s eyes is not measured by wealth, power, or ease but by fulfilling His purposes. For Joshua, this meant leading Israel to possess the land God had promised, a task requiring both military conquest and covenant faithfulness. Theologically, this reveals a principle that runs throughout Scripture: true success is found in alignment with God’s will. Obedience to His Word is the path to blessing, not because it earns God’s favor but because it positions us to receive what He has already promised. This is not a guarantee of comfort but of purpose, as Israel’s journey would involve battles, setbacks, and trials, all navigated through trust in God.

The call to courage and obedience in Joshua 1:7 also points to the broader narrative of God’s redemptive plan. Joshua, whose name means “Yahweh saves,” is a type of Christ, the ultimate leader who fulfills the law and leads His people into the true rest of God’s kingdom. The law given through Moses, while perfect, could not ultimately save; it pointed to the need for a greater Savior. Jesus, the fulfillment of the law, obeyed perfectly, securing salvation for all who trust in Him. For believers today, Joshua 1:7 resonates as a call to follow Christ, the living Word, with the same courage and fidelity. The promise of success finds its ultimate fulfillment in Him, as He leads us not to a physical land but to an eternal inheritance.

Practically, Joshua 1:7 speaks to us in a world filled with challenges and distractions. The call to “be strong and very courageous” is as relevant now as it was then. We face our own “Canaans”—personal struggles, cultural pressures, or daunting callings—that require courage rooted in God’s presence. Like Joshua, we are not left to our own strength. The Holy Spirit, God’s abiding presence, empowers us to face fears, step into unknown futures, and persevere through trials. The command to obey “all the law” challenges us to immerse ourselves in Scripture, not as a relic of the past but as the living Word that guides our steps. To “be careful” means to prioritize God’s truth, to meditate on it day and night (as verse 8 urges), and to let it shape our decisions, relationships, and priorities. The warning not to turn to the right or left calls us to avoid the extremes of legalism, which adds to God’s Word, or compromise, which dilutes it. Instead, we are to walk the narrow path of faithful obedience.

This verse also invites us to redefine success. In a culture obsessed with achievement, wealth, and recognition, Joshua 1:7 reminds us that true success is measured by faithfulness to God’s call. It may mean choosing integrity over advancement, serving others over self-promotion, or trusting God’s timing over our own plans. For some, it might look like parenting with patience, working with honesty, or sharing the gospel with boldness. For others, it might mean enduring suffering with hope, knowing that God’s presence is our ultimate victory. Whatever our context, the promise remains: obedience to God’s Word leads to a life aligned with His purposes, fruitful in ways that eternity will reveal.

Finally, Joshua 1:7 calls us to trust in God’s faithfulness. Just as He was with Moses and Joshua, He is with us. This assurance frees us from fear and empowers us to act. When we feel inadequate, we can remember that our strength comes from the One who never leaves us. When we face decisions, we can turn to His Word, trusting that it lights our path. And when we stumble, we can rest in Christ, who obeyed perfectly on our behalf, covering our failures with His grace. Joshua 1:7, a charge to a leader on the edge of a new chapter, speaks to every believer standing at the threshold of God’s calling. It beckons us to be strong, to be faithful, and to trust that the God who spoke to Joshua walks with us still, leading us to the success that matters most—life in His presence, for His glory.

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Grace and peace to you, beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ. I greet you with a heart full of affection, not in my own name, but in the name of Him who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen your hearts, and may His Spirit breathe life into your souls as you read these words. My intention in writing to you is to stir your spirit with courage and clarity, to awaken you to the steadfastness of the Lord’s promises, and to exhort you to walk faithfully in obedience to His Word.

Let us now consider the words spoken to Joshua, the servant of Moses, after the death of his master. These are the words of the Lord to him: “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” (Joshua 1:7, ESV). These are not words confined to the ancient wilderness, nor are they buried in the dust of Israel’s long journey. They speak with enduring voice and divine authority to every generation that seeks to follow the Lord wholeheartedly.

