After 40 years in the wilderness, Israel finally stood at the threshold of their promised land. But between them and God’s promise lay fortified cities, giant enemies, and battles that would require everything they had. The book of Joshua isn’t just about conquering Canaan—it’s about possessing what God has already promised. Today, we’ll discover how Joshua’s conquest provides a powerful blueprint for taking possession of the abundant health God has promised us.
The Promise: God Has Already Given Us the Land
Joshua 1:2-3 contains God’s foundational promise: “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou and all this people, unto the land which I do give unto them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”
Health Principle #1: God Has Already Provided for Our Health
Notice the tense: “I do give” and “have I given.” In God’s mind, the land was already theirs. Similarly, God has already provided everything we need for health and wholeness:
- He designed our bodies with incredible capacity for healing and renewal
- He provided natural foods, clean water, and fresh air for our nourishment
- He built rest and recovery into the very fabric of creation
- He gave us minds capable of making wise health choices
The question isn’t whether God wants us healthy—He’s already given us the “land” of health. The question is: will we possess what He’s already provided?
Many Christians live in the wilderness of poor health when God has a promised land of vitality waiting for them. But like Israel, we must cross over and possess it.
The Requirement: Be Strong and Courageous
Joshua 1:6-7 repeats a crucial command: “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law of Moses my servant.”
Health Principle #2: Health Requires Courage and Strength
God told Joshua to be strong and courageous three times in the first chapter. Why? Because possessing God’s promises requires facing giants and overcoming opposition.
In our health journey, we need courage to:
- Face the reality of our current health condition honestly
- Resist peer pressure to return to destructive habits like excessive drinking or tobacco use
- Stand against the giants of temptation, convenience, and instant gratification
- Persevere when progress seems slow or when we face setbacks
- Make unpopular choices that prioritize long-term health over short-term pleasure
Notice courage is connected to obedience: “that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law.” Courage without obedience to God’s health principles leads nowhere.
The Strategy: Meditation and Obedience
Joshua 1:8 gives us the secret to success: “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.”
Health Principle #3: Success Comes Through Meditating on God’s Word
Joshua’s victory strategy wasn’t military tactics—it was meditation on God’s Word that led to obedience. Our health victories come the same way:
- Meditating on verses like “your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- Remembering “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) when we’re tempted to abuse our bodies
- Claiming promises like “I am the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26)
- Letting God’s Word shape our food choices, exercise habits, and rest patterns
When we meditate on what God says about health and stewardship of our bodies, it becomes natural to make choices that align with His design.
The Crossing: Some Bridges Must Be Burned
Joshua 3:15-17 describes crossing the Jordan: “And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water… the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap… and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground.”
Health Principle #4: There’s No Going Back—Step Into Your Miracle
The Jordan was at flood stage—impossible to cross naturally. But when the priests’ feet touched the water, God stopped the flow. They had to step into the miracle before they could see it.
Sometimes our health breakthrough requires stepping into what seems impossible:
- Throwing away that last tin of chew before you feel “ready”
- Dumping out the alcohol and committing to sobriety while you still crave it
- Starting to exercise when your body feels weak
Notice the priests had to step into the water first. Faith acts before feelings change. Once Israel crossed, there was no going back—the wilderness season was over.
The Memorial: Remember What God Has Done
Joshua 4:6-7 records God’s command to build a memorial: “That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.”
Health Principle #5: Celebrate and Remember Your Health Victories
Joshua set up stones to commemorate God’s miraculous provision. We need health memorials too to recall what God has done for us:
- Celebrate the day you quit smoking or gave up excessive drinking
- Remember when God gave you strength to start exercising regularly
- Mark the anniversary of overcoming an eating disorder or breaking a destructive pattern
- Document your progress with photos, measurements, or journal entries
These memorials serve two purposes: they remind us of God’s faithfulness, and they encourage others who are facing similar battles by showing what God can do in our lives. Your health victory story can be someone else’s source of hope.
