Sermon Synopsis
Joshua 1:1–9 shows that new beginnings are not sustained by our own strength, but by God’s faithfulness, God’s presence, and God’s Word. As Joshua faced an overwhelming new chapter, God anchored him in His unchanging character, assured him of His constant presence, and called him to courageous obedience. These truths find their fullest meaning in Jesus Christ, who not only gives guidance for life now but also secures eternal life beyond death. The sermon calls hearers not merely to admire these truths rationally, but to make them personal by placing their faith in the person of Christ.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
A New Beginning in Christ
Joshua 1:1–9
Let me begin by reading a stanza that our brother has chosen for the hymn we sang:
Who else could rescue me from my failing?
Who else would offer His only Son?
Who else invites me to call Him Father?
Only a holy God.
Our passage for consideration today is Joshua chapter 1, verses 1 to 9. It is a familiar passage, but I think we should quieten down a little and ponder it carefully. If you have your Bibles with you, I invite you to turn there with me as I read.
Scripture Reading: 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.”
This is the Word of God.
Good evening, everyone. It is nice to see all of you. I really, really, really thought it would be a small congregation today, and I was actually a little bit happy, because many people make me a bit nervous. But it is very nice to see all of you here.
There is Alex Verbeek—he is a well-respected environmentalist and adviser on global issues—and he said this: all these well-meant wishes raise the question of what “happy” is. What is this happiness that we are wishing for each other at the dawn of 2025? When we say, “Happy New Year,” does it mean going to parties, gatherings, dancing all night, and then remembering the following day not so much more than a general impression that you were happy? Or would you associate true happiness with just a meditation session in some monastery environment?
He says, I wonder whether such happiness is individualistic or short-lived. Not all those people are happy. Do you know that many millions of lives are in war zones? I recently went to check, and there are 56 conflict war zones happening in the world today—more than what was happening in the Second World War. Many are impacted by climate change. Many face poverty, hunger, and lack of fundamental freedom.
Even a simple AI statistics search can show that a large portion of people express excitement about starting a new year or a new chapter, but most of us tend to lose enthusiasm very quickly. Only around 25% of people actively pursue their New Year resolutions after 30 days. Fret not, guys—this is 26 days, we still have four more days to rectify it. And even fewer people actually achieve their goals. There is a significant drop in the initial excitement that the new year brings shortly after the year begins.
There are many reasons why resolutions are easily snuffed out, and I think one of the main reasons is the overwhelming pressure we put on ourselves to see our resolutions through. At times, that pressure becomes the number one contributing factor in why we stop or quit. Another study showed that 35% of participants who failed their New Year resolutions said they had unrealistic goals. They were overwhelmed by the gap they had to bridge, or the work they had to do, to reach their resolutions.
For many of us, as we start the new year—or maybe for some of you young adults starting a new job in a major corporation in the CBD, or stepping into a new role in your workplace—it is exciting, but it is also overwhelming. You may wonder to yourself, “Am I up for the challenge? Do I have what it takes?” Perhaps that is the main contributor to why we fail.
But to others, life is mundane, dreadful, with no rest. Thoughts of quiet quitting creep into your mind. “Just do the minimum. Life is so tiring.” Do we identify, at the start of this year, with some of these big feelings? Do we feel the excitement of the new year wearing off? Is it impossible not to feel the daunting weight of reality taking residence in your life? Have you been feeling weary for the longest time? Sadly, I would say for myself that as I grow older, the excitement of the new year wears out faster.
As we have read in Joshua 1:1–9, Joshua is tasked to take on a huge role. We can only imagine how he would have felt, having to step into the shoes of Moses. If you have not read about Moses, maybe you have seen The Prince of Egypt—this man who had to bring the whole nation into the promised land. We can only think how Joshua must have felt as he had to embark on this new chapter and stay resolute in the days ahead.
This story we are going to look at is not just about Joshua’s leadership. Rather, it is more about God’s faithfulness in providing for Joshua and everyone else’s needs as they embark on this new chapter, that they may be strong and courageous. This passage points us to the greatest resource that we can have in our lives. And perhaps, for some of us today, it might be a new beginning in Christ Jesus.
From Joshua 1:1–9, we will see three helpful and transformative truths that will guide us as we embark on new beginnings, both in life here and in life for eternity. We will see:
All of these find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ Jesus, who offers us true hope and leads us into a new beginning.
Joshua 1:1–4
It says:
“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.’”
