photo courtesy of Stock Snap (Alexander Andrews)
Be Courageous Joshua
MOSES IS DEAD
Deuteronomy 34: 1- 7 — 1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” 5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.
A Time Of Mourning
Deuteronomy 34:8 – The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.
Joshua Anointed to Lead Israel
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 – 7 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. 8 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.”
Deuteronomy 34:9 – Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[ of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.
A Description of Moses (Big Shoes)
Deuteronomy 34:10-12 – 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Moses had been chosen by God to lead the Israelites from Egyptian captivity to the Promised Land. God had worked through Moses to: part the Red Sea, to provide water for them to drink from a rock (twice), and to provide manna and quail for them to eat.
Time to Lead Joshua
Joshua 1:1-2 – 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.
Joshua, was being groomed by God to become the next leader of Israel. He was trained by following and watching all that Moses’ did to lead the people.
Joshua 1:9 — 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.”
2 Reasons Joshua Could Have Courage
He knew God, and that He was able to work through him.
Joshua 1:3-6 – 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.
He was rooted and grounded in the Word of God.
Joshua 1:7-8 – 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.
Shoes Filled
Joshua 1:10-18 – 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.’”
People’s Response
Joshua 1:16-18 – 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!”
Us
- We too can be strong and courageous in following the Lord. (Joshua 1:9)
- We have the entire Bible to study and learn from. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- We can be rooted and grounded in the knowledge that God (Colossians 2:6-8) has not given us a spirit of fear but one of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
- We know that we can trust in God with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding because He will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:5-8)
- And we have His assurance which can be trusted that He will never leave nor forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5).
Today
Let’s continue to learn who God is and how He is a rewarder of those who diligently serve Him. (Hebrews 11:6) And let’s follow Him with courage.
Joshua 1:9 — 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.”
Are there any areas in your life where you need to develop more of God’s courage? Comment below.
