The Word "Joshua" in the Hebrew [Jehoshua'] means "Jehovah (Yahoveh) is salvation" 

Strong's #3091 Yehowshuwa` (yeh-ho-shoo'-ah);
or Yehowshu` a (yeh-ho-shoo'-ah); from 3068 and 3467; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader: -Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare 1954, 3442.

This book follows Moses fifth book, Deuteronomy, and Joshua is considered one of the former prophets. As we start the book of Joshua, Moses had been taken to Mount Nebo, to give Moses a view into the promise land, and then God took Moses. God buried Moses and took his remains so they were not available to man. Some believe as I do, that Moses' body was transfigured, as Moses appeared with Jesus and Elijah on the mount, and viewed by the disciples Peter, James and John.

As the children of Israel passed through the wilderness for the prior 40 years, Joshua served as an assistant to Moses in serving the People. We will see that God chose Joshua to take the children of Israel in their final step, across the Jordan, and into the promise land. So why did God choose Joshua to lead the children of Israel? When you say Joshua, you are saying "Jesus" in the Greek form. the two names are interchangeable, Joshua and Jehoshua. It comes from # 3068 in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary, as well as # 3467, another form of the same name. So when you say "Jesus" you are saying, "YHVH's Savior", and in the name Jesus, you are saying, the Father and the Son, the two parts of the Godhead. The word even means to "defend", so our Heavenly Father is out to do more than just save your soul. He will even defend your soul while you are in your flesh body.

As we see Joshua leading the children of Israel into the Promise land, we can also see the prophecy of our Lord Jesus Christ leading us into the promise land of the age of the Millennium, Jesus Christ's kingdom right here on earth at the close of this age of flesh man. So as we study this book of Joshua, we are looking at information that is a type of how it shall be at the close of this earth age. Joshua is a type of Savior that will lead Israel to their inheritance in the end times, and on into the Millennium age.

Joshua 1:1 "Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,"

So Moses has been taken by God from the presence of the Israelite's camp, and Joshua is being given instructions by God as to what he is to do at this point in time.

Joshua 1:2 "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this People, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel."

Moses is dead, and the people wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, and when the days of mourning for Moses were over, God came to Joshua and is instruction him what has to be done now. We read in Deuteronomy 34:9 "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded."

God buried Moses or took him, and this was the reason that Satan argued for the bones of Moses. Satan would have made a deity out of Moses, and God saw to it that this could not happen.

God had already committed this land to the children of Israel some forty years before, but because of their lack of faith, and rebellion God took those rebellious lives, and it would be their offspring, their children that will now go into the land and claim their inheritance. Moses sent out spies, and all but two came back with a bad report. The people would rather listen to the negative report than trust in God for their deliverance. Joshua and Calib were the only two of the twelve that gave a good report, and God spared their lives for their honesty.

Joshua 1:3 "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses."

God here is reaffirming the covenant that He made with Moses in Deuteronomy 11:23, 24; "Then will the Lord drive out all these nations from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations and mightier than yourselves." [23] "Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be." [24]

Joshua 1:4 "From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast."

Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Esau was not obedient to Isaac his father and too his wives from the heathen daughters of the Canaanites that occupied the land during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After Esau's disobedience to Isaac's instruction, Isaac told Jacob to go to Padan-aram, to the house of Bethuel, to the house of Laban, Rachel's brother and marry one of his daughters. Jacob was obedient to Isaac's instructions, and made the trip that would take him over fifteen years before he returned with not just one wife, but Lea and Rachael, their maidens, along with his eleven sons and one daughter.

While on his way to Laban's house, God appeared to Jacob in a dream, and in that dream Jacob beheld a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of that ladder reached into heaven: "And behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it." Then in that dream God made Jacob a promise as we read in verses 13, and 14.

Genesis 28:13, 14 "And, behold the Lord stood above it, and said, "I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the god of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;" [13] "And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." [14]

Then we have the fourth part of that eternal promise that God gave to Jacob, as is stated against in Joshua 5:1: "I will not fail thee nor forsake thee" was a promise that God made with Jacob in Genesis 28:15, 16. "And behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." [15] "And Jacob awake out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not." [16]

God is promising Joshua that no man will be able to overcome you, I will be with you, and I will not forsake thee. Sure God is promising this to Joshua, but this is also the same promise that He makes to any person that follows our Lord Jesus Christ in obedience. When you have been cleansed in Christ blood for forgiveness, He will never leave you nor forsake you either. The conditions for this though is if you believe and if you follow His Commands. If you don't then this promise is not yours to claim for yourself. It is for those that are believers, and doers of the Word. Grace is unmerited favor, for none of us deserve the grace that Father has given to us, but God still expects you to be a doer of the Word. God loves doers of the Word, and His promise is that He will always be with you to defend you.

Joshua 1:6 "Be Strong and of good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them."

