Joshua 1 It's Time to Go!

Intro

These were historical events, but they were not only historical. God speaks through history to give an example of our deliverance from the degrading bondage of sin

The central act of redemption in the New Testament is the work of Jesus on the cross.

The central act of redemption in the Old Testament is the deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

While the title of the book is Joshua this is not a story about him, it is about the Lord

The Book of Joshua is the book of new beginnings for the people of God, and many believers today need a new beginning

Jesus Christ, our Joshua, wants to lead us in conquest now and share with us all the treasures of His wonderful inheritance.

Moses died; and though he would not be forgotten (he’s named over fifty times in the Book of Joshua), a new “servant of the Lord” (Josh. 24:29) would take his place.

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

This change in leadership carries with it a tremendous spiritual lesson for believers who want to experience God’s best in their lives.

Joshua the slave.

He was born into slavery in Egypt and was given the name Hoshea (Num. 13:8), which means “salvation.”

Moses later changed it to Joshua (v. 16, NIV), “Jehovah is salvation,” which is the Hebrew form of “Jesus”

While in Egypt, Joshua saw all the signs and wonders that God performed (Ex. 7–12); and he knew that Jehovah was a God of power who would care for His people.

Joshua the soldier.

The first official recorded act of Joshua in Scripture is his defeat of the Amalekites when they attacked Israel about two months after Israel’s exodus from Egypt

Moses was a prophet and legislator, but Joshua was a general with exceptional military skills.

He was also a man of great courage, who wasn’t afraid to confront the enemy and trust the Lord for victory

Joshua the servant.

In Exodus 24:13, Joshua is called Moses’ servant (“minister”), which indicates that Joshua was now an official assistant to the leader of Israel.

It wasn’t enough that Joshua be a good warrior; he also had to know the God of Israel and the holy laws God gave His people to obey.

We shall discover that the secret of Joshua’s victories was not his skill with the sword but his submission to the Word of God (Josh. 1:8) and to the God of the Word

During Israel’s wilderness journey, Moses had a special tent set up outside the camp where he could meet with God (Ex. 33:7–11). It was Joshua’s responsibility to stay at the tent and guard it.

Not only was Joshua a warrior, but he was also a worshiper and knew how to live in the presence of God.

Joshua the spy

One of the 12 sent to spy out the land

One of two to tell the people they could take the land

Stood up to the resistance

This crisis revealed some fine leadership qualities in Joshua. He was not blind to the realities of the situation, but he didn’t allow the problems and difficulties to rob him of his faith in God

Knowing he was right, Joshua wasn’t afraid to stand up against the majority. He, Moses, and Caleb stood alone and risked their lives in so doing; but God stood with them.

Joshua the successor

Throughout that wilderness journey, God was preparing Joshua for his ministry as successor to Moses.

Moses laid hands on Joshua and God imparted to Joshua the spiritual power he needed for his task

Read Joshua 1:1-6

I. Be Strong & Courageous vs. 1-9

vs. 1-2 Go Into the Land

It’s “GO” time

They are ready to crossover and inherit the land

The word “land” is found eighty-seven times in the Book of Joshua because this book is the record of Israel’s entering, conquering, and claiming the Promised Land.

Israel owned the land because of God’s gracious covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–5), but their enjoyment of the land depended on their faithful obedience to God.

God called the Promised Land “a good land” (8:7–10) and contrasted it with the monotony and barrenness of Egypt (11:8–14).

It was to be Israel’s place of rest, her inheritance, and the dwelling place of God

The importance of the land.

The Prophet Ezekiel said that Jerusalem was “in the center of the nations”

Ezek 5:5 Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her.

and that the land of Israel was “the center of the world” (38:12, NASB).

The Hebrew word translated “center” also means “navel,” suggesting that Israel was the “lifeline” between God and this world; for “salvation is of the Jews”

The events recorded in the Book of Joshua have to do with the life of God’s people and not their death!

This book illustrates how believers today can say good-bye to the old life and enter into their rich inheritance in Jesus Christ

But it also shows us how to claim our rest in Christ

This “Canaan rest” is a picture of the rest that Christian believers experience when they yield their all to Christ and claim their inheritance by faith.

The victorious Christian life isn’t a once-for-all triumph that ends all our problems.

As pictured by Israel in the Book of Joshua, the victorious Christian life is a series of conflicts and victories as we defeat one enemy after another and claim more of our inheritance to the glory of God

In Christ, we have all that we need for victorious Christian living, but we must possess our inheritance by faith, a step at a time

As you look at your life and the life of the church where you fellowship, do you see yourself and your fellow believers wandering in the wilderness or conquering in the Promised Land?

In the wilderness, the Jews were a complaining people; but in Canaan, they were a conquering people

vs. 3-5 Everywhere You Step

The Lord will give every place Joshua that every where the sole of his foot treads

This was promised to Moses and God continues it to Joshua

vs. 4 God lays out the land he wants to give them

Unfortunately, Israel only inherits a portion of this

This shows us how giving God is towards his people

At the same time it shows us how little of HIs promises we realize

He finalizes that promise that just as he was with moses, he will be with Joshua

vs. 6-9 Be Strong & Courageous

Three times in these four verses God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous

This is thought to be for the three tasks God gave him to accomplish

The first task was to cross the Jordan

That’s a big deal because conflict lay ahead

The second task was to defeat the enemy

The final task was to apportion the land to each tribe

Each of those steps were going to take great courage

Joshua needed to be strong and confident that the Lord was with him the whole way

God told him he wouldn’t leave him

God didn’t give Joshua explanations as to how He would accomplish these things, because God’s people live on promises and not on explanations.

When you trust God’s promises and step out by faith (v. 3), you can be sure that the Lord will give you the directions you need when you need them.

Joshua need to be strong so that he could lead the people to inherit the promises

vs. 7 God turns the strength internally

God emphasizes the importance of obedience and integrity

Obey the law and don’t turn to the left of the right

Obedience and integrity are essential for leaders to lead with courage

If there is guilt or shame the courage will evaporate

vs. 8 The key to obedience?

Meditating on the Word of God, day and night

If God’s word is continually on your mind, it will guide your path and make you prosperous

II. Prepare to Passover vs. 10-18

vs. 10-15 Joshua encourages leaders

The nation of Israel was so organized that Moses could quickly communicate with the people through his officers who formed a chain of command (Deut. 1:15).

Moses didn’t assemble the leaders to ask for their advice but to give them God’s orders.

vs. 16-18 leaders encourage Joshua