Joshua

Introduction

Biblical Timeline

Israel has a new leader in Joshua son of Nun.

He is about to bring them across the Jordan river into the promise land and lead them into a long series of conquest to take over the land.

He will then portion out the land for the different tribes of Israel for their inheritance.

Joshua’s commission (Joshua 1)

God is now going to take this new generation of Israelites into the Promised Land to occupy it.

God has some important and clear instructions for Joshua as he leads the people into the land.

Charge for the New Leader (1:1-5)

Joshua is the New Leader (1-2)

Joshua is the New leader (1)

Joshua 1:1 (ESV)

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant,

Numbers 25 - Deuteronomy 34 - There is a lot of overlap and retelling of events in order to (1) prepare the new generation of Israelites to enter the promised land, (2) to transition the leadership from Moses to Joshua.

Joshua commissioned by God (Num 27:15-20)

Numbers 27:15–20 (ESV)

15 Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, 16 “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17 who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. 20 You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey.

Joshua commissioned by Moses (Num 27:22-23)

Numbers 27:22–23 (ESV)

22 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, 23 and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.

Throughout various text in the ending of Numbers and Deuteronomy - There was a process to this transition.

Now that Moses is dead it is time for Joshua to lead.

Joshua is to lead them into the Land. (2)

Joshua 1:2 (ESV)

2 “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.

“Cross the Jordan...”

“Land I am giving to them...”

Joshua is to lead the Israelites into the Land (3-4)

Joshua 1:3–4 (ESV)

3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 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.

Victory Promised (3)

Territory (4)

What is the boundaries of the Promise Land?

God’s Covenant Promise to Abraham - Gen 15:18-21.

River of Egypt - Only found in this text. Not sure what river in meant.

River Euphrates - used in 2 of these texts as a border.

Moses giving the boundaries - Numbers 34:1-15.

Brook of Egypt - Southern boarder of Israel before Sinai Peninsula. Found in 8 verses.

Joshua’s conquest instruction - Josh 1:4; Deut 11:24-25.

Lebanon - Northwest of Israel along the Great Sea.

Hittite - North of Israel and near the river Euphrates.

Extended Promise Land?

Brook of Egypt

River of Egypt - Nile river

Message for the New Leader (1:6-9)

Be Strong and Courageous (6a)

Joshua 1:6 (ESV)

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

Be Strong and Courageous - God instructed Joshua 3x (6-9) and by the leaders of the 2 1/2 tribes (18)

“When these words occur in tandem, they often describe military resolve (e.g., 2 Sam. 10:12).” (Mathews, Kenneth A. Joshua. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

Strong - to be strong v., to be or become strong or powerful beyond the average or expected; whether physically or in one’s constitution. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

“for you shall cause this people to inherit the land...”

Joshua is going to lead the Israelites into the Land and needs to be committed to the task.

Courageous - to be courageous v., to be able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

How he is to be Strong and Courageous (6b-9)

Believe God’s Words (6b)

Joshua 1:6 (ESV)

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.

“I swore to their fathers to give them.”

God has been repeating His promise to them that he is bringing them out of Egypt with the goal of bringing them into the promise land. He has repeatedly told them that he is going to drive out the inhabitants before them. He has explained to them that he has already put the fear of them into the inhabitants of the Land through the events of the Exodus.

Be strong and courageous by believing that I am faithful to my promise and am strong enough to accomplish it.

What a great reminder for us that we can be strong and courageous because we have a God that has made great promises to us in Christ and is faithful and strong enough to accomplish them in our lives.

Meditate on God’s Word (7-8)

Joshua 1:7–8 (ESV)

7 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. 8 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.

Obedience of the Law (7)

to observe (conform) v., to conform one’s action or practice to. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

“the right hand or to the left" - the Idea of staying on the path.

“Joshua’s primary duty is not military but spiritual. Without obedience to the law, military success will not follow. God is the one who gives such victories.” (Barry, John D. et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016. Print.)

Understanding of the Law (8)

Be a careful student of the aw to understand it well and walk out obedience.

Meditate - “It describes contemplation for the purpose of understanding and obedience. The merism “day and night” means “continually” (cf. 2 Tim. 1:3).” (Mathews, Kenneth A. Joshua. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

Prosperity/Success through obedience (7b, 8b)

Prosperous - to cause to prosper v., to cause to make steady favorable progress or succeed. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

Success - to prosper (thrive) v., to make steady favorable progress or succeed. (The Lexham Analytical Lexicon of the Hebrew Bible 2017: n. pag. Print.)

“successful wherever you go. This is not a comprehensive promise of success at everything the Israelites attempt. “Wherever you go” is a figure of speech indicating “wherever you go in conformity to God’s instructions.”” (Mathews, Kenneth A. Joshua. Ed. Mark L. Strauss and John H. Walton. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group, 2016. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

This text is not about how to become prosperous and successful in everything we want. “Follow these 3 rules and you will have success!”

This is instructions from God to Joshua who is going to lead the Israelites to occupy the Land. Joshua will be prosperous and successful in that goal through his obedience to the Law of God.

Trust in God’s presence (9)

Joshua 1:9 (ESV)

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.”

God is the one going with them to accomplish what he promised them. Joshua can be strong and courageous in the entrance into the land because God is with them and will guide and fight for them.

Message from the New Leader (1:10-18)

Instructions to All (10-11)

Joshua 1:10–11 (ESV)

10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “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.’ ”

Joshua instructs the Leaders of Israel to tell the Israelites to prepare to enter the Land in 3 days.

Instructions to the 2 1/2 tribes (12-15)

Joshua 1:12–15 (ESV)

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13 “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.’ 14 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, 15 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.”

Moses, through counsel from God, gave the tribes of Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh permission to settle in the land that was conquered on the east of the Jordan. They were to settle into the Land, but still be a part of the conquest of the land on the other side of the Jordan. (Numbers 32; Deut 3:12-20) (12)

Joshua reminds them of their commitment to helping their brothers conquer the land they promised Moses. He paraphrases what Moses commanded them. (13-16)

Response of the 2 1/2 tribes (16-18)

Joshua 1:16–18 (ESV)

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 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! 18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

They agree to the obey his commands to help.

They reinforce God’s command to Joshua to be “Strong and courageous”

Lessons from Joshua

Joshua was commissioned by God to lead the Israelites into the Land to occupy it. He was called by God to be Strong and Courageous as he is goes into the land. If He is going to be successful he needs to:

Be diligent in his study and understanding of the Law of God through continual meditation on it.

Be careful to live out obedience to the Law of God.

Be comforted that the Lord is with them to accomplish His promise.

God commissions us to “make disciples” (Matt 28:19-20) and the same way Joshua is to succeed gives us great principles to apply to our lives.

Be diligent to study and understand the Bible through continual study and meditation on it.

Be careful to live out obedience to the Bible.

Be comforted that the Lord is with them to accomplish His promise.

Benediction

Romans 11:33–36 (ESV)

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.