New Worship Time: 10 AM | Need Prayer? Text: 240-594-9600

JOSHUA- Pt1 | GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN KEEPING AN OLD PROMISE

    Jul 19, 2023 | by Mike Prah

    JOSHUA- Pt1 | GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN KEEPING AN OLD PROMISE| MIKE PRAH

    Joshua 1:1-18

    THE BIG PICTURE

    • Moses is no longer alive God charges Joshua with leading the Israelites into the Promise Land in accordance with the laws he gave to Moses. This is a massive task, but it is not impossible because of God’s promises and constant presence.

    • After all the land distributions were made, Joshua 21:43-45, reminds believers that God is faithful in keeping His promises.

    “So the Lord gave to Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had solemnly promised their ancestors. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the Lord helped them conquer all their enemies. Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.” Joshua 21:43-45 (NLT)

     

    GOD’S PROMISES

    “Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the Lord, who had appeared to him.” Genesis 12:7 (NLT)

    “At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants.” Genesis 28:13 (NLT)

    “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build.” Deuteronomy 6:10 (NLT)

    • The fulfillment of God’s promises is central to the Book of Joshua. It begins with a reminder that God promised to do something and ends with an affirmation that God fulfilled His promise.

    • The believer is correct in believing that the God of Israel, the God of the church, is the God who fulfills His promises.

     

    THE PERSON OF JOSHUA

    • Joshua is mentioned 27 times from Genesis to Deuteronomy (the Pentateuch). He is introduced as a warrior who fights for Moses and leads Israel to victory in Israel’s first war after the exodus from Egypt, against the Amalekites (Exod. 17:8–13).

    • In Exodus 24:13, Moses goes up to the mountain of God with Joshua, who is designated his assistant.

    • Joshua appears to have had a place at the tent of meeting. “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.” Exodus 33:11 (NIV)

    • When the spies are dispatched to explore the land of Canaan, we learn for the first time that Moses renamed him Joshua from Hoshea (Num. 13:16; also in Deut. 32:44). Moses’ act of renaming is comparable to God’s renaming of the patriarchs Abram (Abraham) and Jacob (Israel). In such situations, the quality of the person’s character or future role is discerned. (Hoshea implies tribal leader, Joshua means God’s salvation).[

    • In Deuteronomy 1:38 and 3:28, God commands Moses to “strengthen and encourage” Joshua because he will cause Israel to inherit the land.

    Joshua’s background exemplifies the preparation of a leader for Christian ministry. The leader is someone who, like Joshua, has already completed specific tasks successfully and who has distinguished themselves by their devotion to God’s Word and people. He is one whom God’s people recognize and, most importantly, God clearly chooses.

    1. GOD STILL SPEAKS TO US, ARE YOU LISTENING? (Joshua 1:1)

    “After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant.” Joshua 1:1 (NLT)

    Our God is a relational God, and one of His chief desires is to grow His relationship with humanity through regular communication. Throughout human history, God has initiated communication with humanity by speaking audibly to humans.

    • God speaks to us through the glory of His creation (Psalm 19:1-2; Romans 1:18-32)
    • God speaks to us through His Holy Spirit through dreams, visions, thoughts, and diverse ways (Matthew 10:18–20, John 14:26, John 16:13; Romans 8:26, Acts 8:29, 13:2). As you grow in faith and mature as a believer, you will learn to hear God speak. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, NIV).
    • God will use events and circumstances to speak with us.
    • God uses the people He has placed in our lives to speak to us. (See I Samuel 13:13–14, 15:23; 2 Samuel 12:7–15, Acts 9:10–18, 10:1–33, Hebrews 10:25) God may speak to you through a pastor, friend, a parent, or even a stranger. You should always confirm what you hear God say through others in the Bible.
    • Consistently, God continues to speak to us through the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 4:12).
    • God speaks to us through sermons and Godly teachers. Beware, that doesn’t conform to the Bible should be tossed away (Galatians 1:8).
    • The Testimonies of Other Believers and Our Own Experiences. Testimonies are another way to hear the voice of the Lord through everything He has already done. Even if we don’t recall the intricate details, we can remember how God has forgiven, guided, delivered, loved, and protected us. He has also provided for our needs and taken care of us.

    The question is: Are we listening? “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts ”Hebrews (3:15).

