No, Not I

Joshua 1:1-9

INTRODUCTION

Many wrestle with the nagging doubt that God can’t use us. Maybe you feel too broken, too inexperienced, too old, too regretful, or too unworthy to be part of His plans. Perhaps past failures whisper that you’re disqualified, or your limitations—whether time, talent, or resources—seem like impenetrable barriers. But here’s the truth: God doesn’t call the perfect; He equips the willing. The Bible is filled with stories of unlikely people—flawed, hesitant, ordinary—whom God transformed into vessels for His purpose. If you’ve ever thought, “God can’t use me,” you’re not alone, but you’re also not correct. God’s power shines brightest through human weakness, and His grace rewrites our doubts into declarations of hope.

Take Joshua, for example. Today, in Joshua 1, we meet a man stepping into an overwhelming role. Moses, the great leader who parted seas and spoke with God face-to-face, has just died. Now Joshua, his assistant, is tasked with leading Israel into the Promised Land—a land filled with giants and fortified cities. Imagine the weight of that moment. Joshua could’ve easily said, “I’m not Moses. I’m not enough for the role.” Yet, God doesn’t entertain those doubts. Instead, He speaks directly to Joshua. Three times in this passage, God commands Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (verses 6, 7, 9), rooting that courage in a promise: “The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (verse 9).

So what’s the connection to you? Just as God called Joshua despite his flaws and fears, He calls you despite your flaws and fears. This passage isn’t about Joshua’s qualifications. It’s about God’s power. You don’t need to be a perfect spiritual giant; you need to trust the One who is. God used a shepherd boy to slay Goliath, a tax collector to write a Gospel, and a murderer to lead His people out of Egypt. Your past doesn’t disqualify you. Joshua 1 reminds us that God’s plans don’t hinge on our strength but on His faithfulness. So, when you doubt God can use you, hear His voice in today’s scripture: “Be strong and courageous.” Today, we end the lie we tell ourselves: No, God can’t use me. No, not I.

Joshua 1:1–9 ESV

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the 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, to the people of Israel. 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, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 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. 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

SCRIPTURAL ANALYSIS

VERSE 1

The Book of Joshua begins as though it were a continuation of something written previously, which, of course, it is. Moses’s death was an important event in the life of the new nation of Israel. He is the towering figure who casts his shadow not only across the entire narrative of Exodus-Deuteronomy but also across the Book of Joshua and later Scriptures. Yet Moses’ death should not cripple the nation. Joshua was designated as Moses’s successor, and the people were to carry on under him.

The Book of Joshua shows how God’s earlier promises were being fulfilled and how God’s commands were being carried out. Many of these promises and commands were spoken by Moses, who is depicted in this book as the Lord’s special servant.

VERSES 2-5

The initial portion of God’s charge to Joshua concerns the land that God had promised to Israel, God’s encouragement of Joshua in his new role as Moses’s successor, and God’s promise to be Israel’s strong protector.

God was still in the process of giving Israel the land. Israel had not yet crossed the Jordan River, and most of the land remained to be taken. Israel is awaiting God’s timing for the actual physical possession.

We also see the highlight of the first part of God’s charge to Joshua. It is a heartwarming promise to Joshua himself that his and the Israelites’ efforts would succeed and God would never leave him. It is doubly encouraging that God promised to be with Joshua in the same way that he was with Moses.

The words in the first part of verse 5 are identical to those in God’s promise to Moses in Deuteronomy 7. The verbatim repetitions of God’s promise here are yet another way in which the Book of Joshua shows how God was faithful to his words spoken to Moses in earlier times. He was faithful to whatever generation of Abraham’s descendants he was dealing with. Jesus told his disciples, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age,” showing that God’s presence was not just promised to particular generations but to every generation of faithful believers.

VERSES 6-8

The need for Joshua to be strong and resolute was immediate because he was the instrument by which the people inherited the land. The Hebrew grammatical construction here highlights Joshua himself: if he, of all people, was weak and irresolute, then the cause was in deep trouble.

It is striking that God’s instructions here to Joshua are not about military matters, given that Joshua and the Israelites faced many battles ahead. However, the keys to his success were spiritual, directly related to the degree of his obedience to God. The keys to Joshua’s success were the same as those for a king: being rooted in God’s word rather than depending upon military might.

