Prepare to Possess
#3 in Series: "Learning from the Past, Preparing for the Future"
(A Study in the Book of Joshua)
The Lord calls His people to focus on the future… We are to be forward focused.
We appreciate our past – especially for God's grace in our lives in the past.. We learn from the past. The past is preserved for us in our memories, in order to benefit us in our present. The past should encourage us to be faithful in the present! We have experienced the Lord's faithfulness in our past, which should serve to encourage us to follow Him for all He has in store for our future!
We glance at our past – but we gaze on our future!
With all that we have learned in our past, we should be determined to go forward into the future with the assurance of God's grace and faithfulness to strengthen, supply, and sustain us in what He has in store for the future.
This is a lesson that the children of Israel learned in the days of Joshua!... They learned lessons from their past – some of which were … hard lessons… They were determined to go forward, upon the Lord's direction, to embrace their future … in the assurance of the Lord's sovereign grace to go with them!
We are still in chapter 1, in our study of the book of Joshua, and today our text begins with verse 10… Last time, we learned of God's call and commission of Joshua to become the leader to lead God's people out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land… Moses is now in heaven, and Joshua is God's selection for the next leader of Israel.
Let's read our text –
Joshua 1:10-18
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.'"12 To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, 'The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.' 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise."
16 They answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."
We begin our study, by first considering –
1. The Call to Prepare
Joshua is now the appointed leader, tasked with the responsibility of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, conquering it, and possessing it… The Lord is not just going to "hand it over" to them. He will have them "work for it". There is a lot they need to learn about trusting, and following the Lord – and in the era of Joshua's leadership – it all starts now!
Joshua 1:10-11
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.'"
Joshua steps up to the responsibility God is placing on him… He is assuming command, and gives the orders…
As we think about what Joshua commanded the ranks, there are a couple of things in the text that should bolster the ranks in confidence!... Think about this with me. Israel can prepare, with confidence because of –
● The means already provided!
This may sound a little more subtle, but it should be obvious… The officers were to go through the whole camp and give the command –
Joshua 1:11b
'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan,
From where would they get these provisions?... Answer – God has already provided them! They already have what they need in their possession to obey the next step God is giving them to take!
There is a principle … a bit hidden here, that we need bring out – and it is this… Where the Lord guides, He provides!... He has already provided what they need to begin this chapter!
The word given is rather urgent – in three days they are crossing over and beginning the process of claiming the land.
There are no excuses – no objections – there will be no delay! Pack up, we're heading out!
The means for their task are already provided! It is in their possession…
We also see that they can have confidence, because of –
● The land being provided!
The supplies are already in their hands … and the same Lord Who has provided them, is the same Lord Who will be providing the land!...
Notice the language –
Joshua 1:11c
… within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it.'"
Underline; "is giving you"... That is present tense language! The land is being given now!... All that they are about to face – all that is in their future – is under the sovereignty of God! He is giving them the land!
And how will He give it?... Again, He just doesn't hand it over. They are going to … do battle!
In fact, the battles have already begun! Write down the reference; Numbers 21… Some time back, when Moses was leading the children of Israel, and before the "bronze serpent" incident, the King of Arad, a Canaanite, had already initiated the war! He, and his army, came out against Israel and captured some and took them captive…
What is awaiting Canaan, is just!
I like David Guzik's comments at this point –
David Guzik – "Ahead of Israel were many battles with the Canaanites, to take the land that God promised to Israel, and to carry out a unique war of judgment against the Canaanites. The tribal groups of Canaan were particularly sinful and depraved people, whom God literally gave hundreds of years to repent (Genesis 15:13-16). Just as God sometimes used other nations to bring judgment against Israel, in this period the LORD used His people to bring judgment against the Canaanites."
Listen to the exchange between the Lord and Abram, when He made the covenant with Abram to give his descendants this land –
Genesis 15:7-21
7 And He said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it." 8 He said, "O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?" 9 So He said to him, "Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a good old age. 16 Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete."
17 It came about when the sun had set, that it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,
"To your descendants I have given this land,
From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite."
The time has now come, to bring God's justice to bear upon these people, and land!... Joshua has just issued the command to prepare, they are about to go!...
So, we see the call to prepare. Next, comes –
2. The Call to Participate
Let's return to our text –
Joshua 1:12-15
12 To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, 'The Lord your God gives you rest and will give you this land.' 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them, 15 until the Lord gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise."
The Israelites are still on the east side of the Jordan… Land had already been won on that side, and promised to the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and half-tribe of Manasseh… Moses instructed them then, that they were to send their men over the Jordan with other tribes – conquer Canaan – and then they could return to their portion of the inheritance… When did Moses command them?... We read about it in Numbers 32…
This principle of "participation" – in helping others – is a theme throughout God's Word… It is a major theme in the life of the church!
I find it interesting that there are 100 times that you will find the phrase "one another" in the N.T.
| "One another" in the New Testament (100) |
|---|
| Matthew (2) |
| Mark (8) |
| Luke (9) |
| John (13) |
| Acts (9) |
| Romans (10) |
| 1 Corinthians (5) |
| 2 Corinthians (1) |
| Galatians (4) |
| Ephesians (5) |
| Philippians (1) |
| Colossians (3) |
| 1 Thessalonians (6) |
| 2 Thessalonians (1) |
| Titus (1) |
| Hebrews (3) |
| James (3) |
| 1 Peter (6) |
| 1 John (7) |
| 2 John (1) |
| Revelation (2) |
When there is a need in one member's life, it becomes a need in the body! Let me read several passages. There is really no need to comment, just let the Word of God speak, and let's be encouraged by this –
1 Corinthians 12:25-26
25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
John 17:22
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;
Romans 12:5
so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
Ephesians 4:3
being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Colossians 3:14
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Philippians 2:2
make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
So, we see the value and importance of the unity we have with one another, in Christ – and because of Christ… This unity is to be appreciated, and protected in Christ!
