Joshua 1:1-9 [Men's Breakfast 11/05/2022]

Joshua 1 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.” And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’ ” And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them, until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.” And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses! Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

True Courage

It takes courage to live knowing that you will not live forever.

“After the death of Moses”—As impactful as Moses was, he would not live forever.

“God buries His workmen, but His work goes on.”

Moses generation had perished in the wilderness, and Joshua followed him.

He would lead the new generation into the promised land.

He would take up the banner of Moses and lead the people, but how would he lead?

How had he seen Moses lead? He had obeyed God’s commands, even when it was difficult he led the people according to God’s commands.

What if Moses had been a selfish leader—no, he wasn’t perfect. But, what if he believed he was the star of the show. He would not have lived his last days in such a way that recognized Joshua.

Are you living in view of the next generation? If so, how? How can you improve?

It takes courage to live in dependance of another.

Joshua was commanded by God to “arise, go over the Jordan, into the land [God] would give to the people of Israel.”

v.3—Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses (Deut 11).

v.5—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.

The lives of men God has used in his kingdom have been marked by dependance.

Abraham – God would make him a father of many nations

David – God made him King in spite of his failures.

Apostles – God called them to a life of dependence in Christ.

“He would make them fishers of men.

Paul – (2 Cor 12:17-10) [In light of some visions] to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Are you aware of your weaknesses? If so, how do they lead you to a life of dependence? Do others know your weaknesses, and have you welcomed them to encourage you in them?

Where does true courage and strength come from?

Joshua 1:6-9—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.”

God did not call Joshua to be a touch guy, and influential guy, but a word guy, a dependent guy, and if he would then he would be sucessful where he went, he would be prosperous, and God would be with him.

True courage comes from knowing and depending on God as he has revealed himself in his word.

Where are you finding your courage and strength?

Where do you find the desire to invest in the next generation? What deposits are you making in them?

Where do you find the strength and courage to admit your have weaknesses?

Where do you find courage and strength to carry out the task God has called you as men, sons, husbands, dads, fathers, and grandfather to carry out?

Are you trying to be strong and courageous in yourself, or are do you find strength and courage from God’s promises (His word) that he is with his you?