The importance of obedience to the law as the key to Joshua’s success cannot be overestimated. This is emphasized over and over in these verses. Joshua was to “be careful to do” this law and obey the law. Joshua was not to deviate from it even slightly. The Book of the Law was not to depart from Joshua’s mouth since he was to meditate upon it by day and by night. The result of Joshua’s keeping the law was that his way would prosper and be successful. Joshua’s obedience to God’s will and God’s presence with him guaranteed this.

VERSE 9

God’s charge to Joshua ends by reiterating words of encouragement and commitment. Joshua was not to fear or be discouraged precisely because the Almighty God promised him his presence.

TODAY’S KEY TRUTH

When fear whispers you’re not enough, remember God declares, ‘Be courageous — I’ve chosen you.’

APPLICATION

Joshua finds himself in an unenviable position, thrust into a role that seems impossible to fill. Can you imagine stepping into the shoes of Moses? This was a man who stood before a burning bush and heard God’s voice, who threw down his rod and watched it slither as a snake, who stretched out that same rod to part the Red Sea in a breathtaking display of divine power. Moses struck a rock and brought forth water to quench a dying people’s thirst, leading with a confidence that seemed unshakable. Now, Joshua—his assistant, a mere shadow in Moses’ towering legacy—is called to take his place. The weight of that mantle must have felt crushing, the expectations suffocating. Could he measure up to a giant of faith like Moses?

Beyond the shadow of Moses, Joshua inherits a challenging flock: a nation of grumblers, complainers, and backsliders who often longed to return to the routine of Egypt’s chains rather than embrace freedom’s uncertainties. These weren’t easy people to lead—stubborn, fearful, complaining, and prone to doubt. Yet God looks at Joshua and declares, “You’re the man.” There’s still a mission—claiming the Promised Land, a territory teeming with formidable inhabitants who must be defeated and displaced. The task looms large: lead these people, conquer giants, and secure God’s promise. The land isn’t handed over on a platter; it’s a battle requiring faith and grit. How could Joshua possibly succeed?

The answer lies not in Joshua’s résumé but in God’s reality: He can use anyone. Joshua doesn’t need to be Moses; he just needs to be willing. The same God who empowered Moses now ordains Joshua, equipping him with the strength, courage, and presence needed for the task. Joshua 1:5 assures him, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” This isn’t about Joshua’s might—it’s about God’s. The power that parted seas and toppled walls flows through a man who, like us, might have felt inadequate, overwhelmed, or out of his depth.

This truth echoes beyond Joshua, resounding through Scripture and into our lives. God used a stuttering shepherd like Moses, a timid farmer like Gideon, a shepherd boy like David—people who, by human standards, didn’t fit the mold. He chose Rahab, a prostitute, to protect His spies, and Esther, an orphan, to save a nation. These weren’t polished heroes; they were ordinary souls made extraordinary by God’s call. Your doubts, your past, your lack of credentials? They don’t disqualify you; they highlight God’s grace. Joshua succeeded not because he was exceptional but because God was faithful.

Think about your own life. Maybe you’re not a leader by nature, or your past mistakes feel too big to overcome. Perhaps you lack eloquence, resources, or confidence. That’s exactly where God steps in. He doesn’t wait for you to be ready—He makes you ready. No matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, God says, “Be strong and courageous.” He’s with you, not because of your strength but because of His promise. Joshua’s story proves it: God takes the unlikely and accomplishes the impossible. You’re not the exception—He can and will use you to fulfill His purpose.

When fear whispers you’re not enough, remember God declares, ‘Be courageous — I’ve chosen you.’

CONCLUSION

If we want strength and courage to face each day, we cannot—must not—chain ourselves to the past. The past is a closed chapter, unchangeable, etched in time. Not a single regret, mistake, or triumph can be rewritten. Dwelling in the past saps our energy, dims our hope, and blinds us to the future God has prepared. Living in the past doesn’t just stall us—it robs us of the chance to shape what’s ahead with purpose and faith. Yes, we can glance back, reflect, and learn, but our eyes must lock on the horizon. Joshua 1 drives this home with vivid clarity: God’s call is forward, not backward, and He can use anyone willing to step into His purpose. Be strong and courageous! God doesn’t need your perfection; He needs your trust to work through you.