The nation of Israel was to be unified in their claiming of the Promised Land, and … in their exacting God's justice…
Joshua issued the call to prepare and the call to participate… Next, we see the response to Joshua's call by the people!... Let's look at this closely.
It is –
3. The Consecrated Promise
I chose the word consecrated to describe this point on purpose… When something is consecrated it is considered sacred, set apart unto God!... This promise isn't a mere horizontal agreement. It is a vertical commitment!
This is a spiritually ratified agreement!
Joshua 1:16-18
16 They answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."
There are at least three things we see within this promise that are essential for their being able to keep this promise…
First, there is –
● A consecrated unity
There has already been a lot said about unity in verses :12-15, but we see the principle being emphasized here in the promise being made!... Look closely –
Joshua 1:16-17a
16 They answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you;
This decision for unity wasn't made before Joshua alone… It had already been made before the Lord, and before Moses before he died…
We've already noted that Numbers 32 records the narrative of how these tribes asked Moses for the land east of the Jordan that had already been conquered by the Lord. Moses warned them to be faithful, and unified with the rest of the tribes, or the Lord would deal with them as He did their fathers who were unfaithful to obey the Lord's command to go and claim the rest of the Promised Land… Let's listen to their response to Moses. It's lengthy, but it's worth our time to read it here today –
Numbers 32:16-32
16 Then they came near to him and said, "We will build here sheepfolds for our livestock and cities for our little ones; 17 but we ourselves will be armed ready to go before the sons of Israel, until we have brought them to their place, while our little ones live in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the sons of Israel has possessed his inheritance. 19 For we will not have an inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this side of the Jordan toward the east."20 So Moses said to them, "If you will do this, if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for the war, 21 and all of you armed men cross over the Jordan before the Lord until He has driven His enemies out from before Him, 22 and the land is subdued before the Lord, then afterward you shall return and be free of obligation toward the Lord and toward Israel, and this land shall be yours for a possession before the Lord. 23 But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out. 24 Build yourselves cities for your little ones, and sheepfolds for your sheep, and do what you have promised."
25 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben spoke to Moses, saying, "Your servants will do just as my lord commands. 26 Our little ones, our wives, our livestock and all our cattle shall remain there in the cities of Gilead; 27 while your servants, everyone who is armed for war, will cross over in the presence of the Lord to battle, just as my lord says."
28 So Moses gave command concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers' households of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 29 Moses said to them, "If the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben, everyone who is armed for battle, will cross with you over the Jordan in the presence of the Lord, and the land is subdued before you, then you shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession; 30 but if they will not cross over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan." 31 The sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben answered, saying, "As the Lord has said to your servants, so we will do. 32 We ourselves will cross over armed in the presence of the Lord into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with us across the Jordan."
So, we see their promise begins with a commitment to consecrated unity!
Next, we see something interesting, and … crucial… Their promise contains -
● A consecrated condition
Now let's look carefully at verse :17… the condition is a little more than implied in the words –
Joshua 1:17b
… only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses.
This is more than a … blessing they offer to Joshua… There is certainly a blessing in the words "may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses" – but do you see the word; "only"?... "only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses"...
There is the promise that they will follow … that they can follow … only if the Lord is with Joshua like He was with Moses… They can follow, IF Joshua has God's Hand upon him, as it was upon Moses!...
This principle is also seen in the NT… Paul admonished the Corinthian Church in saying –
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.
He told the Philippian Church –
Philippians 3:17
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
These statements are not made in arrogance – they are made in assurance that following Godly examples, helps you follow the Lord!
There is a consecrated condition for following your pastors – for wives following their husbands – for children following their parents!... It's easier to follow … "only may the Lord your God be with you as He was with Moses."
Next, we see in their promise –
● A consecrated determination
Joshua 1:18
Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."
The people of God are taking their responsibility seriously! They expect of themselves to be faithful to follow the Lord's commands through His prophet – they expect each other to follow!...
(By the way – I appreciate the church discipline in the NT, over the "discipline" of the OT… But, the point is – mutual discipline in following the Lord is serious business!)
This section ends with the leaders of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, encouraging Joshua with the same words the Lord has already spoken to Joshua – "only be strong and courageous." (Joshua 1:6-7, 9)
One commentator said – "This is an example of God's people encouraging one another with God's word."
… We will see that for the next, nearly 20 years, the people will follow Joshua's leadership … for the Lord was with him, as He was with Moses…
May we have such determination, to encourage and challenge one another to faithfulness in following our Lord!
Questions to Consider in Community Group:
- What are the challenges, do you suppose, that Joshua now faces in becoming the new leader of Israel?
- Which principle identified in the message do you find most challenging – preparation, participation, or the promise?
- How does one know that the Lord is "with" their leader? What are indicators that the leadership is in fact following the Lord?
- What should churches, wives, children, or anyone who is under someone else's authority do, when it is apparent that their leadership is not following the Lord's Word in their leadership?
- How serious is "church discipline", and why should churches today exercise it?
- What else did you see in the passage that calls for application of Biblical principles in our lives today?
