Egypt to Canaan (Pt. 16): Be Strong And Courageous

We have been on the journey from Egypt to Canaan—fulfilling destiny. This journey includes many key figures, but at this critical threshold, God calls Joshua in Joshua 1:1–9. Joshua’s destiny did not end with deliverance from Egypt; it expanded into responsibility. He was entrusted to lead the people beyond Deuteronomy and into the Promised Land.

Joshua was not unfamiliar with God’s work. He had proximity to Moses, served faithfully, fought battles, stood partway up the mountain, and returned with a good report as one of the spies. Yet succession was not automatic. Faithful service alone does not guarantee leadership. There must be internal readiness.

God’s opening words to Joshua are intentional: “Moses My servant is dead.” This was not merely an announcement of loss; it was an invitation into a new season. A season where Joshua could no longer lean on the familiarity, security, or support system he had known. Destiny requires separation, and separation requires maturity.

The Call to Self-Governance

God did not describe Moses by his miracles, power, or intimacy, but by one word—servant. This reveals what God valued most and what He required from Joshua. Joshua was not called to replace Moses’ miracles, but to match Moses’ obedience.

This marked a call to self-governance—not independence, but disciplined dependence on the Spirit of God. Calling without internal leadership leads to collapse. We see this clearly in Scripture, where grace transferred from Elijah to Elisha, but not from Elisha to Gehazi. Succession requires internal readiness.

Self-governance means taking ownership of our decisions, accepting responsibility, setting guardrails, and not rejecting authority. It is maturity, not isolation. God speaks through Scripture, the Spirit, wisdom, community, and leadership. Positioning ourselves to hear and respond is our responsibility.

Before we can lead others, we must first lead ourselves.

Be Strong and Courageous

After the invitation, God commands Joshua three times: “Be strong and courageous.” Strength and courage are required to confront fear, lay down personal agendas, advance without visible guarantees, and step into responsibility.

God does not call us without assurance. Just as He was with Moses, He promised to be with Joshua. Strength and courage are supplied by God, yet we are responsible to make ourselves available. The inner man can strengthen the outer man, but careless living weakens our capacity. Availability matters.

Even Jesus required strength at His own threshold. In Gethsemane, He withdrew to pray, and heaven responded. Strength came. Courage came.

Strength and courage ultimately flow from knowing who we serve. When God assigns a task, He supplies what is required. No soldier provides their own equipment. The One who calls also empowers.

Stepping Forward in Destiny

Our destiny unfolds as we boldly step into what God has placed in our hands. God has chosen to work through people, through the Church, through the preaching of the gospel. We are responsible for the full expression of His will in our time.

Self-governance is disciplined dependence on God. As we yield to Him, He strengthens us. As we obey, He goes with us. And His promise remains unchanging: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So we move forward as Joshua did—strong, courageous, and fully dependent on the God who calls.