Joshua 1: The Times, They Were A-Changin’ Series

Introduction: Change happens. There’s no doubt about that. Way back in 1964, Bob Dylan recorded a song called “The Times They Are A-Changing (which I’ve never heard)”, talking about various things. In the text, we see that in just 40 years, Israel had seen any number of changes. They had experienced the miracle of crossing the bed of the Red Sea on dry land, and the daily miracles of food and water as they wandered in the wilderness.

But now they’re almost to the end of those 40 years and they had just experienced a very drastic change. Moses had died and now Joshua was selected to be the nation’s leader. How was Israel going to react to all of this?

1 The Words of the LORD to Joshua

Text, Joshua 1:1-9, KJV: 1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

The first words—reality happened

“Moses My servant is dead.” The LORD’s first words to Joshua speak to a significant change. Moses had led Israel from Egypt and slavery through the desert wilderness to striking distance of the Promised Land. In fact, just a few days later, he—Joshua—would lead Israel to that land.

But I’m sure he and all Israel still remembered Moses, and, many at least would still be grieving over his death. Most of Israel at this time would remember the last speeches of Moses before he made his last trip to Mount Nebo (Deut. 34:1). Moses told the people in one of these speeches how he committed the sin that kept him out of Canaan. That story begins in Numbers 20, where God told Moses to _speak_ to the rock so that Israel could get fresh water. Moses took his rod, then _struck_ the rock twice, and that was that. God basically told him, “You are not going to lead the people into the Promised Land (Num. 20:12, paraphrased).”

Even though Moses begged the Lord to let him lead Israel into Canaan, God repeatedly said No and at one time, told Moses. “No more of this! Don’t talk to Me about this anymore (Deut.3:26-27, paraphrased)!” Moses, soon after this, did take that final journey and died “in the land of Moab (Deut. 34:5)”. His burial place was never known, but even so, Israel mourned for him for 30 days (Deut. 34:8).

Moses was dead. That was a reality and there was no changing this. But God had a lot more to say to Joshua as He completed that first sentence.

The second words—promises made

“Now therefore arise”. Sure, there was a time to mourn; Israel should have done plenty of this because of all the grief they had caused Moses, starting soon after Moses came back to Egypt (Exodus 5:15-21, e.g.)! But now the time for mourning was over.

It was time to arise. The next several verses have God’s promises to Joshua and, by extension, to all Israel. It was time to cross the Jordan River, the natural border between Israel’s Promised Land to the west and the land of Ammon, Moab, and others to the east. Verses 3 and 4 give the broad outline of the land which was Israel’s for the taking.