1:16–18 The people’s obedient response to Joshua, and therefore to God, will be echoed and elaborated at the end of the book (24:16–24). The essential connection between faith and obedience is implicit here: the obedience of the people is unambiguous evidence that they believe the promise. The necessary qualities for Joshua’s leadership are that God be with him (v. 5 note) and that he be a man of faith (v. 6 note).