Introduction To Joshua (Part A) Series

THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

(Introduction: Part A)

Calvary Baptist Church

July 13, 2003

Warren Wiersbe reminds us that in the book of Joshua, the children of Israel will receive:

1) A New Leader - This is the Title of our message today.

2) A New Land

3) A New Life

A few notes on the book of Joshua:

1. Joshua is the Acts of the OT. It is the transition. As Acts moved from Gospel foundations to Gospel application and expansion, so Joshua moves from the promise of the land to the taking of the promised land.

2. Joshua marks the end of the wilderness wanderings and the entrance into the land.

3. NOTE:

Genesis - a book of Beginnings

Exodus - a book of Deliverance

Leviticus - a book of Worship

Numbers - a book of Wanderings

Deuteronomy - a book of the repetition of the Law prior to entering the land.

Joshua - a book of Conquering the Land.

I. A New Leader

A few general facts.

• His name was Hoshea (Salvation)

• This is the name given by his father (Nun) and his unnamed mother.

• They must have had tremendous faith.

• It is changed to Joshua (Jehovah is Salvation). This is most significant!

• When David stood before the Giant, he seems to quote his hero Joshua.

A. The Timing

• Joshua died at 110 years old in 1380 B.C.

• He assumed leadership around 1406 B.C.

• Therefore, he was around 85 years old when he took command from Moses!

• Before Joshua ever took the reigns, he had been a servant, a soldier and a spy.

• Some feel that you can make a man by giving him a position.

• That is contrary to God’s principles.

• God did not say look out among you seven men that we can make of good report!

• Positions are given to the faithful.

• It is a dangerous thing to give positions to try to create faithfulness.

• God teaches us that it takes time to develop leadership.

• Everyone wants the power, few want the piety.

• ILLUS: I wish I could play piano like that. No you don’t. You won’t practice!

B. The Training

1. The Mother (unnamed)

• Where are Moses’ sons (Gershom and Eliezer)?

• Evidently, their mother (Zipporah) has filled their mind with Ethiopian or Midianite doubts.

• Remember the circumcision of these boys and their mother’s response!

• We know that Joshua’s mother gave him a godly name!

2. The Mentor

Exodus 24:13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

Numbers 11:28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men [lit., from his youth], answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

Numbers 27:18 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

Deut. 31:7-8 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. [8] And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Deut. 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.

• Every Paul should have a Timothy.

• Moses may have seen in Joshua what his heart had hoped to see in his own sons.

• Moses saw the potential early on and began the training. APPLY!

3. The Miracles

NOTE: Things that Joshua had seen.

1) His dad come home a little more dead every night from the taskmasters.

2) His personal experience at making bricks.

3) Moses boldness to go before Pharaoh.

4) The Plagues, including the death of the firstborn. (He was 1st born 1 Chron. 7:27)

5) The children of Israel cross the Red Sea on dry ground.

6) The death of the Egyptian army under the same waters that stood back for Israel.

7) Closer than anyone else, He saw the Mountain-top experience of Moses.

• Joshua had no illusion of what life was like in Egypt.

• Others in the wilderness might have longed for the “flesh pots” of Egypt but Joshua’s memory was not clouded.

• He knew that whatever meat was there was rotted.

• He saw no color in Egypt, only black and white.