The Sufficiency of Scripture

Scripture

Joshua 1:1–9 ESV

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 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. 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. 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. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 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. 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.”

Introduction

Every little boy that loves baseball has had the fantasy of standing at the plate, in the ninth inning of the deciding game of the World Series with 2 outs and the bases loaded and hitting a game winning home run.

Every child that likes soccer has dreamed of playing in the World Cup.

Whatever our passion, hobby, or job is, we want to be the best in that arena.

Not many ever get that opportunity, but what if you did?

How would you feel in that moment?

Would you be ready for it?

Would you be nervous?

Anxious?

Scared?

How would you get through it if your big break put you in a position where your decisions would affect the lives of hundreds of thousands of people every day?

Where would you look for support?

Guidance?

The boost of confidence necessary to know you had made the right call if you had to make life and death decisions for that many people?

Background

There is a transition of leadership among the Israelites.

Moses, who was the national leader for about the last 40 years if his life, has died.

Entire generations have grown up to know no leadership other than Moses.

Moses was trained in Pharoah’s household.

Under his leadership the nation has enjoyed success after miraculous success.

He lived to be 120 years old, and the testimony of Deuteronomy is that, on the day he died, his eye was undimmed and his vigor was unabated.

God chose Joshua to be Moses’ successor.

Joshua was Moses’ second in command.

Joshua has probably only had a few months to get used to the idea that when Moses is gone, the mantle of leadership and responsibility will fall upon him.