Reflect more on Joshua and the Israelites. They stood at the edge of a seismic shift, a moment that would redefine everything they knew. For 40 years, they’d been nomads, wandering the wilderness, their lives a cycle of survival. Now, God was ushering them into a new identity.

Moses was gone—dead, his era ended. The man who’d split the sea and met God face-to-face was no longer leading. Joshua, his assistant, was likely wrestling with doubts. The people, too, might’ve mourned, tempted to cling to memories of miracles or stew in regrets over those 40 wasted years. But God didn’t pause for nostalgia. “Moses my servant is dead,” He declared, then swiftly added, “Now then, Joshua and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan.” No lingering, no looking back—God’s purpose pulsed with life, undeterred by human loss or frailty. He didn’t need Moses’ charisma or Joshua’s confidence. He needed Joshua’s obedience, proving that God can use anyone, anywhere, anytime.

This truth echoes through Scripture and into our lives. God chose David, a boy overlooked by his own family, to slay Goliath and lead a nation. He picked Peter, a fisherman prone to impulsiveness, who denied Jesus yet became the rock of the early church. Paul, once a persecutor of Christians, penned much of the New Testament. God’s roster isn’t filled with the flawless—it’s packed with the faithful, the flawed, the ordinary turned extraordinary by His hand. Joshua 1:5 seals this: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” It’s not about who you were—it’s about who He is. No matter the odds, God’s promise holds: He’s with you, equipping you for every task.

When fear whispers you’re not enough, remember God declares, ‘Be courageous — I’ve chosen you.’

So, what about us? We’re not nomads facing Canaan, but we’ve got our own Jordans to cross—challenges, dreams, callings. Maybe you’re haunted by failures, convinced your “slave days” of shame or fear disqualify you. Maybe you feel too small, too broken, too old, too tired, or too inexperienced. Hear God’s voice in Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” The past can’t be undone, but your future can reflect all God intends. It’s not time to grieve yesterday’s “what ifs” or hide behind “I can’ts.” It’s time to move forward. God used Joshua, a second-string leader, to conquer the promised land. He can use you—yes, you—because His strength thrives in your weakness, and His purpose doesn’t fade. Your weaknesses are God’s canvas. He painted victory through Joshua, and He’ll do it through you.

When fear whispers you’re not enough, remember God declares, ‘Be courageous — I’ve chosen you.’

Today, this looks like letting go of yesterday’s baggage to embrace God’s call right now. Maybe you’re a parent juggling endless responsibilities, thinking, “I’ve got no time to serve God.” God says, “Be strong—I’ll use your faithfulness in the chaos.” Perhaps you’re drowning in debt and doubt, feeling insignificant. God whispers, “Be courageous—I’ve used shepherds; I can use you.” Or you’re retired, wondering if your best days are behind you. Joshua 1 begs to differ—God’s purpose doesn’t expire with age. That addiction you overcame? It’s not a stain; it’s a story God can use to free others. That quiet personality you wish were bolder? It’s a vessel for His still, small voice in a noisy world. When you say no, not I, God can’t use me, God responds with, “I have chosen you.”

In 2025, our giants might be digital overload, fractured relationships, or a culture that mocks faith. Yet God’s command stands: don’t retreat into regret—charge toward His promises. Start small: share hope with a coworker, pray for a stranger, and serve where you stand. Joshua didn’t need a resume; he needed God’s presence. You don’t need more talent, money, or time—just trust. That marriage you’re fighting for, that dream you’ve buried, that fear you’ve dodged—face it with Joshua’s courage. God’s “I am with you” hasn’t wavered. He used a stuttering Moses, a doubting Thomas, a grieving Mary Magdalene. Your mess doesn’t scare Him; it’s where He works best. Step into today, strong and courageous. He’s already there, ready to use you. Like Joshua after Moses, you don’t need to be someone else. God uses you as you are.

When fear whispers you’re not enough, remember God declares, ‘Be courageous — I’ve chosen you.’