Joshua - A Leader for the People

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Joshua 1:1
The announced death of Moses. It would be hard to overestimate the importance of Moses to Israel. For forty years he had been their leader in religious, domestic, judicial, military, and civic concerns. With Moses’ death one era ended and another began. Now God address Joshua directly.

Moses’ death separates the Book of Joshua from the Pentateuch, Moses’ leadership had ended.

There is still a connection to the Pentateuch, because everything Joshua accomplished was the fulfillment of what God had begun with Moses.

Notice the links between Moses and Joshua in this chapter alone ( vv 1, 3, 5, 7-8, 13-15, 17 ).

“ Servant of the LORD ” no higher praise could be given, is a title shared by Abraham, David, and the Servant of the Lord in Isaiah. ( It is used most often of Moses: Exod 14:31; Num 12:7-8; Deut 34:5; and thirteen times in Joshua; “ my servant ” occurs twice ) Joshua was specially prepared and divinely appointed for this moment.

Joshua is called the “ son of Nun ” ten times in this book ( 1:1, 2:1, 23; 6:6; 14:1; 17:4; 19:49, 51; 21:1; 24:29 ). Nothing is known about Joshua’s father. Already in the Pentateuch Joshua was called “ Moses’ aide ” ( Exod 24:13; 33:11; Num 11:28 ). Only at the end of his life was he honored with the title “ servant of the LORD ” ( 24:29 ).

Joshua 1:2
Because of his disobedience, Moses was not allowed to lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land ( Num 27:12-14 ).

With his death God renewed his command for Israel to enter the land. The crossing of the Jordan marked Israel’s entrance to the Promised Land, just as crossing the Red Sea had marked their departure from Egypt.

Flood conditions and the presence of the enemy on the other shore made this a formidable undertaking. The land was always considered to be God’s gift to Israel ( vv 3, 6, 11, 13, 15 ).

The promise of the land, which was first given to Abraham in Genesis 12:7, is a major theme throughout patriarchal history and the Exodus, and in the Book of Deuteronomy. The fulfillment of that promise is in Joshua.

Joshua 1:3
Wherever Joshua went he would see success.

This is another tie between Joshua and the Pentateuch, especially Deuteronomy. The author has demonstrated that the work of Joshua is the fulfillment of the Pentateuch.

Joshua 1:4
The promise in Deuteronomy 11:24 ( Deut 1:6-8 ) is reiterated here, but the territory that Joshua and Israel actually conquered was not nearly so vast.

The literal and complete fulfillment of this promise was not known by Israel until the reigns of David and Solomon ( 1 Kings 4:21, 24 ) and then once again in the time of Uzziah and Jeroboam.

Both sides of the Jordan was promised to Israel ( Deut 11:24 ), there is another side that regards only the land west of the Jordan as the Promised Land. According to this latter view, the territory possessed by the two and one-half tribes east of the Jordan lay outside the Promised Land ( Josh 22:19 ).

In Deuteronomy 12:10, Moses stated that Israel would arrive at the land God promised them after they had crossed the Jordan. The word “ desert ” refers to the Negev in the south, and “ Lebanon ” refers to the Lebanese mountains. Palestine was referred to as “the Hittite country” by both Egypt and Babylonia even after the Hittites had withdrawn from the area ( Judges 1:26 ). “ The Great Sea ” is the Mediterranean.

Joshua 1:5
The conditions for the promise, “ No one will be able to stand up against you, ” are stated in vv 6-9. It was Israel’s failure to observe these conditions that caused their humiliating defeat at Ai ( 7:1-5 ), greed and disobedience was the down fall.

God’s promise, “ I will be with you, ” is most comforting and sweeping ( Deut 31:6-8 ). It would be the secret of Joshua’s success also, and it continues to be the secret of success for the church ( Matt 28:19-20 ). The conditions for this promise are found in vv 7-8 ( 7:12 ). The statement “ I will never leave you nor forsake you ” is a doubling for emphasis ( vv 7-9, 18 ).

