Joshua 1 Be Strong and Courageous - with Sermon notes.

Be Strong and be Courageous

Joshua 1

Intro: Transitions are never easy. Some are easier than others, like when you get married, that’s a transition that you have been waiting for, and are actually looking forward. But when you change jobs, or move house, those are transitions that take a bit of effort to get used to since they may be unexpected transitions. Today we will see the transition from one leader to the next, and the transition of a whole nation from one place where they have grown comfortable, to a place where they must fight to posses it, but it’s a better place all together. Above all, we will see how God works out his promises in us, and how we are to be faithful and obedient to what he has said.

1. Announcement of a new leader.  Vss. 1-6
Vs. 1.What a way to start a book…by announcing the death of Moses. But this is needed to make a clean break from the time of Moses, to Joshua as the new leader. Who is Joshua? He is first mentioned in Ex. 24:13, and is commented to be always close the tent of meeting, cf. Ex. 33:11. He already had been publicly commissioned as the successor of Moses, cf. Nu. 27:18. He is called here Moses’ aid, but at the end of the book, he is also called “servant of God”, cf. Jos. 24:29. Vs. 2. Joshua knew his commission, he had been encouraged to take over God’s people way before in his life, Det. 1:38; 3:21-22; 23:28; 31:7-8, and finally, Deut. 34:9. So much encouragement needed, why? If you read what Moses went through with the people of Israel, to take such a task, was a real burden. Vs. 3. “I will give you” in the NIV, the NRSV and ESV translates it better, “I have given you”. This brings us back to Genesis, specifically Gen. 12 and 15:18, where the land is promised to Abraham, but also to Deut. 1:7: 11:24, where the promised is reaffirmed. Vs. 4. Wow, what a vast amount of land. This would include “the whole Jordan, large part of Saudi Arabia, half of Iraq, whole of Lebanon, part of Syria, and the whole of Kuwait. However, this was never achieved, not even when King David and Salomon were reigning. Why?? The Book of Hebrews gives us the answer, unbelief, cf. Heb. 3:19. Faith = Obedience. Unbelief = Disobedience. In the book of Hebrews we are told that they did not entered the land, and therefore, did not rest. Vs. 5. We are also conquerors, Rom. 8:31, 37. God’s promise of his presence is given to us as well, Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5-6 that quotes Psalms 118:6-7. Vs. 6. Be Strong and be Courageous. This is repeated here, and in vss. 7, 9, and 18. Notice, the land was already theirs, they are “inheriting”, not just taking from the people who were already there. It is because of God’s promise, that they are taking the land, not because how good they are.

2. Keep the Word to Prosper. Vss. 7-9.
Vs. 7 The way to succeed in the conquest of the land is to obey the word of God. Courage and Strength alone won’t do it. Not to go to the left or to the right, echoes Deut. 5:32 and 28:14 (the curses and blessings). For us today, we are also called upon gazing only at the word of God, II Pet. 1:19. It’s the only thing than can really make a change in our lives, 2 Tim. 3:16-17. NIV (servant), ESV (man), NRSV (everyone). It can work in everyone, no matter if in leadership or not.  Vs. 8. “Meditate”, is actually, murmuring. Do we murmur the word of God during the day? Day and night, echoes Psalm 1:2. Our faith does not grow through miracles or visions, or dreams, although these may help, but on hearing the word of Christ, Rom. 10:17. The key to prosperity is keeping the Word of God, no other thing will do.  Vs. 9. Just as Joshua and the people of Israel are called not to be afraid if they are standing upon the word of God, so do we. God’s promises are enjoyed when we are obedient, because our faith shows itself in our works, cf. James 2:21-26. We are then, strengthen by the Lord, Eph. 6:10; 2 Tim. 2:1; Phil. 4:13.

3. Joshua’s call to enter the land

Vss. 10-11. We see Joshua implementing the word of God right away. Vss. 12-15. Some had already been given land, and a treaty had been made for them to come over and help their brothers and sisters to conquer the land, cf. Num. 32. Maybe you here feel that you have achieved and done much in church, and want to let others go on to fight for the development of the church. Let me tell you, you still have a role here, by your attendance, mentoring, offerings, and guidance. You’ve been here longer than some of us, and we still need your wisdom. Vss. 16-18. It seems that the Israelites did not want to make the same mistake that kept them out of the Promised Land for 40 yrs, that saw their parents die, cf. Num. 13-14. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones showing faith along with Moses, cf. Num. 14:6-9, and therefore, only them from that generation went into the promise land. Do you see the importance of faith? If we have faith, no matter how big the giants may be, we will trust in the Lord to bring them down for us. Vs. 17. This second generation, had followed Moses, not rebel like their parents. They were now committing to follow Joshua. Vs. 18. Such is the loyalty that whoever would rebel against Joshua, would be put to death!! This took place in the case of Achan’s sin, cf. Jos. 7. However, he is also encouraged by the people with the very same words God had given to him, cf. Vs. 6, 7, 9.

Conclusion. Jesus is the one who leads us in this church. Yet, he appoints leaders to take us where he wants this church to be. May the leaders that are appointed be faithful to the word of God so this church may prosper and succeed. And may all of us, no matter how old, how young, where we are from, etc, support the leaders given to us by God, as long as they are faithful to his Word.