No one shall stand against you all the days of your life.This promise to Joshua emphasizes God's assurance of victory and protection. It reflects the divine support that was also promised to the patriarchs and leaders of Israel. The phrase suggests a continuous divine presence and power that will ensure Joshua's success in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. This echoes the covenantal promises made to Abraham (
Genesis 12:1-3) and the assurance given to Moses (
Exodus 3:12). The phrase also foreshadows the New Testament promise of victory over spiritual adversaries (
Romans 8:31).
As I was with Moses, so will I be with you;
This statement establishes continuity in leadership and divine support from Moses to Joshua. It reassures Joshua that the same God who performed miracles and guided Moses will now guide him. This continuity is crucial for maintaining the faith and morale of the Israelites as they transition to new leadership. It also highlights the importance of God's presence in fulfilling His promises, as seen in the miraculous events during the Exodus (Exodus 14:21-22). This assurance is a type of Christ, who promises to be with His followers always (Matthew 28:20).
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
This promise of God's unwavering presence is a cornerstone of faith for believers. It assures Joshua of God's constant companionship and support, regardless of the challenges ahead. This promise is reiterated throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's faithfulness (Deuteronomy 31:6,Hebrews 13:5). It provides comfort and strength, encouraging believers to trust in God's enduring presence. This assurance is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who embodies God's promise to be with His people, offering eternal security and peace (John 14:16-18).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Joshua- The central figure in this passage, Joshua is the successor of Moses and the leader of the Israelites as they enter the Promised Land. His leadership is crucial for the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.
2.
Moses- The former leader of the Israelites, Moses led the people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. His relationship with God sets a precedent for Joshua's leadership.
3.
The Promised Land- The land of Canaan, which God promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joshua's mission is to lead the Israelites into this land.
4.
The Israelites- The chosen people of God, who are about to enter the land promised to their ancestors. Their journey and conquest are central to the account of Joshua.
5.
God's Promise- The assurance given to Joshua that no one will be able to stand against him, reflecting God's faithfulness and presence with His people.
Teaching Points
God's Unchanging PresenceJust as God was with Moses, He promises to be with Joshua. This assurance of God's presence is a timeless truth for believers, reminding us that God is with us in every circumstance.
Courage in LeadershipJoshua's leadership is undergirded by God's promise. Believers are encouraged to lead with confidence, knowing that God equips and supports those He calls.
Faithfulness of GodThe promise that God will never leave nor forsake Joshua is a testament to His faithfulness. This encourages believers to trust in God's promises, even when facing challenges.
Overcoming OppositionThe assurance that no man shall stand against Joshua highlights the power of God in overcoming obstacles. Believers can find strength in God's ability to help them overcome adversities.
Continuity of God's PlanThe transition from Moses to Joshua shows the continuity of God's plan. Believers are part of a larger account, and God's purposes continue through different generations.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Joshua 1:5?
2.How does Joshua 1:5 assure us of God's constant presence in our lives?
3.What does "I will never leave you" reveal about God's faithfulness?
4.How can we apply "no one shall stand against you" in spiritual battles?
5.Connect Joshua 1:5 with Hebrews 13:5 on God's promise of never forsaking us.
6.How can we rely on God's promise in Joshua 1:5 during personal challenges?
7.How does Joshua 1:5 demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises?
8.What historical context supports the events described in Joshua 1:5?
9.How does Joshua 1:5 relate to the theme of divine presence in the Bible?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 1?
11.Joshua 1:5 – How could God promise that “no one will be able to stand against” Joshua, when later battles and defeats are recorded elsewhere in Scripture?
12.In Judges 2:3, God says He will no longer drive out the remaining nations; how does this align with earlier promises of total conquest in Joshua?
13.What did God promise Joshua?
14.What are key events in Joshua's life?What Does Joshua 1:5 Mean
No one shall stand against you all the days of your lifeGod’s first assurance to Joshua is total, lifelong victory. The promise is literal: every opponent, obstacle, or enemy that rises up will ultimately fail.
•Deuteronomy 7:24 echoes this pledge: “He will deliver their kings into your hand, and you will wipe out their names from under heaven.”
•Exodus 23:27 foretold the same kind of sweeping triumph for Israel under Moses.
