Get Ready! Joshua 1:1-11
Pastor Bob Hunter
Springwater Church of the Nazarene
Gresham, OR
One of the most intriguing individuals in the O.T. was a man named Joshua. A whole book was named after him, a lot of scholars believe the book to be his own personal account of what historically happened with Israel. Joshua’s story is colorful and exciting. So I’m going to try to bring out some of this excitement. But not only is it exciting it’s relevant. The message is fresh and it speaks to us where we live. I believe this material is going to mold us and shape us. So I’m going to read to you the first chapter of this great story and then we’re going to discuss it. (Read Joshua Ch. 1)
This colorful story began in the book of Genesis with Abraham who was the father of Israel. God promised Abraham 3 things, he promised him real estate, he promised him a big family, and finally he promised him wealth. The real estate was in a place called Canaan, the big family was also known as the people of Israel, the wealth God promised took the form of agricultural production-God said, “Flowing with Milk and Honey.” God made a covenant with Israel to deliver on these promises in exchange for loving obedience. Unfortunately, Israel’s love for God lacked generational consistency. When we meet up with them in Joshua Ch. 1. They are at one of their lowest points. Tired and weary, they’ve lived on the back side of a desert for 40 years... wandering. God promised to lead them back into the land of their fathers. But not without loving obedience. They are nicely positioned to embrace this promise, but is there enough faith? The Israelites just can’t seem to muster up the energy or the courage to go over the top. So when we meet up with them in Ch. 1 their just kinda sitting around feeling sorry for themselves. And then drops the bombshell, Moses the appointed leader, the one God used to deliver them from bondage, died. The leader they trusted, loved and revered passed away. Not only were they displaced, but now in grief. If ever there was a group of folks stuck in the mud, it was Israel. They had come so close, but were yet so far away. They were stalled on the road to greatness. Have you ever been there? The road to greatness is sometimes long & lonely. And yes it has it’s share of delays. In what way was Israel responsible for not entering in sooner? What was it that slowed them down to a complete stall? What were their mistakes? They made three mistakes that slowed them down that I want you to be aware of...
1.) They idolized the past. The people of Israel, idolized the leadership of Moses. After all he brought them out from under the hand of Pharoah. God did miraculous things through Moses for Israel. He performed wonders, he parted the red sea, struck the rock, led them through the desert...Moses was a phenomenal leader. They put him up on a peda stool. In their minds, he was irreplacible He was the one and only. In fact, listen to what they were saying about Moses...Duet. 34:10 ff.
Moses couldn’t be replaced, they idolized, and idealized him, which made it extremely difficult for Joshua. They just couldn’t let go of the way it used to be under Moses. In fact, it was Moses that insisted Joshua succeed him as leader, not the people of Israel. Joshua became a leader because Moses, and because of God. The people of Israel were so dysfunctional at the time, they didn’t know were to turn. They idolized the past.
2.) They compromised the present. They not only idolized the past, but they compromised the present. You know how they compromised the present? disobedience. Moses while he was yet alive predicted that this would happen, in Duet 31: 27. We don’t know how widespread it was, but we do know God was not that happy with Israel. Their disobedience to God was always at issue, it’s the foremost reason they remained in the desert for so long.
And isn’t that true even today? Disobedience leads to stagnation and paralysis. When we disobey God we invite circumstances that are lot less than pleasant. When we rebel against God we compromise our quality of life. That’s what Israel did, they compromised the present through their own acts of disobedience.
3.) They discounted the future. After 40 long years, the people of Israel settled on the wrong side of the river. They were unwilling take a risk. They not only compromised the present they grew content with it. Their plans were to stay put and survive. They heard and understood the promises of God, but they just couldn’t see the value of crossing over and possessing it. They discounted the future. They reasoned it away. They thought to themselves, this is as good as it gets, lets just settle right here.
The mistakes they made were common. They idolized the past, compromised the present and discounted the future. Mistakes not too unfamiliar to us. I’m certain many of us can relate. The Children of Israel at the time, were not at all ready to cross over and do what God wanted them to do. There was too much disillusionment and disappointment in the camp. They were just plain stuck. But God doesn’t leave them there. And that’s the good news. Things are about to change. In fact, they changed dramatically when the Lord spoke to Joshua in Ch. 1.
That’s what I love about this story. They are at their lowest point, but God doesn’t leave them there. The word of the Lord came in a new and fresh way when they needed it the most. In spite of their mistakes, God intervened. The Lord spoke. Watch what happens, Verse 1. And the Lord said.... That’s the key phrase. The pivotal point was the word of the Lord. When God speaks great things happen. The word of the Lord gets people ready to possess the promises. Allow me to share with you, what happened when the word of the Lord came. When God spoke 4 things happened that I think you should be aware of.
