The Commission for the Mission
#2 in Series: "Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future"
(A Study in the Book of Joshua)
Before diving into a text, we need to be reminded of the context of that text… The book of Joshua has a context… It is the first book that follows The Pentateuch… The Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible, is also called The Torah… Deuteronomy, the last book in the Pentateuch, records God's preparation and leadership of Israel up to Canaan… The book of Joshua records God's leadership of Israel into Canaan. The balance of the historical books (Joshua through Esther) covers Israel's history inside Canaan.
The nation of Israel's history begins with Abraham of course… There are about six centuries between the time of Abraham, and the time of Joshuah becoming the leader of Israel.
The leader of Israel, prior to Joshua was Moses… God gave the Pentateuch through Moses. Moses was the leader to bring the Israelites out of slavery to Egypt. But, as we saw last time, there was a 40-year period of wilderness wanderings before Israel was ready to cross over into the Promised Land… Moses has just died, and God has raised up Joshua, to follow Moses as the next leader for Israel!
Let's read our text for today. It is simply the first nine verses of the first chapter of this great book.
Joshua 1:1-9
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, 2 "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
Our approach may be considered simplistic, but I believe it is the best and most accurate way to study Scripture. This is exegetical, expository preaching. We think about God's Word, every word, every verse, every sentence – one at a time. We don't skip, alter, or redefine any of it! God's Word is to be received, believed, and applied by God's people – and that is our desire and attempt every time we come together…
The first point in our text is –
1. The Lord Reveals a Definite Change
Joshua 1:1-2a
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' servant, saying, 2 "Moses My servant is dead;
We already see that just as the Lord would speak to Moses, He speaks to Joshua… We are not told if it was in an audible way, but the prophets of old had no doubt that it was God speaking, and they knew exactly what He was saying!
In this case, the message is simple and direct – Moses is dead…
Everyone who has experienced the death of someone close to them, knows the sting of those words… They know those worlds usher in a change in their lives that will be … permanent.
Death brings change.
No longer will Joshua have the friendship, and companionship of Moses… No longer will Joshua have the council, or mentorship of Moses… In fact, what Joshua will have, is better than what he had in his relationship to Moses…
Horizontal relationships are vital for life. God made us social creatures. Some are more social than others, but we all need the companionship of family and friends. God made us for that.
But more importantly, God made us for the vertical! It is our relationship with God that not only makes life better here – it is our relationship with God that determines our … eternity!
Moses knew that. Joshua learns that. The people of God through the centuries have learned to live life in light of that truth!
The puritan, John Owen says this best –
John Owen – "We cannot enjoy peace in this world unless we are ready to yield to the will of God in respect of death. Our times are in His hand, at His sovereign disposal. We must accept that as best."
Next, let's consider how –
2. The Lord Gives a Direct Assignment
The Lord is speaking directly to Joshua, and after telling him that Moses has passed, He gives orders for Joshua to follow. Let's look at –
● The directness of His command
Joshua 1:2b
2 "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
There is no ambiguity in His Words. There is no subjectivity to His Words. They are direct and clear – "Get up and go! It is time!"
This is the "Promised Land" – the land God promised, in His covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:7, 13:14-15, 15:18-21) – and affirmed to Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 26:3, 28:13, 25:12)…
The promise is about to become reality – but there will be no reality without … obedience.
Joshua receives a direct command, that it is now time to go…
Let's look at –
● The scope of His command
Joshua 1:3-4
3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
Here is where we get … boundaries. The boundaries are The Mediterranean Sea to the west, the Euphrates River to the east, from the wilderness over to the Nile of Egypt to the south, and Lebanon to the north…
Let's press on, and look at –
● The assurances within His command
Joshua 1:5
No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
I see at least three assurances in this verse… There is the assurance of God's –
- Enabling power – "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life."
This is divine power, God's enabling power for the task!... This is not a statement about a man's innate abilities. It is a statement about God's enabling abilities!
We also see the assurance of –
- Abiding presence – "Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you;"
There is the secret to it all!... God is with Joshua. Joshua has been given the receipts! He can know what it means for God to be with a man, because he saw it in Moses!... This is consistency. This is stability!
There is also the
- Sustaining faithfulness – "I will not fail you or forsake you."
It is God's faithfulness – not man's – that makes the difference!... Remember that!... People will fail. We all do… God is the One Who remains faithful! He never fails!
Okay, God declared a change – Moses is dead. He has given Joshua some direct commands… Now, let's consider how –
3. The Lord Prescribes Significant Expectations
God issues His expectations of Joshua.
First, there are the –
● Expectations regarding attitude
Joshua 1:6a, 7a, 9a-b
6 Be strong and courageous… 7 Only be strong and very courageous… 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed…
God expects Joshua to embrace his assignment, and to do so with … courage. This is a repeated command, because God knows Joshua would have the tendency to … not be strong and courageous…
Listen, when God uses repetition, it is because we need that repetition… The Lord knows Joshua needs the … repeated words of encouragement!
Right this reference in your margin –
Psalm 103:14
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
God knows that Joshua needed the repeated call to courage… He also knows what you and I need… Are we listening – trusting – and obeying?...
Next there are the –
● Expectations regarding responsibility
Joshua 1:6b-7
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them… 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.
Joshua's responsibility boils down to … simply obeying God's Word! "be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go."
Though there are a lot of details in the responsibilities in life – most can be summed up in the simple and direct principle – obey God! Obey His Word!
