THE LEADERSHIP DARE

6/3/2012

INTRODUCTION:

• Joshua is one of the most interesting and important portions of Israel's history.

Scofield: - Joshua records the consummation of the redemption of Israel out of Egypt; for redemption has two parts: "out," and "into".

Deuteronomy 6:22-23

22'Moreover, the LORD showed great and distressing signs and wonders before our eyes against Egypt, Pharaoh and all his household; 23 and He brought us out from there in order to bring us in, to give us the land which He had sworn to our fathers.'

NASB

• Without Joshua, what precedes it would be incomprehensible and what follows it would be unexplained.
• The Lord to Joshua (1: 1 – 9)
• Joshua to the People (1: 10 – 15)
• The People to Joshua (1: 16 – 13)
• A key thought of Joshua is possessions with a key verse in 1: 3.

1.     RELY ON THE LORD’S PROMISE (JOSHUA 1: 1 – 5a)

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.

NASB

            1 Corinthians 10:11

11 Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

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• In this passage, Joshua receives his commission from God.
• Having gotten his instructions from God, Joshua did not delay in doing what God told him.

• So we are given to understand that we are to think of the land of Canaan as a type of the present blessings that are ours in Christ.
• And to see in the wars of Israel a picture of the Christian’s conflict. 
• Israel's inheritance was of an earthly character. 
• We might say they were blessed with all temporal blessing s in earthly places in the land of Canaan.
• We, according to the epistle to the Ephesians, are blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

2.     RELY ON THE LORD’S PRESENCE (JOSHUA 1: 5b – 9)

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."

NASB

• It is as we weigh carefully what god has revealed that we obtain from it.
• We should study the word of god before we begin to make spiritual decisions.
• We as believers need to possess our spiritual possessions by faith.
• We are in enemy territory no less than was Joshua.

3.     RESPOND WITH OBEDIENCE (JOSHUA 1: 10 – 15)

3A. (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.'"

NASB

·         At long last this generation was to do what their fathers had refused to do.

·         There is no evidence of hesitancy on their part.

·         They had learned from the mistake of the previous generation.

VERSES 12 - 15

12 And 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. "

NASB

·         Joshua based his program on that of Moses.

·         Continuity extended from Moses to Joshua and, humanly speaking, it, in large measure explained the willingness of the people to follow Joshua.

4.     RECEIVE AFFIRMATION (JOSHUA 1: 16 – 18)

16 And 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.

·         This sets a fine example for us, for we should pray for our spiritual leaders that God would bless them with his divine guidance.

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."

NASB

·         We see Joshua’s leadership being accepted.

·         They did this, not so much because of the man he was, but because they saw him as god's chosen person for the task. 

·         Loyalty should not be given primarily to a man. That belongs to God.

·         However, we can show our respect for the one god has chosen to be his undershepherd of the flock.