As we progress through the book of Joshua, the theme and focus subject of the entire book is summed up in this verse: "Be strong and of good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give." This promise is absolute, God loves people that are strong and of good courage. You don't have to be strong in your physical body to be strong and of good courage. So this topic of being "strong and of good courage" is the subject of the entire book of Joshua.

Joshua 1:7 "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."

So what is the purpose for being strong and of good courage? That's right; "That thou mayest observe to do according to all the law." Those words that came from Moses mouth were God's Words given to his people. Moses listened as God spoke, then went out to tell the people. You must read and study that Word of God before you can know the way that God has commanded us to go. It is essential that the under-standing is there, before you set your course for your life. God has forewarned us of all things that are to happen in this end generation, and if you know what is to happen then it is easy to stay away from living in fear. Today the knowledge of knowing the Word can make you prosperous, for God has told you in advance what shall be happening in our time. Though the world may be living in fear of the terror of our time, we know that God will protect His own at all times. Friend, when you hear "peace, peace, peace, the cry of our time" you don't invest in weapons.

Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

Do you see the condition God set for Joshua and the children of Israel to be successful and receive their inheritance? "To observe and to do according to all that is written within the book of the law; then thou shalt have good success." The "Book of the law" includes all five of the books of Moses. "That thou mayest observe to do..." it takes work on your part to study and know the things that God expects of you, and to do and be obedient to those instructions. If you want to be prosperous it is real easy if you have faith and the will to do and follow His ways. That is why it becomes important for us to study to know Father's Word. In the end, it is God's blessings for doing it His Way that makes you successful. All eternal wisdom comes from God, and it is a step above using common sense.

Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Again God is repeating to Joshua to be strong and of good courage, and not afraid of what the future gives. God has already told Joshau what is to happen, and the victories that the children of Israel are to have in claiming their inheritance. This is the same as we have it today, for within God's Word He has told us every thing that is necessary that will come to pass in our generation of these end times. So as you watch the news, and hear all the reports of things that the world is planning, and that is taking place: Keep in mind that God is in control of all that happens, to bring His prophecies for our day to reality exactly as it is written in His Word. Why would you worry over anything in these days, for God is with you where every you go. You don't have to worry, but learn to lean on Him and trust in His protective arm. God's promises are for you, and you don't have to wait to get to heaven to receive His blessings. There are no giants in this world that can overcome a servant of the living God.

Joshua 1:10 "Then Joshua commanded the officers of the People, saying,"

Joshua 1:11 "Pass through the host, and command the People, saying, `Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to posses the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.' " 

The word "Jordan" means "the descender". Sure Joshua wanted to do this during that forty year period, but the people rebelled and would not let it happen. For this the entire generation coming out of Egypt had passed away in the wilderness, but God allowed Joshua and Caleb to enter into that promise land and receive the blessings of their inheritance. These two were the spies that told Moses that they could go in and take the land.

Joshua 1:12 "And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshau, saying,"

Remember that the inheritance of these three tribes were on the east side of the Jordan river.

Joshua 1:13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, waying, `The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.' "

Moses told these three tribes that their land was over there, and they could start enjoying their inheritance immediately. Their families could build their homes, and raise their families and live stock before the rest of the tribes had even crossed over the Jordan.

Joshua 1:14 "Your wives, you little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;"

The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh was already home, their wives and little ones could find rest and peace in their homes, but the men must arm themselves, and go before the families of the other tribes until their land had been taken, and they could enjoy their inheritance also. Because they families of these three tribes were safe, Moses was going to make these mighty men of the tribes east of the river lead the attack in claiming the rest of the promise land.

Joshua 1:15 "Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as He hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising."

Until the rest of the tribes have their place to rest and possess their land, these men of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh would lead the attack for the rest of the people. Joshua is telling these soldiers that after the war is over, then you can return to your homes and enjoy the land that God has given to you for an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan river. This was very fair, for all the tribes went to war to take the lands that were given over to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.

Joshua 1:16 "And they answered Joshua, saying, "All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go."

After Joshua made the command and explained all part of what was to be done, the fighting men of these tribes agreed fully with Joshua. God's presence was there, and the man of God was speaking to the People, and they were obedient to the instruction that God gave to them through his servant Joshua. This is called discipline in God Word: Obedience to the Word.

Joshua 1:17 "According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the Lord thy God be with thee, as He was with Moses."

These soldiers from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh promised Joshua that they would listen and follow your commands, as long as the Lord God is with you, and leads you like He did Moses.

Joshua 1:18 "Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage."

These soldiers themselves made a commitment to Joshua and to God that if anyone rebels against your commandment and instructions, he will be put to death. These men that had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, have given their loyalty pledge and commitment to the rest of the children of Israel until they had their inheritance, and their families could abide in peace. Though they gave their oath to Joshua, they also encouraged Joshua to be strong and of good courage.