God reassured Joshua that even though Moses was gone, His promises remained. This promise went all the way back to Abraham. The promise was the land of Canaan, the promised land that was first promised to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12, and it was still Israel’s inheritance.
God emphasized that His word—what He says—is trustworthy. The fulfillment of the promise, which is the inheritance Israel would receive, does not depend on Moses’ or Joshua’s abilities, but is anchored in God’s character, God’s faithfulness.
You might be asking, “God being trustworthy—what does that have to do with me?”
Just imagine in Singapore. Our government is widely respected for its efficiency, reliability, and long-term planning. For example, when the government announces policies about CPF, housing, or other national matters, Singaporeans trust that these promises will be fulfilled. When HDB flats are announced for future developments, even though the construction may take years, people confidently queue—I do not know whether confidently or no choice, but they queue—and they invest because they trust the government’s word to deliver on its promise.
Can you imagine if our leaders were not trustworthy? We know we are no fools. We know that even the best human institutions are limited. Policies can change, systems may falter, and unexpected events can disrupt even the most carefully thought-out plan. A global pandemic like COVID, an economic crisis, political shifts—these can change everything overnight.
In contrast, we come to understand that God’s Word is more reliable than any human word. His promises never fail. His Word stands eternal. Isaiah 40:8 says:
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
It is good for us to consider in our lives: What are we building our life’s foundation on? Whose words, whose promises, do we rely on for our future today, and even in the coming year?
The Hebrew word for faithfulness carries the idea of steadfastness or firmness. When we study God’s Word, a pattern emerges. We learn that God’s character is trustworthy. God never changes. He never lies. We learn through the Scriptures that God has never failed in the past. We learn from our own history, our own personal experience, that God has never failed us either.
One command God often gave the Israelites was this word: remember. When they remembered all that God had done for them, they could trust Him for the future.
So in this passage, the first truth we see is this: God is faithful. We see His character. What He says is trustworthy.
And as He promised Israel a new beginning, He also offers us a new beginning in Christ Jesus. If the start of this new year has been weary or scary for you, and you are searching for purpose, fulfillment, or a fresh start, I appeal to you: just listen on. Do not fall asleep. God’s promise of peace, hope, and rest is found in Jesus Christ, and it is true and dependable.
God gave Israel a land to call home, and God gave His Son so that we may have a home eternally. Jesus offers eternal rest and peace with God.
So the first truth that we see in Joshua 1:1–9 is God’s character—His unchanging faithfulness. We learn that God is faithful to His people, to His promises, and to what He says.
Joshua 1:5, 9
The next truth is God’s assurance. In Joshua 1:5, God says:
“Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
And in verse 9:
“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.”
The second truth we see in Joshua 1:1–9 is God’s assurance of His presence.
God’s presence was the assurance Joshua needed to lead the people without Moses. Now the weight of leadership falls heavily on Joshua’s shoulders, but God promises to be with him just as He was with Moses. The words, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” reflect God’s faithfulness, which is His character—something we have just considered. Joshua can face the unknown, not because of his own strength or leadership quality, but because of the assurance of God’s presence and God’s faithfulness.
I just want to ask all of you this question. Does anyone know of this road name, Make Peace Road? These people are rich people, because Make Peace Road is located in Newton, right? Actually, I did not know. I went to ask my friend, “What is the most ulu road in Singapore? I need an illustration.” But if you saw this address and someone said, “Come to my house—my house is 24 Make Peace Road,” would you know how to go?
Apparently some of you know, but most of us may not know. When we do not know and we see such an address, would it make us hesitant to go to that place? Maybe not. Why? Because we are so reliant on Google Maps, on Grab, on Gojek, to get us to unfamiliar places. Without these tools, can you imagine? I think we need to interview people who are my father’s age. Imagine how they had to look at maps and find out where these places are—how scary, how overwhelming, and how easy it would have been just to say, “I do not want to go.”
But with Google Maps, with GPS, with Grab and Gojek, we are able to navigate to lesser-known places without feeling lost or overwhelmed.
Similarly, for Joshua, God’s assurance of His presence is like a constant guide—or for us, like a GPS—reassuring us that even when we face unfamiliar territory, we are not alone.
Do feelings of being overwhelmed swarm your thoughts daily? Do feelings of inadequacy rise against the long list of things in your to-do list? Many people in Singapore struggle with the fear of failure. They struggle with loneliness, especially in this high-pressure society. So it is a good question to ask: how does God’s promise of being with me affect me?