•Romans 8:31 reminds believers today, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”—a New-Testament reinforcement of the same eternal principle.
By rooting victory in Himself, God removes any confidence in human strength and fixes it on His unfailing power. If Joshua trusts and obeys, resistance cannot prevail.
As I was with Moses, so will I be with youThe promise shifts from what God will do to how He will do it—by His personal, uninterrupted presence.
•Exodus 3:12—“I will surely be with you”—was God’s word to Moses at the burning bush; now the same words belong to Joshua.
•Deuteronomy 34:10–12 recounts the unique signs God worked through Moses, underscoring the weight of this comparison.
•Malachi 3:6 affirms, “I, the LORD, do not change,” so the quality of God’s faithfulness remains constant from leader to leader, generation to generation.
Joshua’s call is not to imitate Moses’ style but to rely on the same abiding Presence that made Moses effective.
I will never leave you nor forsake youThe promise crescendos in a double guarantee: God will neither depart (leave) nor abandon (forsake).
•Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 had already given Israel this assurance as they approached the Jordan.
•Psalm 23:4 declares, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
•Matthew 28:20 records Jesus echoing the same words: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This covenantal vow is unconditional; it does not hinge on circumstances, emotions, or geography. Wherever Joshua goes—camp, battlefield, or conquered land—God’s presence goes too.
summaryJoshua 1:5 is a three-fold promise that blends victory, presence, and permanence. God pledges that no foe will withstand Joshua, that the same divine companionship granted to Moses now rests on him, and that this relationship is irrevocable. For every believer, the verse reinforces that success in God’s mission flows from His faithful presence, not personal prowess, and that His commitment to His people endures through every challenge, all the days of their lives.
(5)
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.--Compare
Genesis 28:15. And consider
Hebrews 13:5 as a combination of the two Old Testament passages.
(6,7)Be strong and of a good courage . . . that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law.--This command to "be strong," repeated again and again to Joshua, may perhaps be taken as reflecting light upon his natural character, which might not have led him to desire so prominent a position. But it may also be observed that courage was especially needed to carry out the conquest of Canaanin the way that was ordered by the law.For a discussion of this question and its difficulties, see Joshua 13
Verse 5. -
There shall not any man be able to stand before thee. Literally,
no oneshall set himself up against thee, i.e., successfully resist thee (
ἀντιστήσεται, LXX.).
As I was with Moses. Literally,
as I have been with Moses: that is to say, was with him and remained with him unto the end. The continuity of the work of God under the old dispensation is thus as clearly marked as that of the new in
Matthew 28:20, and
John 20:21-23. The promises made to Abraham, the law given to Moses, the gift of a new life in Christ, are so many parts of one great work, and that work the regeneration of mankind.
I will not fail thee. Literally, I will not
be weak towards thee,
relax towards thee. God is ever the same, If His attitude to us be altered, it is not He who has changed, but ourselves.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Noלֹֽא־(lō-)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nooneאִישׁ֙(’îš)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376:A man as an individual, a male personshall standיִתְיַצֵּ֥ב(yiṯ·yaṣ·ṣêḇ)Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3320:To set or station oneself, take one's standagainst youלְפָנֶ֔יךָ(lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā)Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440:The faceallכֹּ֖ל(kōl)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everythe daysיְמֵ֣י(yə·mê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117:A dayof your life.חַיֶּ֑יךָ(ḥay·ye·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 2416:Alive, raw, fresh, strong, lifeAsכַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר(ka·’ă·šer)Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatI wasאֶהְיֶ֣ה(’eh·yeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, bewithעִמָּ֔ךְ(‘im·māḵ)Preposition | second person feminine singular
Strong's 5973:With, equally withMoses,מֹשֶׁה֙(mō·šeh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872:Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiverso I will beהָיִ֤יתִי(hā·yî·ṯî)Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, bewith you;עִם־(‘im-)Preposition
Strong's 5973:With, equally withI will neverלֹ֥א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noleave youאַרְפְּךָ֖(’ar·pə·ḵā)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7503:Sink, relax[or]וְלֹ֥א(wə·lō)Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noforsake you.אֶעֶזְבֶֽךָּ׃(’e·‘ez·ḇe·kā)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5800:To loosen, relinquish, permit
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OT History: Joshua 1:5 No man will be able to stand (Josh. Jos) 