Joshua 1:6
The command to be “ strong and courageous ” is repeated three times in God’s charge to Joshua ( vv 6-9 ) and again in the people’s reply to Joshua ( v 18 ).

Obedience to the command could only be through faith and trust in God. Joshua believed that God was giving the Promise Land to them. It was necessary for Joshua to keep focused on God to lead he and not try to rely on himself.

Possibility Joshua was intimidated by the greatness of Moses and the great responsibility he faces. Courage is emphasized in the Lord’s charge to him. This passage introduces the two major parts of the book: the conquest of the land ( chs. 1-12 ) and the division of the land ( chs. 13-21 ).

Joshua 1:7
“ The law my servant Moses gave you ” was probably some part or all of the Book of Deuteronomy ( Deut 1:5 where the contents of Deuteronomy are specifically called “ this law ” and Deut 31:9-13 ).

“ to the right or to the left ” is a graphic way of saying that no deviation would be permitted.

Joshua 1:8-9
Verse 8 demonstrates that God blesses his people when they obey him.

“ from your mouth ” refers to the custom of muttering while studying or reflecting. The Hebrew word translated “ meditate ” literally means “ mutter ”.

When one persistently mutters God’s Word to himself, he is constantly thinking about it. When reading they usually read aloud which could refer to the muttering. Although knowledge of God’s law is not enough; one must also “ be careful to do ” what it commands.

The law of God “ Everything written in it ” must be observed, because obedience to a portion is no obedience at all.

James 2:8-10
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Respect for certain parts of the law only, but not for the Lawgiver.

Joshua 1:10
Joshua had an organized chain of command by which orders quickly could be passed to the people. In this chain of command, the Lord was always over Joshua. He could be using the same system Moses employed.

Joshua 1:11
The supplies would have included the manna that God continued to provide until Israel crossed into the land ( 5:12 ).

Each man was responsible for his own supplies. Once the Israelites were in the land, they found a ready food supply standing in the fields, because the invasion was begun during the harvest season ( 3:15 ).

“ Three days ” means “ the day after tomorrow ” or “ in a few days ” ( 2:16, 22; 3:2; 9:16 ).

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Joshua 1:16
It seems that this paragraph deals with all Israel, the concern is the transfer of leadership to Joshua, and we would expect the entire nation acknowledge Joshua as Moses’ successor ( 1 Sam 11:15 ).

Joshua 1:17
The people pledged to Joshua the same allegiance that they had shown Moses.

The words “ may the LORD your God be with you ” could mean a condition for their allegiance. They seem to be saying, “ We will follow your leading so long as there is evidence that you are being led by God ” or they could mean a prayer.

Recap

Hittite country, land occupied by the descendants of a grandson of Noah through Ham.

As they enter the land they have a 12 mile wide path to cross the Jordan and they would need a space of about a thousand acres for all the people to camp.

Obedience to military leaders is necessary but what about church leaders?

After the Israelites cross the Jordan they fail to take all the land, they had the “ good enough “ syndrome and it was not until David/Solomon that they took the land.

Do we get the “ good enough “ attitude or do we give our all?

Is meditating on God’s word an assurance of prosperity?
or
The lack of prosperity show the lack of meditation?

God told Joshua “ Have I not commanded you? ” This does not give the option to pick and choose what we want to obey. When we try to “ pick and choose “ we are in judgment of God by telling Him He is wrong in what we don’t want to obey.

We must not just be a hearer we must be a doer, if God’s word does not change us we need to reassess our walk with Him.

Do we obey God’s will - unless; or is our trust in God by our obedience?

In the pass lessons we have seen obedience and disobedience and the consequences of both. Which do you want to follow? No; we will not get the same blessings but we will be blessed for obedience.

Your choice, if we follow the Lord we need to honor Him with our love and obedience.


Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven I pray we hear Your word “ You “and obey You without reservations and not pick and choose what we want or not want to do. I pray we follow Your lead with all our heart where ever You lead us. Thank You Lord.

In the name of Jesus. Amen

TGIF