Evidence Of Things Not Seen

A. Joshua 1:10-18 [ NKJV ]

Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.'"

And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh Joshua spoke, saying, "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commaned you, saying, 'The Lord your God is giving you rest and is giving you this land.' Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valor, and help them, until the Lord has given your brethren rest, as He gave you, and they also have taken possession of the land which the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrise."

So they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you command us we will do, and whereever you send us we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage."

1. Joshua acts decisively upon being commissioned by God.

2. The "deal" cut between Moses and the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh is detailed in Deteronomy 3:1-20.

a. "Joshua was concerned that Israel be a united people in conquering the land and in worshipping the Lord. The two-and-a-half tribes did keep their promise to help conquer the land, but they still created a problem for Joshua and Israel because they lived on the other side of the Jordan." ( Joshua 22) ( Warren Wiersbe: Be Strong )

b. It should be noted that Moses made a concession in allowing these tribes to settle east of the Jordan. Historically they would remain far from the Temple and were not readily seen by some as citizens of Israel. It appears that they liked this land because it seemed "a place for cattle." (Numbers 32:1,4,16) Did they settle for less than God's best for them? Many of us, unfortunately, do that very thing.

3. The encouraging endorsement of Joshua's leadership (v.16-18) would indicate that these men acknowledged and accepted God's a __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ in the person of this man.

a. They promised complete o __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __.

b. They invoked God's b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ on him. This is nothing less than intercessary prayer.

c. They encouraged him with God's own w __ __ __ __. The term "Be s __ __ __ __ __ and of good c __ __ __ __ __ __" appears four times in the first chapter of Joshua!

ref: Ephesians 6:10

Be s __ __ __ __ __ in the Lord, and in the p __ __ __ __ of His m __ __ __ __.

B. TEXT: Joshua 2:1-24

1. Our sermon title is taken from that well-known passage, Hebrews 11:1. Now faith is the s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of things hoped for, the e __ __ __ __ __ __ __ of things not seen.

a. This powerful definition of faith takes our understanding of that concept far beyond the weak and insignificant things we sometimes associate with "faith."

(1) h __ __ __

(2) w __ __ __ __ __ and d __ __ __ __ __

(3) p __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

b. Joshua 2 presents us with two faith perspectives to consider this morning.

(1) the faith of J __ __ __ __ __

(2) the faith of R __ __ __ __

2. The Faith of Joshua (v.1)

a. In the face of God's bold promises made to the new leader of the nation of Israel in Joshua 1:2-5, does his "caution" in 2:1 seem a little disappointing? Does his sending out spies betray a "secret" belief that any military success Israel may enjoy will depend on his organization, leadership and planning?

(1) Is what we see here really a l __ __ __ of faith?

(2) Does his action represent the presence of d __ __ __ __ regarding God's promises?

b. Is the presence of faith -- authentic faith, the gift of God -- an excuse for lack of careful planning? For example, I know that God has promised to provide me with the basics of life (Matthew 6:25-34). Does my decision to take a job to earn the money to buy those things reveal a lack of faith on my part?