    2. OUR MISSION —“ARISE AND GO!”

    “The Lord spoke to Joshua … saying: “Moses, My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.” Joshua 1b-2 (NKJV)

    • Joshua had a mission to accomplish. He wasn’t just a caretaker of the people to merely maintain the status quo. God had a mission for Joshua to accomplish, and so did “all the people.” Everyone was told to “go.” Each person had a role.
    • It is important to follow God’s calling in our lives. God has given each of us a mission (or maybe more than one) to accomplish for Him. Joshua was not to sit in one place and drift along, reacting to the circumstances or opportunities around him. God told him to “arise.”

     

    • God wants us to arise as well! He wants us to stand up. He wants us to go. He wants us to fight the good fight, fulfill our calling and build His kingdom. Will you join His forces? Will you fight with Him? Will you win?

     

    3. GOD WILL GIVE US VICTORIES IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS (Joshua 1:3-5)

     “I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you— from the Negev wilderness in the SOUTH to the Lebanon mountains in the NORTH, from the Euphrates River in the EAST to the Mediterranean Sea in the WEST …’  No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.” Joshua 1:3-5 (NLT)

    •  40 years before, the people had been so afraid to take possession of the land and the blessings God had given to them, and as a result, died in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb, because they believed in God and were willing to obey Him (Numbers 14:6-8).

    •  40 years later the people had another chance. But it is a mammoth task. The same dangers and fears were present. How could they hope to defeat numerous nations stronger than they were and have victory? Their hope was based completely on God’s promise, “I promise you what I promised … I will be with you. I will not fail you or forsake you.”

     

    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) 

    “For the LORD your God is a merciful God; He will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which He confirmed to them by oath.” Deuteronomy 4:31 (NIV) 

    “David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you” 1 Chronicles 28:20 (NIV) 

    “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV) 

    “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV) 

    “May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.” 1 Kings 8:57 (NIV) 

    “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 1:13 (NIV) 

    “God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) 

    “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 12 You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you  will come to nothing. For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you” Isaiah 41:10,12-13 (NLT) 

    • What do these promises mean for us? Knowing that God will be with us, how should we approach the mission he has set before us?

     4. WE MUST BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS (Joshua 1:6,9)

      “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9 (NLT)

    •  Joshua was commanded to be strong and courageous. Courage is an attitude, a decision to keep pressing on even in the face of danger and doubt.

    • God would give us victory, but that didn’t mean that like Joshua, we don’t have to do anything.

    • Joshua had to boldly lead the people into the land and into battle. He had to boldly and with faith obey what God had commanded him to do.

     

    God calls all of us to be strong and courageous. In what areas do we need to be strong and courageous?

    • We need courage to resist the pressures of our family and society to make decisions that contradict Scripture.

    • We need courage to speak out against sin.

    • We need courage to identify as a believer and share the gospel publicly and live-out our Christian lifestyle

    • We need courage to obey God in the middle of trials without compromising.

    • We need courage to serve God even when it brings persecution.

    • We need courage to raise our children according to Scriptural principles even when others mock

    • Whenever God calls us to do something for Him, obstacles and opposition may come. We need

    • courage to push forward through them.

     How can we get more of this courage? Courage and faith are interconnected. If you believe God’s promises, then you will have the courage to act on them.

     5. OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND REFLECTION ON HIS WORD WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR COURAGE TO WIN VICTORIES (Joshua 1:7-8)

     “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:7-8 (NLT)

     

    Courage is closely connected with obedience. 

    • Courage grows when we meditate on God’s Word. God commanded Joshua to meditate on His Words Day and night. How could that help grow his courage?

    • Reading and trusting God’s Word reminds us of the character of the God we serve. That God is faithful to keep His promises.

    • God’s Word reminds us of the miracles He had before, which motivates us to trust and obey Him to do impossible things in our life. 227 times in the Bible, God reminds us to remember the things in His done in history.

    • When you are afraid, meditate on God’s Word. When you doubt, meditate on His Word. Memorize it. Think about it. The truth of God’s Word will drive away the lies of Satan and will give you the boldness to trust and obey God, which will lead to your victory.

     

    SUMMARY:

    •  GOD STILL SPEAKS TO US, ARE YOU LISTENING? (Joshua 1:1)

    • OUR MISSION —“ARISE AND GO!”

    • GOD WILL GIVE US VICTORIES IF WE OBEY HIS COMMANDS (Joshua 1:3-5) 

    • WE MUST BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS (Joshua 1:6,9)

    • OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND REFLECTION ON HIS WORD WILL STRENGTHEN YOUR COURAGE TO WIN VICTORIES (Joshua 1:7-8)

    [1] Richard S. Hess, Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 6, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 22.

    Previous Page