Joshua Series

April 10, 2021

My Favorite Thing About JOSHUA is a promise ------ “I Will Be with You Wherever You Go.”

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 - Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' 3 The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said…. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Deuteronomy 34:7-12 - Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over…. Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt -- to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

The book of Joshua picks up where Deuteronomy left off. Joshua was the newly appointed leader and Israel was finally on the border of the Promised Land. It was just there, on the other side of the Jordan River.

Can you imagine? You have been a front row witness to the past 40 years. You have been by Moses’ side throughout the wilderness wanderings. You have become a faithful and courageous leader AND you have watched as the people rebelled and complained and grumbled along the way AND you, yourself, were the target of an assassination suggestion and NOW ---- YOU’RE OLD {at least 100} and IN CHARGE!!!

Your resume will be measured by Moses’ resume and everything you do … “that’s not how Moses would have done it.”

Fear can wreak havoc in your life. Fear makes you run when you should stand. Fear paralyzes you into in-action. Fear causes you to distort a “Possible” and turn it into an “Impossible”. Fear cost Israel 40 years of wandering around in the same desert instead of being HOME. What God needed was a fearless leader, but perhaps in that moment Joshua was a bit intimidated --- a bit scared --- a bit overwhelmed, which is exactly why God showed up to encourage him with these words:

• Joshua 1:2-9 - Moses my servant is dead. Get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up 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. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua took Jesus at His word and moved forward with faith and courage.

Israel crossed the Jordan river at flood stage and experienced another “Red Sea” crossing.