Before Moses’ death Joshua was designated his successor (Numbers 27:15-23; Deut. 3:21-22; 31:1-8). Joshua had been Moses’ young aide for a number of years (Ex. 24:13; 33:11; Num. 11:28). Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Num. 13:8), and lived 110 years (Josh. 24:29).
What must it have felt like to take over for Moses? Joshua may have felt a sense of loneliness, and waited expectantly near the Jordan River to hear the voice of God. He was not disappointed. When God’s servants take time to listen, He always communicates. In the present Age He usually speaks through His written Word. But in the Old Testament He spoke in dreams by night, in visions by day, through the high priest, and occasionally in an audible voice.
But though Moses was dead, God’s purpose was quite alive, and Joshua was now the key figure to fulfill God’s program. His instructions were explicit. Joshua was to assume immediate command of all the people and lead them across the Jordan River into the land God was about to give to them. No one can question God’s right to give Canaan to the Israelites for He owns all the earth. As a psalmist later affirmed, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Ps. 24:1).
Though the land was God’s gift to Israel, it could be won only by hard fighting. The Lord gave them title to the territory but they had to possess it by marching on every part. The boundaries established by God and promised to Abraham (Gen. 15:18-21) and Moses (Deut. 1:6-8) were to extend from the wilderness on the south to the Lebanon mountain range on the north, and from the Euphrates River on the east to the Great Sea, the Mediterranean, on the west. The added expression, all the Hittite country, probably refers not to the extensive empire of that name north of Canaan but to the fact that in ancient times the whole population of Canaan or any part of it was sometimes called “Hittite” (Gen. 15:20). “Pockets” of Hittite peoples existed here and there in Canaan.
Thirty-eight years earlier Joshua had explored this good and fruitful land as 1 of the 12 spies (Num. 13:1-16; In that passage, he is called “Hoshea,” a variant spelling of his name). The memory of its beauty and fertility had not dimmed. Now he was to lead the armies of Israel to conquer that territory.
As Joshua faced the tremendous task of conquering Canaan, he needed a fresh word of encouragement. From personal observation Joshua knew that the Canaanites and others were vigorous people who lived in strongly fortified cities (Num. 13:28-29).
God gave that fresh word by assuring Joshua a lifetime of continuous victory over his enemies, based on His unfailing presence and help. The words I will never leave you (Josh. 1:9) may be rendered, “I will not drop or abandon you.” God never walks out on His promises.
Flowing from this strong affirmation that God would never let Joshua down was God’s threefold call to courage. First, Joshua was commanded to be strong and courageous (verses 7, 9, 18) because of God’s promise of the land.
Second, Joshua was again commanded to be strong and very courageous, being careful to obey all the Law of Moses. This command is based on God’s power through His Word. This is a stronger exhortation, indicating that greater strength of character would be required to obey God’s Word faithfully and fully than to win military battles! The emphasis in these verses is clearly on a written body of truth. Many critics argue that the Scriptures did not appear in written form until several centuries later but here is a clear reference to an authoritative Book of the Law.
To enjoy prosperity and be... successful in the Conquest of Canaan Joshua was to do three things with regard to the Scriptures: (1)The Law was not to depart from his mouth; he was to talk about it (Deut. 6:7); (2)He was to meditate on it day and night, to think about it (Ps. 1:2; 119:97); (3) He was to do everything written in it, to obey its commands fully and to act by it (Ezra 7:10; James 1:22-25).
The third call to courage addressed to Joshua was based on the promise of God’s presence. This did not minimize the task Joshua faced. He would encounter giants and fortified cities, but God’s presence would make all the difference.
No doubt, Joshua probably had times when he felt weak, inadequate, and frightened. Perhaps he considered resigning before the Conquest even began. But God knew all about his feelings of personal weakness and fear and told Joshua three times, Be strong and courageous. God also urged him not to be afraid or discouraged. These charges with their accompanying assurances (God’s promise, God’s power, and God’s presence) were sufficient to last a lifetime. Believers in all ages can be uplifted by the same three assurances.
The Lord had spoken to Joshua. Now Joshua was to speak to the people, which he did without delay. Provisions had to be gathered, for even though the daily manna had not yet ceased the people were to gather some of the fruit and grain from the plains of Moab for themselves and their cattle. The order to “prepare” was given by Joshua to the officers, who like present-day adjutants or staff officers relayed their commanding officer’s orders to the people. In three days the Conquest would begin.
SO WHAT? (what will you do with what you have read today?)
God said, Joshua, you've got a tremendous future ahead of you – but you’ve got to take hold of it – go after it! No ones going to just give it to you – you have to go after it. Well, there's a dynamic truth here for us – for our lives and our church: everything God has promised us is at our doorstep - but it's going to be a fight, a battle if we’re going to lay hold of them. I absolutely believe that God wants to pour out His blessing on this church and on your life, but it isn’t just going to happen. We’ve got responsibility!
It will be a battle if we are going to possess our future. How do you take hold of your future? By doing the same three things that God told Joshua to do in possessing his future.
