How Brave Are You, Really? (Joshua 1:1-9) Series

This morning, we start a new series on Joshua. Rather than explain anything, immediately, let's just dive right in. Joshua 1:1:

(1) And then, after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, Yahweh spoke to Joshua son of Nun, servant of Moses, saying,

(2) "Moses my servant has died,

and so then, rise! Cross over this Jordan-- you and all this people-- to the land

that I am giving to them-- to the sons of Israel."

Moses was, overall, a great leader for Israel. He was a faithful servant of Yahweh; He was a faithful servant of Israel. But in Numbers 20, he sinned against Yahweh in how he brought water out from a rock. And Yahweh made a promise to Moses, at that time, that because Moses sinned, he wouldn't personally get to enter the promised land. And Yahweh keeps his promises. He is a God of his word.

So when we read Yahweh's words to Joshua in verse 1, we understand them in light of Numbers 20. Our book starts on a very sober note. Israel couldn't cross over until Moses had died. God expects obedience.

Now that Moses is dead, in verse 2, Yahweh gives Joshua two commands. Get up! Cross the river!

The Jordan isn't a really impressive river, to look at. It's not a big deal. But the Jordan River marks the boundary of the promised land. And that makes it a big deal. This command marks Yahweh beginning to fulfill his promise to give the land.

Now Yahweh is a patient, kind, and gracious God. And Yahweh knows that He is asking a lot of Joshua. And so Yahweh doesn't simply command Joshua to rise and cross the Jordan River, and leave it at that. He also gives Joshua five promises to encourage him in verses 3-5:

(3) Every place that it walks-- the sole of your feet on it-- to you I have given it,

just as I spoke to Moses.

(4) From the wilderness and this Lebanon, and up to the Great River-- the Euphrates River-- all the land of the Hittites and up to the Great Sea, toward the setting of the sun shall be your territory.

(5) No man shall stand before you all the days of your life.

Just as I was with Moses, [so] I shall be with you.

I shall not fail/abandon you,

and I shall not forsake/reject you.

So here are the five promises:

1) Imagine someone walking. Every single step they take, they are touching a new piece of the ground. Every step Joshua takes, marks a piece of the promised land that Yahweh is giving to Joshua. (take a step, that piece, take a step, that piece; fun with 4 year olds :) ).

2) Yahweh's second promise is that as long as Joshua lives, no one will be able to defeat Joshua in battle. He says this: "No man will stand before you all the days of your life."

There's going to be lots of wars in Joshua. Lots of fighting. Lots of killing. Imagine yourself holding a sword, as part of an army, and you are lining up in battle against your enemy. Or you are trying to attack a fortified city that's ready for you. How do you know that you will be the one to win? How do you know that you will be the one who lives?

Yahweh promises Joshua, "No man will stand before you all the days of your life." As long as you live, you will always be victorious.

3) Yahweh's third promise is this: "Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you." Joshua was Moses' servant. Joshua saw, first hand, what it meant that Yahweh was with Moses (Deut. 3:21). If you know that God has promised to be with you, and you've seen him do miraculous, amazing things, there's really no reason to be scared. Right? Maybe?

4-5) Yahweh's fourth and fifth promises are that he won't abandon Joshua or reject him. He won't bring Joshua halfway into the promised land, and then abandon him. Yahweh won't leave him in the middle of a battle. Yahweh will be with Joshua. End of story.

So Yahweh has given Joshua two commands-- Rise!, and cross!, and given him 5 promises. He now gives Joshua two more commands in verse 6.

(6) Be strong,

and be brave,

because you shall give as an inheritance to this people the land

that I swore to their fathers to give to them.

"Be strong." "Be brave." Why? Joshua has to be brave, because it is Joshua who will give the people the land. Everything depends on Joshua. There is no one else. And at the end of the day, when Yahweh points a finger at you, and says, "This is your job; it's you who will do this," what can you say? What can you do? You may not like it; you may wish someone else was doing it. But you'll be strong, and you'll be brave.