“Be strong and very courageous. 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."
Following the death of Moses, God comes to Joshua and instructs him to carry on his work. Joshua is tasked with leading his people to the lands promised by God - a task of such legendary proportion that even the stout-hearted Joshua must have been intimidated at times.
In Joshua 1:7, God provides clear instructions to help Joshua stay on a righteous path and overcome the opposition he will face through his journey.
Joshua must be strong and courageous to face the forces of superior might and preparation that must be quelled in taking the promised land. God emphasizes the importance of obeying His laws in holding the land they take, and by telling Joshua to turn neither right nor left, God means to not make any changes or reinterpretations to His laws. Instead, Joshua needs only stick to the words as God gave them, and his efforts will be met with success.
