Week 21 (May 18–24): Joshua 1–8; 23–24

Week Overview

What changes when a daunting assignment comes without the familiar leader who always seemed to know what to do? Come, Follow Me frames Joshua’s moment this way: Israel faced “the Jordan River, the walls of Jericho, and a mighty people,” and they faced it “without their beloved leader Moses.” The Lord’s answer was direct: “Be strong and of a good courage,” because “the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9). The same introduction promises that when the Lord leads His people forward, “the Lord will do wonders among [us]” (Joshua 3:5).

Key Scripture Moments

1) Courage grounded in God’s presence

Joshua’s courage is anchored in a covenant reality, not personality or experience:

“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.” (Joshua 1:9)

This suggests that fear is answered by remembering who goes with covenant Israel.

2) Scripture as daily leadership strength

The Lord links Joshua’s success to steady contact with “the word of the law”:

“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.” (Joshua 1:8)

Come, Follow Me highlights the repeated invitations in scripture study: “Meditate day and night” with the promise to “Prosper in the land” (Joshua 1:8).

3) Sanctification before wonders

Before the Jordan opens, Joshua calls the people to prepare:

“And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:5)

This suggests that the Lord’s “wonders” often follow deliberate spiritual preparation.

4) A public choice at the end of the journey

Joshua ends by pressing for a decision that cannot be outsourced:

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Hidden Connections

• Come, Follow Me notes that “Joshua (Yehoshua or Yeshua in Hebrew) means ‘Jehovah saves.’ And the name Jesus comes from Yeshua.” That naming connection places Joshua’s mission in a larger pattern: the Lord saves His people by leading them through barriers into covenant promises.
• The lesson also points to the Jordan River as a recurring place of divine intervention and covenant transition, listing events to compare: “2 Kings 2:6–15; 5:1–14; and Mark 1:9–11.” (See also those references for further study.)
• Rahab becomes a bridge between Old Testament narrative and New Testament discipleship. Come, Follow Me notes that “New Testament Christians saw Rahab as an example of the power of both faith and works (see Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25).” (See also those references for further study.)

Pattern Discovery

Two recurring patterns stand out across Joshua 1–8 and 23–24:

1. The Lord speaks courage, then gives a practice. Joshua receives courage (Joshua 1:9) and a daily habit that sustains it, “meditate therein day and night” (Joshua 1:8).
2. God’s power meets covenant action. Israel sanctifies themselves (Joshua 3:5), then steps forward, and the Lord makes a way. Come, Follow Me emphasizes that the river parted only after “the feet of the priests … were dipped in the brim of the water” (Joshua 3:13, 15). A third pattern appears in Joshua’s farewell: covenant memory is meant to produce covenant loyalty, “cleave unto the Lord” (Joshua 23:8).

Simple Questions

1. According to Joshua 1:9, what is the stated reason Joshua can refuse fear?
2. In Joshua 1:8, what is the daily invitation, and what are the promised results?
3. What might “Sanctify yourselves” look like in personal discipleship, given Joshua 3:5?
4. Come, Follow Me notes the priests stepped into the water before it parted (Joshua 3:13, 15). Where is a comparable “step first” moment in current obedience?
5. Joshua 24:15 lists competing loyalties. What are modern equivalents of “other gods” that can replace serving the Lord?
6. Joshua urges Israel to “cleave unto the Lord” (Joshua 23:8). What practices help a person cleave rather than drift?

One Big Idea

The Lord fulfills His promises through covenant leadership and covenant choices. Come, Follow Me emphasizes that after generations of waiting, “the Lord’s promise was about to be fulfilled,” yet the obstacles remained real. The Lord’s repeated command, “Be strong and of a good courage,” rests on a single covenant fact: “the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 1:9).

Living It

• Choose a scripture rhythm that matches Joshua 1:8. Identify a time and place to “meditate therein day and night,” then connect reading to “observe to do according to all that is written therein” (Joshua 1:8).
• Sanctify before the hard crossing. Before a difficult conversation, a temptation battle, or a major decision, take Joshua 3:5 seriously: “Sanctify yourselves,” then move forward expecting the Lord to act in His way and time.
• Name the household choice. Use Joshua 24:15 as a family or personal statement of priority: “choose you this day whom ye will serve,” then align schedules and media with “we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

Faith Builder

Come, Follow Me points readers to modern prophetic teaching: Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, “last paragraph on page 89” (see also that reference for further reading). It also suggests Dale G. Renlund, “Choose You This Day,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 104–6 (see also that reference for further reading).

These accounts invite a renewed decision to “choose you this day whom ye will serve” and to move forward with courage rooted in the Lord’s promise, “the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Joshua 24:15; Joshua 1:9).