INTRODUCTION
In the bible the meaning of someone's name was very significant to their story. Joshua means Jehovah saves. We read can read about Joshua in Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy then in Joshua. These stories are about 2000 years old but they still relate to us today because they have spiritual lessons we need to learn so we can live a victorious life by understanding and living in the new covenant through Jesus Christ.
In brief: Joshua was Moses assistant and then he succeeded Moses and led the
Israelites into the Promised Land.
MAIN
Exodus 17:8-16 Joshua defeats the Amalekites.
Joshua was young, strong, dependable and reliable therefore Moses commanded him to choose some men to fight the Amalekites. As long as Moses held his staff up the Israelites were winning. Aaron & Hur held up Moses's arms.
Leaders today also need a few Joshua's to help them build Gods kingdom. In Ecclesiastes 12:1 God’s word encourages us to ‘Remember your creator in your youth, serve God while you are young.’ This is why today’s leaders are and do encourage young people to use their God given gifts and talents to do the will of God. Don't wait till you’re old and grey, give ALL your years to God. Whether your young or old we can all serve God just like Joshua.
Exodus 24:13 Joshua the helper.
Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.
Joshua is referred to as Moses's helper/assistant from a young age. (Num11:28) Moses had a lot of complainers around him, but thank God he also had many helpers, one of which was a Joshua.
The first helper we read about is eve and in Ecclesiastes 4:9 we read that two are better than one. Couples your partner needs your help, encouragement, support. They do not need your sarcasm or criticism. Always speak words of life, blessing and words to help and build someone up.
Exodus 33:11 Joshua wanted more of God.
Inside the tent of meeting The Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but Moses’ young helper, Joshua son of Nun, did not leave the Tent.
Joshua learned a lot from Moses but he wasn't following a man he was following God and he wanted more of God. He remained in the tent of meeting because he wanted to meet with God for himself, he wanted to know God, not via somebody, but personally.
If you want to know more of God today then take time out to sit still in his presence on your own. Choose a time and place and get alone with God. Get up out of your bed in a morning, freshen up and hear what God wants to say to you, get your instruction from him before you start the rest of your day. I'm not talking about burning incense, bowing your head to a statue, stone or place. God is spirit and we must worship him in spirit and in truth. That means the way we live our life, living it in service to God this is our sweet smelling incense to God.
Numbers 11:1-35 Moses chooses 70 elders.
Here 2 of the elders prophesied outside the tabernacle. This confused Joshua because he thought that Gods spirit would only come upon the elders who had gone to the tabernacle. This shows that in his mind Joshua was limiting God.
God is unlimited, we can’t put God in a box and say God will only do things a particular way. He will not contradict his word but he will not be restricted by man. He is God and he will do things the way he decides.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways,” says the Lord.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Don't put a restriction on what God can do, nothing is too difficult for him. His ways are bigger and better. Just remember whose boss. Gods the boss and like Joshua we should not think that God will do things our way or the way we think, God will do things his way, the way he thinks.
Numbers 14:1-38 Joshua sent to spy out the Promised Land.
Moses sent out 12 men representing each tribe to spy and checkout Canaan the Promised Land. Only two men brought back a good report. Caleb and Joshua they saw the big blessings but the rest brought a bad report they just saw the big giants. The 10 men who brought back a bad report and had no faith in God died of a plague. All those who complained against God also didn't enter into the Promised Land.
Are you walking into your God given promises, praising God and enjoying the blessings God wants to give to you or are you sitting down saying that can never happen, my problem is too big, nothing's going to change.
James 1:5-8
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Joshua and Caleb didn't doubt and they entered the Promised Land. They were men of faith and they were not afraid of what people said they didn't Change their minds because people were threatening or pressurising them.
Numbers 27:12-22 Joshua chosen by God to lead Israel.
God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. God told Moses to ordain Joshua by the laying on of hands and imparting some of his Authority to Joshua.
When God chooses you for his task, he will equip you and open doors for you that no man can shut.
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 Joshua becomes Israel’s leader.
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 ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 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.”
With all that has happened in Joshua's life you would not think Joshua would need encouragement, but obviously he does. Time and time again he is encouraged to be strong and courageous.
Everyone needs encouragement. Never think that someone doesn't need encouragement. Everyone needs encouragement, the apostles needed encouragement, leaders need encouragement, new and old Christians need encouragement. If you think only the young and new Christians need your encouragement, then please change your way of thinking, everyone needs encouragement.
Joshua 1:1-18
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:
2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
5 No one will be able to stand 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 ancestors 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 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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 afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’
14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them
15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.
18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
Joshua carried out Gods instructions and stayed close to God all his life. He led Israel into the Promised Land and did all that God had called him to do.
At the end of the book of Joshua in chapter 24:14,15 Joshua says:
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
After encouraging the people to only serve God, Joshua died having lived a successful life completing his God given tasks.
Joshua is like a description of the Lord Jesus and His saving grace who saves and redeems us and brings us into the fullness of God and all he has for us.
KEY VERSES
Chapter 1:3 I will give you every place where you set your foot.
Chapter 24:15 As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
FINALLY
This story is in the bible to show you that you can live this supernatural life too when you have a close relationship with God and trust him completely for everything without a shadow of a doubt.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father help us all to know you more, trust you always and to serve you with all you have given us all the days of our lives. Amen.