The Battles: Some Enemies Must Be Completely Destroyed
Joshua 6 tells the famous story of Jericho’s walls falling down. But notice God’s complete destruction command in Joshua 6:17: “And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live.”
Health Principle #6: Some Health Enemies Require Total War
With some enemies, compromise leads to defeat. Jericho had to be completely destroyed—no taking prisoners, no keeping souvenirs. Some health battles require the same approach:
- You can’t have “just one drink” if alcohol is your Jericho
- You can’t keep “emergency chew” if tobacco is destroying you
- You can’t maintain toxic relationships that consistently undermine your health choices
- You can’t keep junk food in the house “for guests” if overeating is your weakness
God told Israel to utterly destroy certain enemies because He knew partial victory would lead to future compromise. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do for our health is show no mercy to what’s trying to destroy us.
The Deception: Watch Out for the Gibeonites
Joshua 9 records how the Gibeonites deceived Israel into making a treaty with them by pretending to be from a far country. Joshua made the agreement without consulting God, and it caused problems for generations.
Health Principle #7: Beware of Deceptive Health “Solutions”
Just as the Gibeonites appeared harmless but caused long-term trouble, we face health deceptions that promise easy solutions:
- “Diet pills that let you eat whatever you want”
- “This supplement will cure everything without lifestyle changes”
- “You can drink heavily as long as you take these vitamins”
- “Smoking this instead of that is completely safe”
Joshua’s mistake was making decisions without consulting God. Before embracing any health trend or solution, take it to God in prayer. Does it align with His design for your body? Does it promote genuine stewardship or just enable continued poor choices?
The Inheritance: Possess Your Portion
Joshua 13:1 reveals an important truth: “Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.”
Even after great victories, much land remained unpossessed. Joshua 18:3 challenges the people: “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?”
Health Principle #8: Don’t Be Slack to Possess What God Has Given You
How many Christians are “slack to possess” the health God has provided? We’ve won some battles—maybe quit smoking or started exercising—but we’re content with partial victory instead of pressing in for complete health.
God has more for you:
- Not just absence of disease, but vibrant energy for His service
- Not just breaking bad habits, but building life-giving ones
- Not just surviving health challenges, but thriving in His design for your body
- Not just personal health, but becoming someone who helps others possess their health inheritance
The Farewell: Choose This Day
Joshua’s final challenge in Joshua 24:15 applies perfectly to health: “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Health Principle #9: Health is a Daily Choice to Serve
Every day, we choose whom we’ll serve with our bodies:
- Will we serve the god of convenience or the God of stewardship?
- Will we serve the god of instant gratification or the God of discipline?
- Will we serve the god of addiction or the God of freedom?
- Will we serve the god of comfort or the God of courage?
Joshua didn’t just make this choice once—he renewed it throughout his life. Our health choices aren’t one-time decisions; they’re daily renewals of our commitment to honor God with our bodies.
Your Canaan Awaits
The promised land of health is before you. God has already given it to you—every tool you need for victory, every resource for healing, every promise for restoration. But like Israel, you must cross over and possess it.
Here are Joshua’s health principles for possessing your promised land:
- Recognize God has already provided for your health—it’s yours to possess
- Be strong and courageous in facing health giants and making hard choices
- Meditate on God’s Word about health and stewardship daily
- Step into your miracle before you feel ready
- Build memorials and give praise to God to remember and celebrate health victories
- Wage total war against enemies like alcohol and tobacco use
- Beware of deceptive solutions that promise easy answers without real change
- Don’t be slack to possess all the health God has for you
- Choose daily whom you will serve with your body
The giants in your health promised land—addiction, poor habits, discouragement, physical challenges—are no match for the God who stopped the Jordan River and brought down Jericho’s walls.
Your wilderness wandering is over. Cross over into the health God has promised you. Be strong and courageous. The land is yours—now possess it.
“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
It Is Written 