Sermon Tone Analysis

God’s Unusual Characters

Noah, the Ark Builder

Abraham, the man who believed God

Isaac & Rebekah, parents who had favorites

Jacob, the deceiver that suffered deceit

Leah and Rachel, the competing mothers of Israel

Joseph, the favored son who became a slave and then a savior

Moses, the murderer whom God used to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, and through whom the Law of the Great I Am was given

And Now,

Joshua, Moses’ Right-hand Man

Born “Hoshea” to Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, Moses changed his name to “Yehoshua” which means “Yahweh is salvation”

We say Joshua because our English bibles mimic the Germanic transliteration, where the Hebrew letter for “Y” becomes “J” for us, because the Germanic tribes that are behind the English people, the Saxons, pronounce a J at the beginning of a word the way we pronounce a Y.

And the Latin versions use a J, not a Y, as in St. Jerome’s Vulgate translation of the Hebrew scriptures.

So Yehoshua becomes Jehoshua, but we are lazy and treat the H like it isn’t there, and it becomes Yoshua, which of course we say with a J, making it Joshua.

So there’s your little lesson in Hebrew-English transliteration for today.

Joshua has a long history in the story of Israel, and Joshua, interestingly, is the only Old Testament man who is presented to us without a history of sin or failure of faith.

That is also interesting because it is the shortened of Joshua Hebrew name that becomes “Yeshua” which is the Hebrew behind the name Jesus.

So, in his work for God, Joseph is an unusual character because he has few character flaws.

Joshua’s First Job: Moses’ Captain and Bodyguard

Joshua as Captain

Joshua shows up first in Exodus 17:9

The Amalekites had come out against Israel at the springs of Rephadim,

and when God told Moses he would blot our the Amalekites, God told Moses to have Joshua with him to hear God’s pronouncement against the Amalekites.

Joshua as Bodyguard

The next we hear about Joshua is when it is time for Moses to go up the mountain to receive the Lord’s Commandments, and Moses brings the mighty Joshua as his bodyguard:

Still fulfilling the role of bodyguard, but also learning to stand near when the presence of the Almighty visited Moses.

Joshua Guards the Tent of Meeting

This made Joshua perfectly suited for the role of protector of the tent of meeting when Moses came down the mountain.

All along, in Moses’ work with Joshua, he was mentoring the leadership qualities of Joshua so he would become ready for a second career in service to the Lord:

Joshua’s Second Career: Israel’s Leader in the Conquest of Canaan

In Deuteronomy, it is clear that Joshua is God’s choice for leading the people into the land, for Moses was not allowed to go in:

Joshua is God’s Man for the Conquest

First step then is to be sure that God has a call on his life.

And that was already clear to Moses.

In Deuteronomy, the call on Joshua’s life becomes a command from Moses to lead the people into Canaan:

Moses was denied access to the Promised Land because he acted in anger at the rock of Meribah, and did not exalt the holiness of the Almighty.

Moses knows how much the people need a leader.

And God answered clearly that he had chosen Joshua by his Spirit.

So we read how Joshua was now to be:

Commissioned and Confirmed by the Spirit of God

Now, if you had been sitting around the campfire hearing the elders recite these stories of their roots, you probably would have heard the succession of events that truly prepared Joshua for service.

It wasn’t just his call, and it wasn’t just his ability.

Something else is vital to make Joshua into the General of the Armies of Israel and the Chosen Leader for the nation.

Now, if you had been sitting around the campfire hearing the elders recite these stories of their roots, you probably would have heard the succession of events that truly prepared Joshua for service.

It wasn’t just his call, and it wasn’t just his ability.

Something else is vital to make Joshua into the General of the Armies of Israel and the Chosen Leader for the nation.

Inspired by God’s Spirit In Him

Not a secret solution to leadership succession, but a public declaration that Joshua was chosen.

He was first granted a little authority, under Moses’ care, but then the Job increased.

Until finally, after the death of Moses, Joshua is clearly made ready to pick up the reins and go into Canaan:

Getting Into Canaan

Supernatural Confirmation

Joshua Is God’s Leader for Israel

Now, the real work begins in the land of Canaan.

And for all those tasks that are ahead, we have a phrase that is repeated over and over.

Be Strong and Courageous

From Moses at Joshua’s commissioning:

From God at Joshua’s Commissioning

Repeated and Repeated By God, Entering Canaan

When the Commander In Chief Gives Orders

From Joshua to the Israelites at Gilgal

The Key to Strength and Courage is God’s Presence