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Joshua – Lesson 1

Joshua Chapter 1: 1 - 9

Introduction:

If you look at the Book of Genesis, the nation of Israel was born. In the Book of Exodus Israel was chosen. In the Book of Numbers, the Nation was proven. In the Book of Leviticus it was brought nigh by the blood. In Deuteronomy it was instructed. Now in the Book of Joshua it faces conflict and conquest. The book of Joshua completes the redemption of Israel that was began in Exodus. Exodus showed the redemption out of Egypt; Joshua shows the redemption into the Promised Land. We know that God gave the children of Israel the land in an unconditional covenant. (Gen 17:8) Gen 17:8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. We know that Joshua was the successor to Moses. He was born a slave in Egypt. He was 40 years old at the time of Exodus out of Egypt and 80 years old when he received the commission from Moses to lead the people out. He lived to be 120 years old. Joshua was a great warrior, and only he and Caleb were men that started out in the wandering and ultimately entered into the Promised Land. Only the two of them came back with a positive report of the land when the 12 spies were sent in to spy out Canaan.

In the first 12 chapters of Joshua, we will see the people entering the Promised Land. In chapters 13-21, we will see the land divided.

Josh 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

Josh 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

Josh 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

Josh 1:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

Josh 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Josh 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Josh 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Josh 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Israel was camped near the upper part of the Dead Sea just opposite the side of river where Jericho lay. It had been 40 years since the Israelites had left Egypt, and it was now spring of the year, called the month of Abib (our April).

  1. The Commandment of God to Joshua

Josh 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

We see that the book opens right after the death of Moses. His death was a heavy loss unto Israel because he had been a great leader. Through him the people had been delivered from the cruel bondage of slavery over in Egypt.

Moses was a great leader and his death was viewed as a great loss.

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Rom 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Rom 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Human leaders eventually die, but Praise God, our God and Father lives forever.

Deu 34:8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

We see that the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for many days. His loss was great, and God now needed a strong leader to step forward to lead the people.

Moses was a great man. While he made some mistakes as all men before him (and after except for Christ), he was still viewed as a great man by God. God called him "the servant of the Lord". There is no greater

Title that God could give us. Joshua was the Minister unto Moses. We see the work of God does not stop by the death of Moses. No matter how great a man may become, God can continue His work after that servant’s death. Moses could not bring the children into the land because God would not allow it. Moses represented the Law, and the Law can not save us. The Law is a revealer of our true condition, not a redeemer. The Law was never a Savior. The problem wasn’t the Law with Moses, but just like us, the problem is us. The Law is a revealer of our fallen nature before a Holy and Righteous God.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Joshua was a type of Christ in typification. He was a Savior to the people at this time and led them to the promised land. Only Jesus can lead us to Heaven. It is important to realize that the Promised Land WAS NOT a type of Heaven because heaven is not a place of conflict and conquest. Heaven is received as a gift of the grace of God. Rather, the Promised Land represents the place to which believers are brought right here in this world today. We still face battles, but by the help of God, we overcome and conquer.

Just like God was with Joshua, He is with you and I today. This should encourage us to never give up, but go forward in our Christian walk just like Joshua and Israelites did at this time. It is important to note that Joshua did not rush into things, but waited on God’s timing to begin leading the people.

1 Ki 17:3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Ki 17:4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

1 Ki 17:5 So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Ki 17:6 And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

1 Ki 17:7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

1 Ki 17:8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

1 Ki 17:9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

When God took care of Elijah, Elijah had to go where God told him when he told him. Joshua waited on the call of God. We need to be sure that we are going at God’s pace in our lives, not two steps ahead or four steps behind.

 

2. Josh 1:2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

This was the appointed time for Joshua to lead the people over Jordan. The commission was from God and directly to Joshua. When a man is called into the ministry, it is a direct call from God, and only that man can truly know that call. Joshua was to go over with all the people as head of the nation.

 

3. Josh 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

God wanted it to be clear that the land was a free gift to the people. Like salvation, the people did not earn the land, God just gave it to him. Many today want to do something to make God impressed with them so that they can earn salvation. Unfortunately, we will never be saved with this type of attitude. It is all of grace, not of our works.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Just like the people did nothing to merit the heritage, we have done nothing of ourselves that allows us to become the sons of God, and joint-heirs with God through Christ.

 

4. Josh 1:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

God gave the people the boundaries of the land.

Gen 10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

There are physical boundaries, and a man or woman has a boundary of life. We will not live one second longer than God has allotted for our lives. Our bounds are set. What a warning to be sure we use each day fully to glorify God, because today may be our last day on earth.

 

5. Josh 1:5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Josh 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

God promised to be with Joshua and give him victory. Notice how many exhortations there are in the first chapter to "be strong and of a good courage." He tells Joshua to not fear, be strong and courageous. Don’t get rattled when things don’t go right. I am God and I will fight your battles for you. Jesus has made that promise to you and I when we take his yoke upon us.

Mat 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

 

What a promise from God that he will give us rest and carry our burdens. Note all the promises in verses 5 and 6.

Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Heb 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

God promised to drive out the Canaanites little by little.

Exo 23:29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee.

Exo 23:30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.

By God delivering them little by little, the nation had to depend wholly on God. When God provides for us day by day, we have to keep looking to him. And I promise you he will never fail to provide for your needs. We need to depend less on self and more on Christ.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

6. Josh 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

We see that Joshua was to be guided totally by the written law and word. No man prior to Joshua had been commanded to regulate his conduct by the words of a book. Abraham did obey God’s voice in keeping the commandments and Moses acted by Divine authority, but each received their instructions directly from God.

 

Joshua and all men who follow after him, must be governed by "This book of the Law" which means ALL THE BIBLE. To Joshua, this meant the first 5 books of the Bible, because that is all they had. Joshua was not to turn from the left hand nor to the right. We have many today that want to steer their own course. A leading denomination came out in the paper this week and said we should have greater tolerance for homosexual children. I don’t really have a problem with being sensitive and trying to reach a child who has strayed from God and get them to repent and get right with God. Homosexuality is a sin and like other sins it can be forgiven. What I have a problem with is that they went on to say that there was no condemnation directly of homosexuality in the Bible. Now that is veering left or right, because my Bible openly condemns the sin. Few cities have been destroyed totally because of sin, and Sodom and Gomorrah were wiped off the earth for the sin of homosexuality. We need to not be harsh and mean to homosexuals, but they need to be dealt with love and compassion to show them the error of their ways and to see how God views sin.

Joshua was promised that he would prosper if he stayed with the Word of God. You and I have that promise today too. Joshua was to not let the word depart out of his mouth. He was to meditate on God’s law day and night.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Psa 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

 

7. Josh 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

We see that God would be with him wherever he went. Jesus is with you and I that know him as Savior today, and I believe we have guardian angels that watch out for our welfare. And the church has been given a promise that we can take to the bank just like the promise God gave to Joshua.

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

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