We ought to know that God’s assurance of His presence to Joshua is available to you today. God, through Jesus, also offers this same promise—that He will be with you, to walk with you every step of the way, so that you do not have to be overwhelmed, so that you do not have to be scared. This is the assurance from the faithful God: that we do not have to face life alone. God invites you to trust Him and to experience His constant presence.
So how is God with us? What are we talking about?
We just celebrated Christmas, and this is one of my favourite verses. Matthew 1:23 says:
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”
which means, God with us.
Jesus, God with us, came into the world to bring us into God’s presence. Jesus says that no one comes to the Father except through Him, because He is the way, the truth, and the life. Through Christ Jesus—His death, His resurrection, His very person—He made a way for us to be reconciled with God.
Romans 5:8 says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. No matter how far you feel from God, no matter how overwhelmed, no matter how scared, Jesus offers to be with you in every season, every day.
So the second truth that we learn in Joshua 1:1–9 is God’s assurance of His presence.
Joshua 1:7–8
The next truth, the last one, is obedience to God’s Word. God said to Joshua:
“Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful 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.”
God instructs Joshua to obey the Book of the Law and to meditate on His Word daily and constantly. This tells us that the success of Joshua’s mission does not depend merely on military strength, grit, or human spirit, but on obedience to God’s instruction—obedience to His Word—and on meditating on the Book of the Law.
Meditating on God’s Word is not merely reading it. It is thinking about it, internalising it, and letting it shape your thoughts, your decisions, and your actions.
We as Singaporeans are not unfamiliar with obedience. We are very familiar with the idea of guidelines and instructions. We follow building codes, workplace regulations, and even traffic laws—except for jaywalking. We know that success often depends on adhering to the right framework.
In the same way, God’s Word is the instruction for life. True success guides us to live in a way that honours Him. It guides us to eternal life. Many people are searching for direction in life, and God’s Word provides clarity about who He is, who we are, and how we can find salvation through Jesus Christ.
Do you feel like you have been navigating through life without a guide? God’s Word not only shows us the way, but also points us to Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s Word. He lived the perfect and obedient life that we could not, and He invites us to obey Him, to listen to Him.
So the third truth that we learn from Joshua 1:1–9 is obedience to God’s instruction.
A Sub-point: Courage to Step Out in Faith
As God assures Joshua about the resources he has in Almighty God, He also calls Joshua to be courageous—to step out in faith. It is not just about listening. God says to go forth.
As Joshua enters a new chapter in the nation’s history, God repeats the command “Be strong and courageous” three times, emphasizing that stepping into new chapters, new beginnings, or uncertain situations requires faith, action, and courage.
For Joshua, courage was not self-confidence in his own abilities, but confidence in God’s promise, God’s character, God’s assurance of His presence, and God’s instruction.
Consider a Singaporean example: taking a leap of faith in investing or starting a new business. Many of us hesitate because of the risk, but those who step forward often rely on research, guidance, and mentorship to make educated and informed decisions.
Similarly, stepping into a life of faith requires action and courage. But the difference is this: you are stepping into the instruction of God Himself, the One who guarantees the outcome, instead of relying on any human effort, research, or guidelines.
With these three truths, we have seen that God is calling us to respond—to take a step of faith today. Whether you are a Christian or a non-Christian, perhaps there are areas in your life that are paralysed with fear. We do not know what the future holds or what 2025 might be, but we are able to step out in trust and faith in the One who is faithful, in the One who assures us that He will be with us, and in the Word that will never wither.
God is faithful, and He will walk with you every step of the way. God’s promises never fail. He is with us if we are His, and His truth and His Word are truth in our lives. We are to obey them. We are to step out and step into a life of faith. We have to step out and step into the new year, or the days ahead, with faith in the God of the Bible.
The Need to Make the Rational Personal
So here we learn about three truths. But really, if I end here, then this will just be a self-help session. You have three truths, you take them home, and then you apply them to yourself.
Yes, we can say that in Joshua 1:1–9 there are three helpful and transformative truths to start the new year: God’s faithfulness, God’s assurance of His presence, and obedience to what God says. And yes, we are to respond in faith.
But perhaps you would ask: faith in what? You may already believe in God in some general way, but I do not think I have yet made a compelling persuasion, because this idea of stepping into faith can remain rather abstract. We need to make the rational personal.
I was reading this article or argument, and it says that Epicurus—and this is debatable, some say he did not say this—said: “I could die happy if I was absolutely sure that death was the end.”
