"A NEW GENERATION"

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Joshua 1:1–6 “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead; so now arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not desert you nor abandon you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”

Joshua 1:7–9 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve 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 achieve success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

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Joshua 1:1–5 “Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead; so now arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not desert you nor abandon you.”

>>>God called Joshua to take Moses’ place in leading Israel to the Promised Land. Immediately He commissions him to lead.

>>>(v.5) Just as God was with Moses, He will be with Joshua. This is a new generation called by God to take the place of the one before him.

>>>This was not a last minute decision. God had Joshua in mind for a long time (official commissioning in Deut. 34).

>>>Joshua was a soldier for Israel who also became Moses’ personal servant (mentorship).

*Fought against Amalekites

*W/Moses on Mt. Sinai while Israel worshiped calf

*Guarded God’s tent both before/after Moses’ meetings w/God

*One of two spies who believed God’s promise to take Caanan

>>>Joshua was obedient to God and walked closely w/Moses-best candidate to replace him.

>>>Main point first

ONLY GODLY PEOPLE CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF GODLY PEOPLE.

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Joshua 1:6 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.”

>>>“Be strong and courageous” is said 3x, each paired w/a different charge on how Joshua is supposed to lead (speaking specifically to Joshua).

>>>In this first instance, God tells him to be strong/courageous because he is about to take the Israelites into Caanan. This was a big task, but it was God’s instruction for Joshua.

>>>We need to step boldly into the task God has for us.

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Joshua 1:7–8 “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve 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 achieve success.”

>>>This second time God puts extra emphasis (ONLY be strong/VERY courageous) and tells Joshua to be careful to observe all that is in the Law (Torah).

>>>(v.7) Don’t turn in either direction from it. Stay on track.

>>>(v.8) This is a command that the Law does not depart from his mouth but that he meditates on it day/night.

*Two contrasting words: “depart” (“put an end”)’; “meditate” (“reflect deeply”)

*The Law needed to always be on his lips, declaring it to the people.

*Joshua was to be constantly thinking on/walking by the Law in order to achieve success (also meaning “act wisely”).

>>>Joshua would not be able to prosper in anything unless he was following the LORD’s instruction.

Psalm 1:1–3 “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.”

>>>Godly people are able to prosper through the meditation and execution of God’s Word in their lives.

*Meditation->obedience->prosperity

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Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

>>>God tells Joshua one last time to be strong/courageous but also encourages him to not be afraid or dismayed (“downhearted”). God would be with him wherever he went.

>>>Joshua’s confidence in leading the people would come from the presence of God with him.

*His relationship with and obedience to God is what qualified him to take Moses’ role, being enable by God Himself.

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>>>Only godly people can take the place of godly people, a godly generation taking the place of a godly generation.

>>>How?