We would avoid a lot of heart ache, disappointment, and unnecessary problems – if we would simply obey God!
This leads us to delve a deeper… Let's read about God's –
● Expectations regarding the Word
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
One will not follow the Word … if they don't know the Word. So, the Lord drives this home to Joshua with clarity and priority! "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it".
Get into the Word! Read it. Listen to it. Memorize it. Pray through it. Think upon it. Talk to the Author about it! – and obey it!...
And listen to God's promise to Joshua – "for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success."
This "success" is NOT what the modern day, false-prosperity-gospel guys are saying! Success is not measured by your imaginations. It is measured by – get this – God's … affirmations!
God determines what success really is! Success is defined by God, not you…
I believe MacArthur helps us here –
John MacArthur – "['Success' means] (t)he promise of God's blessing on the great responsibility God has given Joshua. The principle here is central to all spiritual effort and enterprise, namely the deep understanding and application of Scripture at all times."
And get this – God's Word and God's presence go hand-in-hand! God accompanies His Word! You meet the Lord in His Word! That is why verse :9 follows verse :8 – they go together!
8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
THAT is success! Walking with the Lord! Living life according to His Word! Enjoying His victories even in this fallen world when you do!...
Now in verse :5 we already saw a lot about God's assurances to Joshua! God gave the assurance of His power, presence, and faithfulness!...
We need to think further about this theme in the entire text. Let's lean further into this, and see how –
4. The Lord Promises Divine Assurances
Let's look at the many things the Lord has stated in this passage that are … assurances!
First, there is the assurance –
● Of His provision
This is the provision of … the land!
Joshua 1:2c, 3b, 4d, 6
2 … cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 … I have given it to you... 4 … will be your territory… 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Do we see it?... The land – the very land God has been promising for generations … is at their doorstep!
We also see the assurance –
● Of His protection
Joshua 1:5a
No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life.
They won't be able – because God will protect His Own!... This is the assurance of His protection!
Then there is the assurance –
● Of His presence
Look again at –
Joshua 1:5b … Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you
Joshua 1:9c … the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
The assurance of God's presence enables God's children to face anything!
What lies before Joshua is something much greater than Joshua! What the nation of Israel needed was not merely a man of wisdom – a man of courage and strength – what the nation needed in their leader was a man of God! A man who walks with God, listens to God, talks with God, and obeys God in everything!
Joshua – and the nation – needed the assurance of God's presence, and He emphasises His commitment to be with – and be Himself to – Joshua as he goes forward!
Now, there is at least one more "assurance" we need to consider in the text… It is the assurance –
● Of His perspective
This is interesting, and important – but it is also … subtle…
Think of the word perspective for a moment… Perspective has to do with how we see things – our outlook – our inlook, and uplook for that matter… What is the Lord saying to Joshua that should affect his … perspective?
Joshua 1:7b-8
7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
Think carefully about something the Lord says in the beginning of verse :8 with me…
Joshua 1:8a
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth…
The Word of God "will not depart from your mouth"... Are we getting it?... The Word will not depart from – it will not … leave him. The Word of God remains in his mouth – in his speech, because it remains in his thoughts! The Word of God … directs his thinking! It is Biblical worldview!
The perspective of Joshua upon his future is informed and directed by God's Word!... He has a Biblical perspective! A Biblical perspective directs thinking, desires, and actions!
THAT is the perspective we are to have upon life! God's people are to live life according to God's ways! We learn His ways from His Word – and we have more than His Word to guide us – we have God Himself!
Is that how you are living your life? Are you listening to – committed to – and faithfully following the Lord and His Word?
I came across a statement Arthur Pink wrote about perspective, and I believe it is summarizes well the truths we are gleaning from God's Word today –
A.W. Pink – "O to enter this new year with the realization that the one who loved me and gave Himself for me, accompanies me into it! Then why should I fear what may lay ahead of me? Whatever may be my circumstances, whatever changes I may pass through, whatever I may be called upon to bear - Christ Himself will be my constant companion! But only faith - not imagination or feelings - will be able to realize and appreciate His presence."
Questions to Consider in Community Group:
- What is most challenging for you in the opening verses of the book of Joshua?
- What is the message behind the words; "Moses is dead"? What may be being emphasised by these words? (Perhaps the fact that Joshua won't have Moses to lean on… etc.)
- What "assurances", specifically in verse 5 do you find most encouraging?
- What are the "expectations" the Lord requires of Joshua?
- How does one's perspective affect their attitude? What is meant by the phrase; Biblical perspective and why is it important for a Christian to make sure they are living life according to it?
- What are your thoughts about any of the quotes shared in the message?
- John Owen – "We cannot enjoy peace in this world unless we are ready to yield to the will of God in respect of death. Our times are in His hand, at His sovereign disposal. We must accept that as best."
- John MacArthur – "['Success' means] (t)he promise of God's blessing on the great responsibility God has given Joshua. The principle here is central to all spiritual effort and enterprise, namely the deep understanding and application of Scripture at all times."
- A.W. Pink – "O to enter this new year with the realization that the one who loved me and gave Himself for me, accompanies me into it! Then why should I fear what may lay ahead of me? Whatever may be my circumstances, whatever changes I may pass through, whatever I may be called upon to bear - Christ Himself will be my constant companion! But only faith - not imagination or feelings - will be able to realize and appreciate His presence."
