The book of Joshua starts the section of the Old Testament as the Books of History. Moses has died, and now Joshua has been given the task from God to bring the 2nd generation of Israelites into the Promised Land, which God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and then through Moses and now to Joshua and the people. The Lord promised to be with Joshua like He was with Moses, if he obeyed the law and the ways of the Lord, if he meditated on the Book of the Law, and if he was strong and courageous. Joshua told the people to get ready because they were crossing the Jordan in three days, and then he reminded the 2 1/2 tribes, Reuben, Gad and 1/2 of Manasseh, who had taken possession of the land on the east of the river which Moses had let them take, that they committed to going and help the rest of the tribes fight for the land. They told Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go...Only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses... only be strong and courageous!" My OT professor, Dr. Betts said, "God is not going to tell people something that's not going to be needed. There will be many times Joshua needs to be strong and courageous!"
