After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.” (Joshua 1:1-2)

Joshua’s New Year

Joshua was facing a daunting task. The great leader of Israel, Moses, had died. After forty years, the Hebrews rescued from the bondage of Egypt stood at the threshold of the promised land. Moses had given the people the Law, led them through the wilderness, endured their constant murmuring, and witnessed the death of a whole generation. Because of his transgression at Kadesh, Moses would not be permitted to enter the land of promise. The charge of leadership was given to eighty-year-old Joshua. There was trepidation in the heart of Joshua as he stood before the Lord to take charge of the nation of Israel.

After the death of Moses, the Lord comes to Joshua to reassure him and give him the confidence that, with the power of God, the task before him is formidable, but victory is assured. Joshua needed to understand the importance of his task. God had promised the land of Canaan to Abraham, and now that promise was being fulfilled. Joshua must acknowledge that Moses was dead, and leadership had fallen on his shoulders. It was not a time to look back at what could have been or what should have been. The day of action is now. God tells Joshua to go over the Jordan and do the work of the Lord. God promised the land that would be given by God to the people. “Go” was the word of the hour.

The Lord promises Joshua that he will not be left without divine assistance. No man will be able to stand against the people of God when they put their minds to doing His will. God proved His power through Moses and would accomplish the same through Joshua. The son of Nun needed to be strong and of good courage to do all according to the word of the Father. There was a need to remember the importance of obedience. God tells Joshua to keep the commandments of the Lord; not turning to the right or to the left. The Book of the Law must be a part of everything Joshua does. He must meditate on the word day and night to do according to all that is written in it.

Joshua heeded the word of the Lord. He led the people of Israel across the Jordan and captured the fortified city of Jericho by the power of God. A hard lesson came when the people attacked the city of Ai, and God allowed Israel to be defeated. There was sin in the camp, and God would not give the victory when sin remained deliberately in the midst of the people. When Achan and his family were discovered and dealt with, the city of Ai was defeated. Over the next seven years, Joshua led the people of God from victory unto victory until the land was conquered under the mighty hand of God. The Lord kept His promise, and Joshua remained faithful.

Joshua’s new year is not unlike the New Year every child of God has experienced since then. Every day is a new day with great opportunities and responsibilities. When the New Year comes about, the same words of the Lord resonate in the hearts of God’s people to be strong and of good courage. There is a formidable task ahead for the New Year. Souls need to be saved. Every effort must be made to pluck the lost souls from the camp of Satan to God’s grace. Millions die every day, lost and without hope. There is a war going on where victory is assured through the King of kings and Lord of lords. The Lord expects His people to keep His commandments and keep sin out of the camp. A resolved spirit of faith must fill the heart to be strong and of good courage to face what the new year will bring. Do not let the uncertainties of a new year dismay the heart. God is with His people wherever they go – always.