Joshua's Courage and Challenges in Living for God

Outline for Joshua 1 a. God is always concern in how His people would live for Him b. 2 kinds of courage Foolish kind of courage (Numbers 14:11-44) - - - God-inspired courage God is the promise keeper (Joshua v3,6) God s presence with His people (Joshua v5, v9) God s prescription for success (Joshua v7,8) c. Observing Moses law would lead to victory; disobedience would lead to defeat (Joshua 1:8) d. Reflection (Christian Living) What intimidates you and stifle your courage to live for God today? How can you hold on to God s inspired courage from His promises, presence and prescription for living for courage?

The Big Picture God rescues Israel from Egypt, declares them to be his people through Moses God promised Abraham a land, a nation, and blessing to the rest of the nations through him. This promise land is not fulfilled until the book of Joshua. (As God s saved people, Israel are to worship only Himself and live according to His laws. To keep them from sinning) Exodus and wilderness Israel in Egypt (Genesis 12) - Conquering the land Dividing the land Covenant loyalty God looks His creation & he declares it good. He blesses human with His creation under His rule but they rebel with a heart of - Disobedience - Unbelief Because of unbelief & disobedience, God disciplined Israel for forty years until the unbelieving generation died off (Num 13, 14) - Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6) -

A consistent pattern.. God is always concern in how His people would live for Him Know &Trust His Righteous Character Worship Him as one true God Joyfully Obey His commandments Enjoy His blessings & be a blessing to others

Persevere to the last breath; and that very last breath is called courage

26They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.27They gave Moses this account: We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. What are Joshua s challenges (1) Inhabitants of the land of Canaan - - - Powerful enemies Fortified cities Giants 28But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.29The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan. 30Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it. 31But the men who had gone up with him said, We can t attack those people; they are stronger than we are. 32And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.33We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them. (Numbers 13:26-33) What are Joshua s challenges (2) The readiness of His people?

6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes7and said to the entire Israelite assembly, The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.8If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.9Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them. (Numbers 6-9) Who is Joshua? God-fearing, God-pleasing, God-trusting man

11The LORD said to Moses, How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 30Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. 33Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. 39When Moses reported this to all the Israelites, they mourned bitterly.40Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country, saying, Now we are ready to go up to the land the LORD promised. Surely we have sinned! 41But Moses said, Why are you disobeying the LORD s command? This will not succeed!42Do not go up, because the LORD is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,43for the Amalekites and the Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword. 44Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the LORD s covenant moved from the camp.45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and The foolish and God-deviant kind of courage

The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock.2So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said,3 Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Neb o and Beon 4the land the LORD subdued before the people of Israel are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock.5If we have found favor in your eyes, they said, let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan. (Numbers 32:1-4) What are Joshua s challenges (3) Would Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh honor their pledge in the military conquest? At first, Moses initially opposed to the idea of some tribes staying east of the Jordan. He thought these tribes were dishonoring God by attempting to avoid helping their fellow Israelites in the military campaign to conquer Canaan. However, these tribes responded with a pledge to help: We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. But we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place (Numbers 32:16 17)

10Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,11who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land.12For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel. What are Joshua s challenges (5) Would Joshua be able to continue Moses legacy? (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses aide:2 Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. 3I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates all the Hittite country to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. How could Joshua be strong and courageous? God is the promise keeper (v3,6) God s presence with His people (v5, v9) God s prescription for success (v7,8) As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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.9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses aide:2 Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. God is the promise-keeper! 3I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates all the Hittite country to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.5No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. Moses and Joshua, at the end of their lives, were each called the servant of the Lord by God Himself (Joshua 24:29). These gifted and mighty men were servants. God is the master & the lead character - Delivered from slavery - Conquest of the promised land As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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.9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. U don t need Moses, you need Moses God I made the promises. I will fulfill it

5As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. God s presence with His people (v5, v9) includes 6Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. His protection. His provision. His power. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

When GOD wanted to create fish, he made the sea. When GOD wanted to create trees, He made the earth. But when GOD wanted to create man, He turned to HIMSELF. Thus GOD said: "Let us make man in our image and likeness". If you catch a fish out of the water, it will die; and when you remove a tree from the ground, it also dies. Similarly, when man disconnects from GOD, he dies. We were created to live in HIS presence.

Gods prescription for success (v7,8) 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. Victory not determined by weapons, war strategy or sheer size of the army 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Always on his lips (read and speak of it), Meditate on it day and night (in his mind), 8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. Do everything written in it (in his actions). = Whole-heartedly guided by the word of God 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Observing Moses law would lead to victory; disobedience would lead to defeat.

How did Joshua respond to God? 10So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:11 Go through the camp and tell the people, Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own. Joshua responded in obedience Joshua honors God s faithfulness Joshua does not take credit for himself

12But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,13 Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land. 14Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them15until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise. 16Then they answered Joshua, Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.17Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.18Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous! How did Israel respond to a leader who honors God? They responded in obedience They responded in unity

The right source of strength and courage Strength & Courage comes from trusting God s promises Strength & Courage comes from depending on God s presence Strength & Courage comes from obeying God s prescription for living

How can Christians continue to dwell in Gods promises, presence and prescription for living? (application) God s promises, presence and prescription for living is not limited to Joshua, as we can find in other books of the bible. While the promises Be strong and courageous I will be with you was specific to Joshua in this book, the principle extends to us today. This promise is not limited to Joshua as we can find in other books of the bible. The same words are used in Isaiah 41:10, fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed those two words, don t fear and don t be dismayed, for I am with you. In the New Testament, we find the apostle Paul telling Timothy, The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you reminded us Christ s faithfulness and therefore to live a life of holiness (Hebrew 13)

Reflection What intimidates you and stifle your courage to live for God today? How can you hold on to God s inspired courage from His promises, presence and prescription for living for courage?