1.) Leadership emerged. The day Joshua became a leader was the day the Lord spoke to him. He was the handpicked successor to Moses. But this is the first time we have a recorded dialouge between Joshua and God. Up to this point, it’s been all about Moses. Whenever God spoke he spoke through Moses. When God moved Moses was His instrument. Joshua lived in the shadow of Moses the great leader. He was not a leader in the eyes of the people of Israel, until the Lord spoke to him. That’s what qualified him. That’s what gave him the credential to lead. He had to have the God call.
This is a consistent pattern in scripture. When God speaks, leaders emerge. When God spoke to Saul on the road to Damascus, he obeyed and later became Paul the great Apostle. When God spoke to Jeremiah, Jeremiah emerged as one of the greatest prophets. When God speak to John the Baptist, John became the voice crying in the wilderness. When God speaks: leadership is set into motion. The day the Lord spoke to Joshua was the day He assumed his rightful position as the successor to Moses. From that point on, he was the undisputed leader of pack. From that point on he was it, he was the commander in chief, the president and CEO. Joshua was commissioned by God, not just Moses, to take the helm, and he did.
Now consider this: Leadership is one of the great indicators of God moving. That’s one way to know for sure that God is moving among us. Take a look around, when people step forward and assume roles of leadership that’s a great indicator that God is work. Because when God speaks, leaders emerge. If God is at work among us and speaking to our hearts, we’re going to see more and more people committed to the ministry. We will see more and more people doing the Lord’s work. Leadership is one of the greatest measures of spiritually healthy Church. Leadership happens when God speaks. The second thing that happens according to Joshua 1 when God speaks is devotion.
2.) Devotion is encouraged.
I’m drawing this point from verse 8 where it says, “Don’t let this book of the law depart from your mouth, meditate on it, day and night.” The Lord speaking through Joshua encouraged the people of Israel to dust off their Bibles. To get into the Word and study, day and night. Devotion was encouraged.
And that’s what I want to encourage tis morning. I long to see a renewed sense of devotion among God’s people. The day and night part is especially important, you know why? Because the problem, studies show, we tend to forget 95% of what we hear after about 72 hours. That depresses me. To think after all of the great Pastor Bob sermons that have, that after 3 days you forget it all! But when we meditate on the Word of God day and night, guess what? We are lot less likely to let it slip away. Meditating on the Word consistently helps us put into practice. I love what Romans 10: 17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Constant exposure is the best way to put it into practice.
You see, a lot of people do what I call skip and dip. The skip through Bible and dip in at a few selected areas. But they never really get a hold of what God is saying because they don’t take time to saturate, memorize and meditate. You see, that’s the key to devotions, repetition. We all need repetition, because none of get it the first time anyway. If your skippin and dippin, your probably not growing! Take some time to saturate and investigate God’s word, that will increase the odds of it making a difference. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Jesus said, “He who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is a like a wise man who built his house on a rock.” Thats incredibly good news for us. So, when God speaks Devotion is encouraged. Thats what the Lord was saying to Israel and that’s what I believe would say to us. Thirdly, when God speaks....
3.) Strength is offered.
The word of the Lord has power. When the Lord spoke to Joshua, the word strong was mentioned three times. Verse 6, 7, 9. consecutively. In fact, the Lord assured them that they not only be strong, but invincible. Notice what verse 5, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.” Talk about strength. God says I’ll not only make you strong, I’m going to make you invincible. God’s word, if we obey it, offers us the strength we need to triumphantly face the impossible. And thats what the children of Israel were up against--the impossible.
They were facing the river of Jordan, which at the time was at flood stage. They not only faced one impossibility but two. They were called to inhabit a land that was filled with giants. They were up against impossible odds, yet they succeeded at every turn because the Lord was with them. He offered them strength. And he offers you strength to face your impossibilities. Fourthly, when the Lord speaks....
4.) Action follows
This is a great point to close on. When God speaks, he gets results. The word of the Lord is never spoken in vain. When God spoke through Joshua it challenged an entire generation, and fostered a whole new attitude among them.
Watch what happened! The word of the Lord came to Joshua, Vs. 1, then he commanded the army officers with a series of instructions.
But then take note of the results...Verse 16. “......” Talk about action. Thats what I call followership. They committed themselves to the task. They were ready to rise to the challenge. When the Lord speaks he gets results---action follows. What a difference a day makes. They went from being stuck to being unstuck, from being hopeless to being courageous. They went from a low point to a high point. They went from not being ready to full stage readiness in just a matter of time. And thats what I’m going to talk next week. From here they moved on and headed toward the promise land of Canaan. What about you? Are you ready move forward and possess the promise land? When was the last time you heard a fresh word from the Lord? When the Lord speaks things happen! God’s word, spoken to you and I, can prepare us to cross-over and possess. Lets open our hearts to the Lord‘s voice today! ( Prayer is offered in closing).
