Joshua Commissioned to Lead
After Moses' death, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, promising to be with him as He was with Moses.
Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Joshua 1:1-18
Take the Deuteronomy 31 Quiz
Test your knowledge of this chapter
Explore Deuteronomy Chapters
Study all chapters of Deuteronomy
The Story
Moses was one hundred and twenty years old, and his time had come. He gathered all Israel and said, 'I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, "You shall not cross over this Jordan." The Lord your God himself will cross over before you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua also will cross over before you, as the Lord has said.'
Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, 'Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to give to their fathers, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.'
After Moses died and was buried, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant: 'Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.'
The Lord continued with powerful promises: 'No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.'
Three times God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. The third time, He added the key to success: '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. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.'
Joshua commanded the officers of the people to go through the camp: 'Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land.' The people answered Joshua, 'All that you have commanded us we will do. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!'
Joshua Becomes the New Leader
Kids Version
Moses had led God's people for a long, long time. But now Moses was very old, and God told him he would not be the one to lead the people into the Promised Land. Someone else would do that—a brave man named Joshua.
Moses called Joshua in front of everyone. 'Be strong and courageous!' Moses told him. 'You will lead these people into the land God promised. Don't be afraid! God will go with you. He will never leave you.'
Then Moses died. He was 120 years old! God buried him in a secret place, and the people cried for thirty days.
After that, God spoke to Joshua: 'Moses is gone now. It's time for you to lead my people across the Jordan River into the land I'm giving them. Everywhere you walk, I'm giving to you! No one will be able to stop you. Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you. I will NEVER leave you. I will NEVER give up on you.'
God told Joshua something very important three times: 'Be strong and courageous!' It must have been really important for God to say it three times! But God didn't just say 'be brave.' He told Joshua WHY he could be brave: because God would be with him.
God also told Joshua to read His Word and think about it day and night. 'If you obey my commands,' God said, 'you will be successful wherever you go.'
Joshua sent word to all the people: 'Get ready! In three days, we're crossing the Jordan River to take the land God has promised us!'
The people answered Joshua, 'We will obey you just like we obeyed Moses! Be strong and courageous!' They were ready to follow their new leader.
Joshua had big shoes to fill. But God promised to be with him every step of the way. When God is with us, we can be brave too!
Ready to test your knowledge?
See how well you know this story from Deuteronomy.
Characters in This Story
Settings & Locations
Scripture — Deuteronomy 31:1-8 (KJV)
1And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.
2And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
3The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
4And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed.
5And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you.
6Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
7And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it.
8And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Memory Verse
“And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel.”
— Deuteronomy 31:1 (KJV)
Test Your Knowledge
How well do you know the story of “Joshua Commissioned to Lead”? Take the quiz to find out.
More from Exodus & Wilderness
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Joshua Commissioned to Lead” in the Bible?
After Moses' death, God commissions Joshua to lead Israel into the Promised Land, promising to be with him as He was with Moses. This story is found in Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Joshua 1:1-18.
Where is “Joshua Commissioned to Lead” found in the Bible?
“Joshua Commissioned to Lead” is found in Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Joshua 1:1-18, in the book of Deuteronomy.
What can children learn from “Joshua Commissioned to Lead”?
This story teaches children about Leadership, Courage, God's Presence, Obedience. After Moses died, God chose Joshua to be the new leader. God told him, 'Be strong and courageous! I will be with you just like I was with Moses.' Joshua led the people into the Promised Land.