Joshua stood on the threshold of a land promised but not yet possessed. The task before him was immense—leading a people known for their stiff necks, walking into a land full of fortified cities, inhabited by nations stronger than they. Moses, the great prophet and deliverer, was gone. The mantle now rested on Joshua. And what does the Lord say to him in this critical hour? Not strategies, not techniques, not alliances—but this: be strong and very courageous, and obey. God places strength and courage not in opposition to obedience, but in harmony with it. True strength, the kind that withstands the battle, is found in the heart that trembles at God's Word and yet does not cower from His commands.

We live in a time that applauds many things—boldness without reverence, knowledge without wisdom, freedom without restraint. But the Word of the Lord to His servant then is still the word to His people now: “Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left.” The call is not merely to possess the Word but to be possessed by it. Obedience is not partial; it is not subject to cultural revision, nor is it negotiable when the path becomes inconvenient. Our obedience must be as unwavering as the One who calls us—who does not change like shifting shadows. We must be careful, the Scripture says. That means we must pay attention. We must not let the truth slip through our fingers while our eyes are distracted by lesser things.

Do you want to succeed in your calling? Do you long for your life to be fruitful in the Lord? Then listen well: success in the kingdom of God is not measured by the applause of man, nor the accumulation of possessions, nor the ease of one’s path. It is measured by faithfulness. The way of prosperity in God’s eyes is the way of alignment with His will. There is no spiritual prosperity apart from obedience. The land of promise cannot be inherited by those who walk in rebellion or compromise.

But what of courage? We are told to be “very courageous.” Why? Because the path of obedience will test every fiber of your being. To obey the Lord in the midst of opposition requires courage. To remain faithful when others fall away demands a boldness not born of personality, but of the Spirit. To say “yes” to God sometimes means saying “no” to everyone else. And that, dear saints, takes holy courage.

Courage is not the absence of fear, but the resolve to move forward in faith despite fear. Joshua was not called to feel fearless, but to be steadfast. The Lord was not asking him to lean on his own heart, but to trust in the unshakable promises of the One who had led them thus far. The courage the Lord calls us to is not bravado or bluster—it is rooted in the confidence that God's Word is true, His presence is near, and His purposes will not fail.

Are you facing a season of uncertainty? Has God called you to something greater than yourself? Are you being asked to step into new territory, to lead where you once followed, or to stand alone where others have compromised? Then hear again the voice of the Lord: Only be strong and very courageous. Do not turn aside. Do not be swayed by fear or flattery. Trust Him, for He who calls you is faithful.

And let us not mistake legalism for obedience. The Lord was not telling Joshua to become obsessed with rules, but to become aligned with God’s heart. The law of Moses was the revelation of God’s character, His covenant, His promises, and His path for His people. Today, we live under a new covenant, written not on tablets of stone but on hearts of flesh. Yet the call remains: walk in the ways of the Lord. Let the Word dwell in you richly. Let your steps be ordered by it. For we are not lawless; we are led by the Spirit, and the Spirit leads us into truth, never away from it.

Practical obedience often looks ordinary—choosing integrity in business, extending forgiveness to the one who wronged you, speaking truth with gentleness, serving in hidden places, giving generously, resisting temptation when no one sees. These are not small things; they are acts of war against the kingdom of darkness. Every choice to obey, no matter how mundane it may seem, is a declaration: “Jesus is Lord.”

So I urge you, brothers and sisters, in your homes, in your workplaces, in your churches and neighborhoods—be strong and very courageous. Let the Word of God be the compass by which you navigate this life. Do not lean on your own understanding, nor rely on popular opinion. Do not be lured by the shortcuts of the world, nor disheartened by the slowness of God’s timing. Walk faithfully. Stay the course. And trust that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

And remember this: the presence of God is with you, just as He was with Joshua. That is the great assurance. That is why we can be strong. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go. You are not walking into the unknown alone. You are not fighting your battles in your own strength. He goes before you, stands beside you, and dwells within you. The same God who parted the sea, who shut the mouths of lions, who raised the dead—He is your God.

