The Power Of God's Promises And Precepts Series

The Commissioning of Joshua

Joshua 1:1-9

Who is God? He is a faithful God.

How is He revealed in this text? In order to successfully settle in the promised land, God required Joshua and the people to obey His commands with strength and courage by putting their faith in His promises.

I. Introduction

A. Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Felt Need: Fear of doing God’s will

Deep Need: In order to successfully inherit the blessing of the Christian life, God requires believers to conquer the enemies of the soul with strength and courage by believing in His promises.

B. Outline

1. Joshua’s Kairos Event (1-2)

2. The Promises (3-5)

3. The Precepts (6-9)

D. Background

1. Joshua is about God’s faithfulness to His promises

This first section sets out the promises.

Read 21:45

2. I would reentitle this book “The Conquest of Joshua.”

God doesn’t just use him; He changes him.

There is an amazing climax in chapter 10 where we see a change in Joshua.

3. The entire book is a metaphor for us.

Joshua represents generally a man like us with typical struggles.

The conquest represents the struggle of believers to win the war against the enemies of our soul

The land represents, not heaven as so many gospel songs have told us, but spiritual rest, blessing, inheritance, the experi-encing of the goodness of God contained in His promises.

II. The Power of God’s Promises and Precepts

A. Joshua’s Kairos Event (1-2)

A "kairos" event is an event God uses to get our attention.

Joshua was a leader, and had a specific commissioning

Much of what is written here is for leaders

But in a broad sense, we’re all leaders in various parts of our lives.

1. Joshua’s Bio

Joshua’s given name was Hoshea; he was renamed by Moses.

Hoshea meant “deliverance.”

Joshua means “Jehovah delivers.”

He was Moses assistant from his youth (Numbers 11:28).

He was a mighty warrior (Exodus 17:8-16)

He defeated Amalek under Moses.

He had faith in God’s promises.

"And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, ’The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord’" (Numbers 14:6-9, ESV)

He wholly followed the Lord (Numbers 32:12).

But he seems to be in need of strength and courage at the beginning of Joshua.

Three times (verses 6, 7 and 9) God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.

Is this just a greeting, like “Live long and prosper?”

The people encourage him as well (verse 18).

What happened in the interim?

2. Israel’s Situation: “Moses is dead!”

Why did God say this?

"And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 12 and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel."

“Joshua, repent of your dismay and fear”

The time of mourning for Moses was turning into insecurity and fear.

3. God’s Vision

The land: inheritance, blessing, provision, goodness, delight.

21st Century Truth #1: Weakness, fear and dependency on human institutions and people will prevent us from appropriating God’s inheritance and blessing .

The things that hinder us from appropriating the inheritance God has for us are:

Our understanding of our own limitations: weakness and fear.

It’s actually a form of reverse pride if we say that we’re no good, that God can’t use us.

This is not humility.

However, we don’t overcome our weakness and fear with our own ability.

Our perception of our circumstances.

No one is God; even Moses failed, which is why he didn’t cross the Jordan.

We become dependent on others, or on our circumstances.

Increasing Absorption—Ronald Rottschafer, The Search for Satisfaction, p. 195

"Certainly in our stressful world we need to know where our safe harbors lie. But it is unsatisfying to remain in peaceful havens, sheltered from the excitement of the open sea. To remain too dependently attached to old habits and beliefs is to avoid life’s important adventures. People who are preoccupied with the tried and true often reject new experiences that could have developed their inner fiber. They restrict their ability to grow and cannot trust others or themselves—simply because they do not summon the courage to push on, despite their fears."