Introduction

Welcome beloved friends, to this sacred gathering, a time and place where we seek to commune with our Heavenly Father and understand His divine will for our lives. We are here today, not as individuals lost in the wilderness, but as a collective, a community of believers, united in our pursuit of the divine truth. We are here today, not to merely hear the Word, but to internalize it, to let it become a part of our very being, to let it guide us in our daily lives.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the Book of Joshua, specifically Joshua 1:2-6. This passage, my friends, is a vivid tapestry of divine instruction and assurance, a testament to God's unwavering faith in us, His chosen people.

The scripture reads as follows: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them."

Here, we see God's command to Joshua, a reassurance of His divine presence, and a promise of victory. As we reflect on this passage, let us remember the words of the great Christian theologian, J.I. Packer, who once said, "The life of true holiness is rooted in the soil of awed adoration." It is this 'awed adoration' that Joshua had for the Lord, and it is this same adoration that we must cultivate within ourselves.

Let us now bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for bringing us together in Your holy presence. We thank You for Your Word, which guides us and nourishes our spirits. As we delve into this scripture today, we ask for Your divine wisdom and understanding. Open our hearts, Lord, to receive Your truth. May we, like Joshua, find strength and courage in Your promises, and may we always seek to live in 'awed adoration' of You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Now, let us move forward, my friends, as we seek to understand the profound truths hidden in these verses. We shall focus on three main points: Mourning Moses' Mortality, Manifesting Moses' Mission, and the Mighty Mandate for the Masses. Let us seek the wisdom of the Lord together.

Mourning Moses' Mortality

We find ourselves in the midst of a transition, a shift from one era to another. The era of Moses, the great prophet, has ended. His life, a beacon of faith and obedience, has come to a close. The Israelites, having followed Moses through the wilderness, now stand on the precipice of the Promised Land, their hearts heavy with the weight of their leader's passing.

Moses was not just a leader; he was a servant of God, a conduit of His divine will. His life was a testament to the power of faith, the strength of obedience. He led the Israelites out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, and into the wilderness, always with the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. But Moses, despite his faith and obedience, was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. His journey ended on Mount Nebo, with only a glimpse of the land that was promised to his people.

The passing of Moses signifies the end of an era, but it also marks the beginning of a new one. Joshua, Moses' aide and successor, is now tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. The mantle of leadership has been passed on, and with it comes a new set of challenges and responsibilities.

Joshua, like Moses, is a servant of God. He has been chosen for this task not because of his own merits, but because of his faith and obedience. He has been with Moses since the beginning, learning from his example, absorbing his wisdom. Now, he must step into Moses' shoes and lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

The transition from Moses to Joshua was a shift in the narrative of the Israelites. They are no longer a people wandering in the wilderness; they are a people on the brink of fulfilling God's promise. They are no longer following Moses; they are now following Joshua. And while the leader may have changed, the mission remains the same: to enter and possess the land that God has promised to them.

The passing of Moses is a reminder of our own mortality. We are all, like Moses, on a journey. We are all, like Moses, servants of God. And we are all, like Moses, destined to pass on the mantle of leadership to the next generation. Our time on this earth is limited, but the work of God continues.

The transition from Moses to Joshua is also a lesson in obedience. Joshua, despite the enormity of the task before him, does not hesitate to step into Moses' shoes. He does not question God's command; he simply obeys. His obedience, like Moses', is a testament to his faith.

The passing of Moses, the transition to Joshua, and the impending entry into the Promised Land are all part of God's divine plan. They are pieces of a larger narrative, a narrative that is guided by God's hand. And as we reflect on this narrative, we are reminded of our own role in God's plan. We are reminded of our own journey, our own obedience, and our own faith.

Transition. Let us remember the lessons of faith and obedience that their lives teach us. And let us look forward to the fulfillment of God's promise, confident in the knowledge that He is with us, just as He was with Moses and Joshua.

Manifesting Moses' Mission

As we continue to reflect on the divine words spoken to Joshua, we find ourselves drawn to the mission that was entrusted to him ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO