Moses has died. Joshua has taken on the task of leading Israel.
- In this speech, God announces that Israel is going to finally take possession of the promised Land.
- This was God’s promise to Abraham - remember in the Sunday School, we learnt of God’s promise of a land, a seed and the blessing, to Abraham.
- What gives Israel the right to dispossess the people of Canaan?
- According to Josh 1:2, the land is a gift from God. It is the fulfillment of what God has promised.
But the promise of land does not come without specific human responsibilities.
- Beginning from 1:6, God makes it clear to Joshua that courage and strength is needed.
- We see this repeated phrase: Be strong and courageous.
- This phrase was repeated three times, in contrast to 1:9 "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged."
HUMAN RESPONSIBILITIES:
1:7 “Be careful to obey all the law?do not turn from it to the right or to the left.?
1:8 “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.?
So Joshua was told to take note of two things:
(1) To be brave and strong in the face of danger and difficulties;
(2) To be immersed in the Law and obeys it well.
In order words, Joshua and the people needs to (1) TRUST GOD and (2) OBEY HIM.
?God says, “Do it my way, and you will succeed.?
?We appropriate God’s promise through FAITH and OBEDIENCE.
Joshua was asked not to be afraid.
?The task that lies before Israel will require the defeat of over 30 tribal kingdoms.
?This is a land where giants are known to live, where cities are surrounded by walls; a land where the people have developed iron weapons and uses chariots and horses for battle.
?The Israelites are just ‘professional?slaves! What weapons do they have?
Joshua has good reasons to be afraid, but God tells him to “be strong and courageous.?
?God gives him only one clear reason why he should not fear ?God Himself will be with him.
?1:9 “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.?
God did not ‘drop the gift upon his lap? Joshua and Israel needs to fight the enemies.
There is a connection between God’s promises and human efforts.
?God has clearly promised that the Israelites would be GIVEN a land as a blessing from God.
?But this gift is going to require a great deal of effort to receive. This gift involves battles.
The conquest will be the work of God. But success will require the efforts of man.
?There is a clear connection between receiving the promised blessing of the land, and the careful obedience to the commands of God.
?God wants them to have the land, but they have to work.
?God wants us to bless us, but we have to serve Him, to work hard and share the Gospel, to do our part.
God’s plan is fulfilled when man do what God calls him to do.
?The sooner we obey Him; the sooner God’s will fulfilled in our lives.
?The sooner believers do what God says; the sooner we’ll see God’s will be done in our world.
We have to work hard. Although the battle belongs to the Lord, there is human effort involved in ‘fighting?the battles.
?Joshua and the people of Israel have to work hard and fight over 30 battles to see that God’s promise becomes a reality.
?We can overcome, but we have to work hard and face our problems with courage.
?God will enable us to complete the work and fulfill His plan.
I do not know what challenges you are facing today, we must “be strong and courageous.? God will surely help us, but we have to do our part to fight.
Again we see that hardship is not a sign that God has deserted us.
?We do not need to be overly surprised when we face problems or sufferings.
?In fact, struggling our way through difficulties and hardship could well be God’s way of giving us His promised blessing.
Sometimes Christians have this attractive idea that we are guaranteed a peaceful and anxiety-free life because God will protect us.
?Joshua’s experience tells us we need courage and strength to do God’s will. We need to be strong to face battles, fears, anxieties, and the many problems of life.
?Knowing that God is with us, knowing that He has given us great promises, does not mean life will be easy and trouble-free.
?In fact, God guarantees His presence IN THE MIDST of hardships and pain. Difficulties and troubles will continue but there is reason for us to be “strong and courageous.?
?We are not immune from trouble; we are just told to trust God in overcoming them.
BLUE SKIES (What God Promised)
God has not promised
Skies always blue
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through.
God has not promised
Sun without rain
Joy without sorrow
Peace without pain.
But God did promise
Strength for the day
Rest for the labor
Light for the way.
Grace for the trials
Help from above
Unfailing sympathy
Undying love.
?Annie Johnson Flint
When Jesus sends out the disciples, they were told to go on the journey without money, extra clothes or hotel reservations. (Matt 10:9-10 Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.)
The Lord says, “Go and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28:19-20) and His only promise is ?Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
?The disciples faced many persecutions, all but one were martyred for Christ.
?Were they successful? Yes. We are all Christians today.
History tells us Joshua and the people of Israel were successful.
?The journey wasn’t that smooth, but the mission was a success.
?They put their trust in God’s promise and God’s presence!
?It has nothing to do with whether the people of Israel can really fight, whether their enemies are huge or their cities fortified.
Today, we are going to face the challenges of life the same way.
?It has to do with our faith in God’s promises and His presence with us.
I WILL NOT DOUBT
I will not doubt, tho?all my ships at sea come
drifting home with broken masts and sails;
I will believe the hand which never fails,
from seeming evil worketh good for me.
And tho?I weep because those sails are tattered,
still will I cry, while my best hopes lie shattered;
-- I trust in Thee!
I will not doubt, tho?all my prayers return
unanswered from the still, white realm above;
I will believe it is an all-wise love which has
refused the things for which I yearn;
And tho?at times I cannot keep from grieving,
yet the pure ardor of my fixed believing,
-- undimmed shall burn.
I will not doubt, tho?sorrows fall like rain,
and troubles swarm like bees above a hive,
I will believe the heights for which I strive
are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And tho?I groan and writhe beneath my crosses,
I yet shall see through my severest losses,
-- the greater gain.
I will not doubt. Well anchored is this faith,
like some staunch ship, my soul braves every gale;
So strong its courage that it will not quail,
to breast the mighty unknown sea of death.
Oh, may I cry, tho?body parts with spirit,
I do not doubt, so listening worlds may hear it
-- with my last breath.
?Annie Johnson Flint
Joshua was reminded to OBEY God’s Word.
?Josh 1:7 “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.?
?You have to do it my way, the Lord says. That is the only RIGHT way.
?This is very important, and the people of Israel learnt it the hard way.
?Let’s read about it in Josh 7:1-12. They lost the battle against Ai.
?They learnt that obedience to God is critical to their success at battle.
It would be the same for us. When we obey God, we’ll enjoy God’s blessings.
Hymn 210: Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Chorus
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