Epicurus argues that if death is the end of existence, and after that there is just peace—no fear, no sensation, no awareness—then death is not something we really experience. Death is nothingness. Therefore, do not be afraid of death. His philosophy aimed to eliminate the fear of death by emphasizing that death is simply the absence of life, not a state to be feared.
But nobody can be sure that death is the end. And if nobody can be sure that death is the end, nobody can die happy.
Nobody is able to say, “If I YOLO in this life today and finish my bucket list, I can die happy,” because no one can be sure that death is the end. So even if we have three great principles and we live life well, if death is not the end, then death is really not the end.
However, as Christians, we know that God’s Word says there is life after death. Hebrews 9:27 says:
“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
This challenges the idea that this is the only life we live in. If this were the only life we lived, then perhaps we could die happy. But no one can be sure of that.
Jesus says:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.”
Jesus knows what life after death is. He knows what that life is supposed to be like. He knows what comes after death.
Isaiah 53:5 says:
“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that brought us peace.”
Jesus knows that after death there is life, and that we humans are helpless in ourselves before that reality. That is why He had to die for our sins. By His wounds we are healed.
The reality is this: there is life after death, and for us to have life after death, Jesus had to be our sacrifice.
Christianity gives us something different. It is not just a set of rational rules to help us live life happily. It gives us a holy person—a man who was holy—who not only knows what happens after this life, but who came to die, defeating death and resurrecting from the dead.
Where Is Your Faith Located?
As you look ahead into the new year, with new opportunities perhaps about to unfold, with new chapters ahead, do you feel scared? Are there things that are uncertain? Are you afraid that your happiness may be compromised if you decide to put your faith in Jesus Christ?
If our faith and trust are placed only on good rational truths, then 2025 will just be like any other year, and we will feel the highs and lows of the same cycle we have always been in.
God says to Joshua not to be afraid, but to step out in faith and obedience to what He says. And through those instructions, God reveals His faithfulness, His character, and His assurance of His presence with Joshua. Later in the book, we see how Joshua took that faith-action, stepped out in faith, and his trust was not in anyone else but in the person of God. He trusted in God.
What about us?
If I could ask you to take ten seconds to think: Where is your faith located?
Someone asked me this when I was studying in seminary in Australia: “Where is your faith located?” And very honestly, I realised that my faith—if there was faith—was not in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Where is our faith?
This morning we sang this song:
I sigh for rest and happiness,
I yearn for them, not Thee;
But while I pass my Saviour by,
His love laid hold on me.
Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me;
There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee.
For all of us here, God is inviting us into a relationship with Him, which is the best new beginning. But we must locate where our faith is. If our faith is somewhere else, then it is not in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we do not have these promises. We cannot experience this new life.
God, through Christ Jesus, took the ultimate step of love and obedience when He went to the cross for our sins. Because of His sacrificial love, because of His loving character, we are able to have this opportunity to step into a relationship with the Creator of you and me, of the whole world.
And this relationship will anchor us onto Him on both sides of heaven—life here and life eternal. This is the best beginning that God has offered to us: having a forever relationship with the God who loves us so dearly that He gave His only Son to die for our sins.
None other, no one else, is able to pay the penalty of our sins, to give us fulfillment and new life.
Will you respond to God’s invitation?
Conclusion
So from Joshua 1:1–9, we have seen three helpful and transformative truths that will guide us as we embark on new beginnings, both for life here and for eternity.
We see:
All of these find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ Jesus, who offers us hope and leads us into a new beginning. But it is up to us to make the rational personal by taking the step of faith.
Closing Prayer
Let me close this time in prayer.
Father, we are really thankful that in this time we are able to think about the Lord Jesus Christ. As many of us enter such times, using our minds or sometimes using our emotions, Lord, we ask that You would help us to use every faculty—our minds, our hearts, our strength, our souls—to know You and to love You.
We thank You for Your Word, which is truth. We thank You that as we look into Your Word, we can think about some of these tensions that oppose what the voices of the world suggest.
So help us, Lord, to come before You truthfully, to know exactly whom we trust our future in. And we pray, Lord, that You may convict us, that we may place our faith in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We thank You for our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank You for this great good news: that as we think about Him, as we look into Your Word, as we meditate on Your Word, we are able to find hope in the chaos of this world. Because truly, the Lord Jesus Christ has paid it all—not only for our sins, but He has given us an eternal home. After this life there is new life, and that is found in Jesus Christ.
So we give You thanks, and we pray all this in Your Son’s most precious name.
Amen.