So take heart. Take up the Word. Take the next step in obedience. And do it with courage that comes not from self, but from the certainty of who God is.

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Almighty and everlasting God, our Father and our King, we come before You in humility and with trembling hearts, acknowledging Your holiness, Your wisdom, and Your sovereignty over all things. You are the God who speaks and the earth trembles; You are the One who commands and the heavens obey. There is no shadow of turning in You, no weakness, no failing. You are faithful from generation to generation. Your Word is sure, and Your promises never fail. We worship You, Lord, not only for what You have done, but for who You are: righteous, merciful, and true.

Lord, today we cry out for strength. Not the strength of flesh, which fades like the flower of the field, but the strength that comes from Your Spirit alone. We confess that in ourselves, we are prone to fear, prone to wander, prone to shrink back when the road is long or the battle fierce. But You, O God, have not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. So we come, asking You to make us strong—not by removing hardship, but by making us resilient through it; not by shielding us from all trials, but by equipping us to stand firm in the midst of them. Give us the strength that leans on You, that waits on You, that walks forward even when the path is not clear, trusting that You are faithful.

Father, we ask for courage—not the boldness that boasts, but the courage that obeys. We want to walk in obedience to You, not when it’s easy, but when it’s hard; not when it’s popular, but when we must stand alone; not when it is convenient, but even when it costs us everything. Help us to trust You more than we trust our comfort. Let our confidence not be in outcomes, but in Your presence. Teach us to say “yes” to You even when our hearts are uncertain, and to keep saying “yes” when we are weary, when we are misunderstood, when we are tempted to compromise.

Lord, we ask You to give us hearts that love Your Word—not as a distant book, but as living breath. May we delight in Your commands, not as burdens, but as treasures. Open our eyes to see the beauty of obedience—not just in the great, visible acts, but in the quiet decisions of the heart. Give us the grace to be careful—to be watchful and deliberate—to guard our lives from drifting from what You have spoken. Keep us from veering to the right or to the left. Anchor us in Your truth, Lord, and make us steadfast. Do not let us be swayed by the winds of the age, nor lulled into complacency by comfort. Awaken us, O God, to walk the narrow road with joy and resolve.

We confess that we often choose our own way. We confess that we have too easily allowed fear, pride, or distraction to turn us aside. Forgive us, Father. Cleanse us from every hidden compromise. Let us not be hearers of the Word only, but doers—those who live as though every promise is true, every command is holy, and every moment is an opportunity to honor You. Teach us to walk in the fullness of what You’ve already revealed, rather than constantly searching for the next thing while ignoring the present call.

Lord, we remember that we do not walk alone. You have promised to be with us. You do not call us without empowering us. So we cling to that promise now. Let Your presence go with us—not only on the mountaintops, but in the valleys, not only in the light, but also in the shadows. May we sense Your nearness when we feel weakest, and may that assurance give us the courage to continue.

Father, we lift up every believer who stands at the edge of a calling that feels too large. To the one who has just lost a leader, who feels unqualified, unsure, and unprepared—speak again Your assurance. To the one stepping into new responsibilities, unfamiliar battles, or uncertain seasons—breathe boldness into their soul. To the one weary from the long road, remind them that strength is not found in retreat, but in reliance on You. To the one facing opposition, remind them that they are not forsaken. Let Your Spirit whisper to each one, “Be strong and very courageous.”

Help us to lead when it is our turn, and to follow when we are called to submit. Help us to fight when the battle is Yours, and to rest when the day is done. Let our lives be marked not by earthly success, but by spiritual faithfulness. May we carry the standard of obedience not as a burden, but as a banner of joy and honor. Let the world see a people who are unmoved—not because we are unfeeling, but because we are unshaken in our foundation. Let the world see a people who are not defined by fear or failure, but by faith and faithfulness.

And so we commit our lives, our decisions, our relationships, our ministries, our futures into Your hands. Strengthen us, God. Embolden us. Sanctify us. Lead us. And be glorified through us, now and forever.

In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the Captain of our salvation, we pray. Amen.