#1. SET UP A PLAN.
v. 2-3 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan river. . . . I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses." Underline "get ready". God says, Get ready for the future! Prepare for the future! You must prepare if you’re going to take hold of what God has in store for you.
What is Joshua's response? v. 11a "So Joshua ordered the people `Get your supplies ready.”I want to tell you this morning, The future belongs to the person who prepares for it.
Proverbs 20:18 says "Don't go charging into battle without a plan." God is a planner, and expects us to be as well! God expects us to have a plan for out spiritual lives. How are you going to grow this year? What needs attention in your life? How about your family? Your marriage? (BOOK: The me I want to be)
Proverbs 13:16 (LB) says "A wise man thinks ahead". God says, if you want your life to count, plan it out!
Notice verse two "Moses, my servant, is dead." Underline this. One of the ways you prepare for the future is you let go of the past. Joshua and Moses were very, very close. Joshua had been with Moses for 80 years. He had been his understudy.
Now, Moses was dead. How would you like to replace Moses as leader? to follow him? I'm sure Joshua felt a little nervous about that. Yet, God said, "I have a plan for your life."
Sometimes we let past relationships and hurts keep us from possessing the future. It may be a death, a divorce, a betrayal – some deep hurt. God says, Let go of the past so you can get on with the present. He wants to work in your life and do great things. You will never possess your future as long as you perpetuate your past.
What do you need to bury? Let it go. For us as a church, we need to bury the hurt from old some failures. We’ve got to let it go! Folks, this is a new day. I want to challenge you to be forward thinking – let go of the past, stop talking about it. Moses is Dead!
#2. STAY IN THE WORD.
God says to Joshua, You're going to be in the battles for the next 20+ years, you're going to be fighting, and the Bible is your instruction manual for conflict. It is the manual for the battles of life. Notice v. 7 "Be careful to obey all the Law. Do not turn from it to the right or the left that you may be successful wherever you go."
Underline "don't turn from the right or left". He's saying don't get sidetracked. This is huge! Have you noticed how easy it is to get sidetracked today, as a Christian? To get off into other things that just aren't important? Things that don't really matter, that are trivial? I seen many people give their lives to Christ, get excited for the Lord, start out great and then they get sidetracked -- all of a sudden they get sidetracked - by their career, or they get sidetracked by sports, or a hobby, or a financial difficulty, or an illness,. They get sidetracked by a hurt or a bitterness - whatever. Somehow they lose their focus spiritually.
How do you prevent from swaying to the right or left? How do you prevent from getting sidetracked? God says you’ve got to stay in the WORD! That's the key. v. 8, one of the greatest promises of the Bible, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
How do you stay in the Word? Three ways:
"Don't let it depart out of your mouth." -- talk about the Word of God.
"Meditate on it day and night" -- think about the Word of God & memorize the Word of God!
"Be careful to do everything written in it" -- be sure to always do and obey it. Live out the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16 (Living Bible) "The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and helps us to do what is right." God's word "straightens me out", it shows me the path I walk on, how to walk on it. It shows me when I get off the path, it shows me how to get back on the path, it shows me how to stay on the path. How do make 2010 your best year ever? Stay in the word.
#3. STEP OUT IN FAITH.
I like the words "step out" because faith is an action. A lot of people think faith is just something you believe. Faith is more than mental assent. It's more than just knowing. It's an action. People say, I believe in Jesus. So what? So does the devil. Faith means you commit yourself.
Three times in this passage (v. 6, 7, 9) there's a phrase, "be strong and courageous" God says three times says to Joshua, Be strong and courageous! There's going to be a lot of things in your life that will distract you, discourage you, depress you - there will be people who disappoint you and let you down - but in spite of those obstacles – we are to be strong and courageous. People of faith.
Do you know why God is saying be strong and courageous? I’ll tell you why: The children of Israel have been wandering in the desert for forty years. Now, they're standing at the edge of the Jordan River, ready to cross over into the new land, knowing that the moment they cross that river it's an act of aggression against the seven countries that occupied the land.
Now you know why God is saying, “Be strong and courageous.” War was coming man! Now, let me ask you –do you think it’s going to be easy to grow this year? Do you think it’s going to be easy to set and reach some goals? Do you think it’s going to be easy to build this church? You think the enemy is going to sit back and applaud our efforts? NO WAY!
v. 9 "Remember I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Don't be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord, am with you wherever you go." Underline "afraid" and "discouraged". These are the two enemies that will prevent you from taking hold of your future. These are the two things that will keep you from becoming all God wants you to be -- fear and discouragement.
Fear keeps us from getting started. I don't even want to try. I could never do that. I’m not smart enough, not talented enough, not popular enough. It's fear that keeps us in the desert, in the wilderness, when you could be living in the promised land.
Discouragement keeps us from finishing. We think, I’m not making any difference. Nobody appreciates my effort. What’s the use? Discouragement keeps us from moving forward and finishing. Folks, this double powered whammy hits us -- fear and discouragement -- and they keep you from making our lives count. They keep you from being all God wants you to be.
What will you do with this foundational truth?
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