Joshua 1:1-18
1. Accept the Leadership Role (and Set Your Eye On the Goal), Verses 1-4.
Numbers 27:15-23, "Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying, ’May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep which have no shepherd.’ So the LORD said to Moses, ’Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; and have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and commission him in their sight. You shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him. Moreover, he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they shall go out and at his command they shall come in, both he and the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.’ Moses did just as the LORD commanded him; and he took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, just as the LORD had spoken through Moses."
Joshua 1:1-4, "Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, ’Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.’"
God has always desired leaders for His people to help them reach the goals He has established. Today, until a Scriptural Eldership and Deaconship can be ordained, the Lord wants all of the male members of a congregation to be good leaders.... to help the entire congregation reach its heavenly goal.
One cannot lead others, however, without paying a price. It takes time, effort, and energy to be a good leader for God’s own. Yet, each brother (young and old) should accept the responsibility voluntarily. Romans 12:1, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
2. "Be Strong and Courageous" Verses 6, 7, 9.
"’Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous;...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed..."
Once the brethren accept their role as leaders, they must exhibit strength and courage in the carrying-out of those duties and obligations that are necessary to keep the congregation functioning and moving closer to Heaven.
The phrase "be strong" is interesting. It literally means, in the Hebrew, ’to fasten upon, to seize’. It means to get to work and diligently apply one’s self to the obligations at hand. It has the idea of being alert and busy rather than being inattentive and slothful.
Note, in Verses 10-11, how that Joshua immediately exhibited strong leadership: "Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ’Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ’Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.’"
A congregation is not a static body, it is always a dynamic body. By that I mean that it is always moving either backwards or forwards. It takes leaders who are alert and industrious to keep a congregation moving forwards - maturing spiritually. Good leaders soon learn that leading a congregation forward is not always easy work.
The path to Heaven is strewn with difficulties, trials and tribulations. To keep each member within the fold and seeing to it that everyone is marching forward is an incredibly challenging task. Brethren need strength to be successful leaders - the willingness to labor within the congregation to keep it healthy and Heaven-bound.
It also takes "courage". This means a firm and undaunted mind, a spirit of boldness and determination. Forces from within and from outside the congregation will try to hinder good leaders from fulfilling their responsibilities. Yea, forces even from within the leaders themselves will periodically do this. People and situations will tempt the leaders to compromise and lead the congregation on a not-so-strait and narrow path... pursue a direction that requires less strain and demands. But a godly and sincere leader must have the courage to stand-up and say - ’I don’t care how powerful the pressure may build, I am going to continue to lead these people in the way they should go." For, one day, I will give account for the way I’ve led their souls.’ Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders, and submit to them; for they keep watch over your souls, as those who will give an account."
3. "Do not tremble or be dismayed", Verse 9.
Here is the opposite of exhibiting strength and courage. God doesn’t want men to be leaders who tremble with fear when trouble arises or a crisis develops within the congregation. Truly, no one respects people who run and hide from problems rather than confront and tackle them. No one wants to place their confidence in and follow men who become confused and dismayed in difficult situations.
This is borne out in the statement of the people to Joshua in Verse 18, "Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous."
4. Follow God’s Instructions and Commands, Verses 7-8.
"Be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. "
Joshua’s success was contingent upon his obedience to the Word of God. God did not leave it up to Joshua’s wisdom and knowledge as to how he was to lead the Israelites to the ’promised land’. He was to be firmly committed to following the Law in every way. Only through strict observance would he be able to lead the people successfully to blessed Canaan land. Moses failed to reach the ’promised land’ due to disobedience.
So it is with leaders of God’s people, today. God has provided an incredibly detailed body of instruction for leaders to follow as they attempt to lead the people of their local congregation to Heaven above. Leaders within the local congregation must not rely on their own individual or collective wisdom and judgment on how to manage and lead the Lord’s Church. They must do everything God’s way. This cannot be emphasized enough!!
This requirement of obedience from Joshua meant that he had to learn God’s Will; so, he is commanded to "meditate" on the Law "day and night". This is a must for today’s leaders, too! 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2:15, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.... Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
When men realize the awesome responsibility that is upon their shoulders - to help prepare souls for eternity - they will be humbly dedicated themselves to regular, personal Bible study. For, zeal without knowledge is dangerous.
Luke 6:39-40, "And He also spoke a parable to them: ’A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit? A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.’"
5. Teach God’s Word to God’s People, Verse 8.
The knowledge of God’s will, acquired through serious study of the Scriptures, is to be shared with the rest of God’s people. The Lord commanded Joshua, "This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth."..... which is to say - Joshua, any advice, counsel or instruction you give must come from or, at least, be in harmony with the law of God.’
Joshua was not permitted to utter nor enforce precepts and commandments of mere men but, rather, only the revealed will of God.
In this task, Joshua was faithful - Joshua 8:34-35, "Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them."
Leaders within congregations must follow Joshua’s example in declaring all the counsel of God.
1 Timothy 4:16, "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." Teaching is not always verbal. Good, godly leaders also teach by their lives. 1 Timothy 4:12, "In speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."
6. Trust In God’s Presence and Care, Verses 5, 9.
"No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.... for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Joshua could be sure of the presence of God with him in the great work to which he was called. God would never leave Joshua destitute of inward support or outward assistance. God would faithfully carry this man through everything that God would place upon his shoulders. Like all good leaders, Joshua would come to value highly God’s presence and care in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Leaders, today, can be encouraged and comforted by the same promise. Of this we may be sure - that the Lord is with us while we are with Him. Hebrews 13:5-6, "He Himself has said, ’I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say, ’THE LORD IS MY HELPER’."
Romans 8:35, 37-39, "Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
