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A LEADER FOR THE PEOPLE - Joshua 1:1-11, 16-17
by willetta pilcher KEY VERSE Jos 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. STUDY INTRODUCTION Covenant is a vital concept in both Old and New Testaments. The three units in this quarter all focus on God's covenant as manifested in communities. We will consider the persons whom God chose to be covenant leaders, the invitations God offered to enter into covenant, people's responses to the invitations, and the nature of God's new covenant community. All communities need leaders. Covenant people need leaders who are in touch with God's priorities. Our first unit takes us into the world of the Old Testament to meet four such leaders. We will notice that times change, but people do not. Customs are different, but principles are eternal. We meet Joshua in our first lesson, a man who had the unenviable task of following the revered Moses. Joshua's task was to lead the people into the promised land, to complete the task first assigned to Moses. Joshua was Moses' God-picked successor, but how do you follow a legend? How do you stay courageous? How do you stay focused on God? Joshua will show us. SCRIPTURE TEXT Jos 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spoke unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Jos 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. Jos 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. Jos 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. Jos 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. Jos 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them. Jos 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. Jos 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. Jos 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. Jos 1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Jos 1:11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. Jos 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. Jos 1:17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. LESSON OUTLINE 1. God's Call 2. Be Strong and of a Good Courage 3. Joshua Takes Charge LESSON THOUGHTS 1. GOD'S CALL Jos 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spoke unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Jos 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. Jos 1:3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. Jos 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. Jos 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. God never leaves His people leaderless. He always provides a leader. Joshua had trained under Moses' leadership and now that Moses had died, God places the leadership role upon Joshua. Some have suggested that that is not an enviable position. And that is definitely true. How do you follow in the footsteps of a great leader? It is most difficult because human nature is such that comparisons are always made and if one does not seem to measure up to the predecessor (in the minds of the people) criticism is sure to follow. Sometimes it causes leaders to second guess themselves creating questions as to their ability... a sign that they are depending on their own goodness rather than God's ability to direct them wisely. The promises to Joshua are full of hope for him and since they are the promises of God he can be assured of victory. Imagine if you will that you are given such a promise. "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." And yet, have we not, as Christians, been given such a promise? Luk 10:19-20 "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." There is a bit of caution in God's promise to us and that is contained in the last verse. We are not to become overly thoughtful about "our power" which is really not ours but God's. We are to keep our minds stayed on Jesus. Joshua was such a humble leader. He did not take glory unto himself but remembered where his ability came from. 2. BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE Jos 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them. Jos 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. Jos 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. Jos 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. Jos 1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Be strong and of a good courage is a command. Humble leaders are a must if God's will is to be carried out. Humility is NOT a weakness as many suppose. It is a strength that few attain to and about the time one thinks they have attained it, it is gone. Humility is that position which depends completely on God. That is what God was asking Joshua for... to have complete confidence in Him... This is good advice for us as believers. Stand strong on His Word! It is that secret that causes us to prosper... and no it does not mean getting "rich" in material things. It has to do with the ability to carry out God's program successfully. God has commanded Joshua to fulfill a task. So many people run around saying over and over... "I don't know what God's will is for my life." Well, just BE the best you can be in what you are now involved in walking in the knowledge that God is giving you victory over ever piece of ground you are covering. Stay in His word. Listen for His voice. Keep your mind stayed upon Him. He will do the directing and leading. THAT is God's WILL for YOU. Stop questioning "am I doing His will... am I going to make a mistake... am I.... sounds to me like you have what I call the "I YI YI's." DEPEND on His faithfulness NOT on Yours. Just be obedient to the best of your ability and God will furnish the rest! Perhaps I'm speaking to someone today. Be strong and of a good courage! Go forth in His name and He will supply what you need for this day! Questions, doubt and unbelief are not from GOD. Verse 10 is so important because it shows Joshua's willingness to be obedient. Joshua took command in the name of the LORD! 3. JOSHUA TAKES CHARGE Jos 1:11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it. Jos 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. Jos 1:17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Joshua now commands officers to carry out the task assigned. That is the sign of a strong leader. Leaders who must "do it all themselves" do not utilize others to help carry out God's commands and therefore "wear themselves to a frazzle" trying to do it all. Trusting others to carry out His command even as you are trusting the position God has called you to. The officers then proclaim... We will do all that you command. Just as we listened to Moses... we will listen to you. And then they bless him... "the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses." Leaders need to know their employees have confidence in them. SUMMARY Joshua proved to be a strong leader indeed. He hearkened to the voice of God and followed His direction. He faced many obstacles but God was faithful to His promise. Willetta has spent most of her life ministering to people. In her late seventies, and a wheelchair now her mode of travel, she now ministers to people through the internet. Her webs are... www.teachmethyways.org www.successwithkids.org www.theseedsower.org Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |