Explore the Bible Lesson Preview December 4, 2016 Commissioned Background: Joshua 1:1-18 Lesson: Joshua 1:1-9 Motivation: The time has come to cross the Jordan! This study is in stark contrast to our study in Exodus of the ten spies and their faithless, discouraging report. After forty years, the land was not any easier to conquer; however, God had raised up a new generation who were ready to go forward in faith. Examination: I. A New Leader (1:1-5) A. Date After the death of Moses (1) This occurred about 1405 BC (Deut. 1:3-4). Note the many references to Moses and his authorship of the Pentateuch (2, 3, 5, 7, 13, 14, 15 & 17). B. Delivery the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, who had served Moses. (1b) HCSB, p. 343: 1:1 The death of Moses created a leadership vacuum. Moses epithet, Lord s Servant, was first applied at his death (Dt. 34:5) as this epithet would first be applied to Joshua at his death (Jos 24:29). Used rarely in the earlier part of the Bible as an evaluation of a person s life, it became more common and was enhanced by Jesus (Jn. 15:15), although Paul retained the title (Rm. 1:1). Joshua son of Nun, who had served Moses, identifies Joshua as the one who had been with Moses since Exodus 17. That he served 1 / 7
Moses (cp. Ex. 24:13) uses a different term than Lord s servant. C. Destination prepare to cross over the Jordan (2) The leader (Moses) was dead, but the mission was not! Crossing over the Jordan has been an analogy in Christian teaching, to crossing from carnality to spirituality. Crossing over the Jordan is an act of faith that demands a believer to desire all that God has for him/her. In I Corinthians 10:1ff Paul makes the point that all were baptized into Moses (2) but not all received the land of promise due to their rebellion. They had enough faith to get out of Egypt but not enough to get into the Promised Land. (Deut. 1:6) D. Description from the wilderness and Lebanon, to the great Euphrates River (4) The promise was not contingent upon one person. The full extent of the land was forfeited in that day because of disobedience. HCSB, p. 343: 1:4 This wilderness is not the land of wandering. The term is used in 8:15, 20 and 12:8 to describe the area east of Ai and the desert region of Judah in the south. It thus designates the southern part of the Promised Land. Lebanon ( white ) refers to the mountains north of Israel in the modern land of that name. The land of the Hittites seems not to refer to the Hittite Empire of modern Turkey but the Egyptian and later Assyrian usage of this term to describe the region controlled by the Hittites in the western part of modern Syria. These lands and boundaries identify Canaan as it was known both to the Bible (Gn. 10:19; Nm. 13:17, 21-22; 34:3-12) and to Egyptians writers of the second millennium B. C. E. Duration No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live (5a) This was a personal promise to Joshua that God would be with him throughout his life just as He was with Moses. F. Declaration I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. (5b) This promise is repeated in Hebrews 13:5 with the admonition Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with what you have (Prov. 18:24; Col. 3:5; 2 / 7
1 Tim. 6:10-19) Times of transition are perilous times; Joshua needed God s assurance. II. A New Task Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. (6) A. A New Attitude Be strong and courageous (6), Above all, be strong and very courageous (7), be strong and courageous do not be afraid or discouraged (9) HCSB, p. 343: 1:6 God s command, be strong and courageous, already spoken by Moses to Israel (Dt. 31:6), appears three times here (Jos. 1:7, 9). The expression is used before great undertakings, like David s charge to Solomon to build the temple (1 Ch. 28:20), King Hezekiah s encouragement to his subjects to withstand the enemy s siege (2 Ch. 32:7), and Joshua s own charge to Israel to fight (Jos. 10:25). Another Biblical example of the need for courage is seen in the early church. When faced with persecution, their prayer was Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word (Acts 4:29) This is a reminder that Satan s first line of attack is discouragement, the defense against which is trust in the Lord. B. A New Home for you will distribute the land The Holy Land, as we now call the territory promised to the Twelve Tribes of Israel, has been central to the identity and covenant relationship of God s Chosen People. Prior to this distribution, the land was promised by God to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to their descendants. Being removed from the land during the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles was seen as God s severe judgment. Even today, disputes over the land of Israel take center stage for world events. And, regarding eschatology, the land of Israel will be prominent in end times events. 3 / 7
C. An Ancient Promise to give them as an inheritance A record of God s covenant promises concerning this land can be found in Genesis 12:1, 15:7, 26:3 and 28:13. III. A New Trust (7-9) A. Promotion very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to recite it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. (7-8) That you may carefully observe should be the motto for our teaching ministry. We do not learn, simply for the sake of learning (James 4:17). Our teaching should always be with the goal of life change. (Rom. 14:23) B. Prediction Haven t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (9) The use of success in verse 7 and p rosper and succeed in verse 8 are closely linked to obedience of God s Word. However, this is not prosperity theology or a means to gain material wealth. It is the assurance that The Lord is with you wherever you go. HCSB, p. 343: 1:7 The word success (Hb. Sakal ; cp. succeed in v. 8) is found frequently in the Wisdom literature to describe one s mastery of the world and insight into its challenges ( wise in Pr. 1:3). The whole instruction (Hb. torah ) describes God s revelation in the form of the previous books of the Law of Moses. IV. An Obedient Response (10-15) 4 / 7
A. Act in Faith Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11 Go through the camp and tell the people, Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you to inherit. (10-11) God gave a mandate (2) which Joshua received in faith. Once Joshua clearly understood God s instructions, he acted immediately to carry it out. B. Address the Exceptions Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manassah (12) Moses had given specific instruction to these groups who wanted land on the wrong side of the Jordan (Numbers 32). When given a hard assignment (tithing, witnessing), many people honestly believe that they re exceptions. Godly leaders must thoroughly cover the ground rules in advance. HCSB, p. 344: 1:12-18 This latter section seems out of place in the first chapter. Why are the two and one-half tribes singled out for this attention? Joshua needed to be recognized as the leader by all Israel, not just part of it, if he was to fulfill God s plan (v. 2). Reuben, Gad, and the eastern part of Manasseh had already received their land allotment from Moses. They had no incentive to follow Joshua across the Jordan River and risk their lives, unlike their fellow tribes who had yet to take possession of their land. Joshua must persuade these two and one-half tribes to follow him, or Israel would be divided and the mission compromised. V. Unanimous Affirmation (16-18) They answered Joshua, Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses. Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous! (16-18) HCSB, p. 344: 1:16-18 This entire statement takes the form of an oath in which promises are made and a curse is invoked upon any who do not carry out their promises. 1:16-17 The affirmation includes three phrases that begin with the words for everything/everywhere emphasizing the totality of obedience. The blessing they offered recognized that Joshua had indeed succeeded Moses. 1:18 Rebels 5 / 7
is used of Israel s rebellion at Kadesh-barnea (Dt. 1:26; 9:23), of the nation s history (Dt. 9:7, 24; 31:27), and of the rebellious son (Dt. 21:18-21). All these end in death as here. The expression will be put to death was a legal formula for capital punishment, as found in Ex. 21:12 and throughout the Law. Application: 1. God has not given us a spirit of fear; we are to be strong and courageous (2 Tim. 1:7). 2. Obedience of God s instructions provides the clearest path to success. 3. Great leadership requires great followship. Explore the Bible Leader Pack Item 1: Map: The Judges of Israel; Item 2: Outlines of Joshua; Judges; Ruth; Item 3: Poster: Winter 2016-17; Item 4: Time Line: Joshua; Judges; Ruth; Item 5: Bookmark: Memory Verses Illustrator: p. 26; The Hittites: A Historical Perspective Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: www.hfbcbiblestudy.or g Dates 2016: 11/27 NO LBS; 12/4 HUB Christmas Palooza; 12/7-11 Celebration; 12/18 SPF Birthday Bash; 12/24 6 / 7
Christmas Eve Candlelight 2, 4 & 6; 12/23 & 26 Christmas Holiday offices closed; 12/25 NO LBS 5:00pm Service only; 12/31 Summit NYE Party; Dates 2017: 1/1/17 NO LBS 10:00 am Service only. 7 / 7