JOSHUA
LESSON #2
JOSHUA 1
LESSON #2
JOSHUA'S CALL TO LEADERSHIP
MEMORY VERSE: JOSHUA 1:9
READ JOSHUA 1:1-9
VS, 1 MOSES, AS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LAW, HAD TO DIE BEFORE THEY COULD ENTER THE PROMISE LAND JUST AS, FOR THE BELIEVER, THE LAW HAD TO PASS AWAY TO BE FULFILLED IN CHRIST, THE EXAMPLE OF GRACE.
VS. 3-6 WHAT DOES GOD PROMISE JOSHUA?
PROMISES GIVEN TO ABRAHAM ARE REPEATED FOR JOSHUA
VS. 3 "EVERY PLACE YOUR SOLE WILL TREAD" - ABOUT 500,000 SQ. MI.
VS. 5 "I WILL BE WITH YOU"
"I WON'T FAIL OR FORSAKE YOU"
VS. 5 WHY DO YOU SUPPOSE GOD INSISTED NO INHABITANTS OF THE LAND WERE TO REMAIN ALIVE? SEE DEU 9:4-5
IF THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND LEFT WILLINGLY, THEY WOULD NOT BE DESTROYED. HOWEVER, THE HEATHEN TRIBES DID NOT LEAVE WILLINGLY AND HAD TO BE CONQUERED BY JOSHUA AND THE ISRAELITES. THEY WERE NOT TO LET ANY OF THEM LIVE BECAUSE THESE WERE EVIL PEOPLE WHO WORSHIPED IDOLS. IF THEY REMAINED IN THE LAND, THEY WOULD INTERMARRY WITH THE ISRAELITES AND WOULD SPREAD THEIR IDOLATRY TO THE ISRAELITES. THE ISRAELITES WERE NOT FAITHFUL TO KEEP THIS COMMAND TO DESTROY THE INHABITANTS OF THE LAND. THEREFORE, THE SPREAD OF IDOLATRY IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT BELIEVER, THE PRINCIPLE IS THE SAME. WE MUST FIGHT THE ENEMY, SATAN, AND REMOVE EVERY TRACE OF EVIL FROM OUR LIVES OR IT WILL INFECT OUR LIVES.
VS. 6-8 WHAT CONDITIONAL COMMANDS ARE GIVEN TO JOSHUA?
THERE ARE THREE COMMANDS TO JOSHUA'S COMMISSION
(#1) VSS.6,7,9,18 "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE"
VS.6 RELATED TO FAITH IN THE VISIONAL PROMISE
VS.7 RELATED TO FAITH IN THE WORD OF GOD
VS.9 RELATED TO FAITH IN GOD'S PRESENCE
VS.18 RELATED TO JUDGMENT FOR LACK OF FAITH
ADMIT YOUR OWN WEAKNESSES AND TRUST IN GOD'S STRENGTH
THE RESULT = YOU WILL DO GOD'S WILL AND YOU WILL PROSPER
(#2) VS. 8 "MEDITATE IN THE WORD" = CHEW THE CUD
MEDITATING IS LIKE A COW CHEWING THE CUD. HE CHEWS IT, SWALLOWS IT, BRINGS IT UP AND CHEWS IT AGAIN BEFORE DIGESTING IT.
THEREFORE, BIBLICAL MEDITATION IS MORE THAN MEMORIZING. IT IS GOING OVER IT WORD BY WORD, PHRASE BY PHRASE, TAKING IT APART AND DIGESTING ITS MEANING. IT IS NOT SUSPENDING THE THOUGHT PROCESSES IN THE WAY THE CULTS PRACTICE MEDITATION. THEREFORE, MEDITATION IS AN AID TO FAITH: "OUT OF THE MOUTH THE HEART SPEAKS"
MEDITATION BUILDS UP THE INNER MAN SO THAT WHAT YOU SAY DOES NOT DEPART FROM WHAT GOD SAYS. THIS IS A CONFESSING FAITH.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEDITATION AND MEMORIZING IS THAT MEDITATION AFFECTS THE SPIRIT OF MAN AND MEMORIZING AFFECTS THE SOUL OF MAN.
"THE BOOK OF THE LAW" -- THIS IS WHAT HE WAS TO MEDITATE ON.
THESE WERE THE FIRST 5 BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, WRITTEN BY MOSES AS THEY HAPPENED AND READ TO THE PEOPLE EVERY 7 YEARS (NUM 31:9-13). IT WAS KEPT IN THE SIDE OF THE ARK (DEU 31:26)
GOD'S EMPHASIS IS UPON THE LAW AS THEY ARE ABOUT TO ENTER THE PROMISE LAND.
(#3) OBEDIENCE TO GOD'S PATTERN MAKES ONE AN OVERCOMER.
THE RESULTS OF MEDITATION:
"PROSPEROUS" A PROGRESSIVE TERM MEANING TO BREAK FORTH. "SUCCESS" = ACT WISELY HAVING SKILL; THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HEBREW WORD APPEARS IN THE BIBLE.
VSS. 7,8,18 AN IMPLIED COMMAND TO BE OBEDIENT.
VERSES 10 - 18 PHYSICAL PREPARATION
PREPARATION OF FOOD SUPPLIES--MANNA WAS TO CEASE IN CHAPTER 5. THEY WERE TO PREPARE TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
VS. 11 HE COMMUNICATED TO THE PEOPLE THE LONG TERM GOAL.
VS. 13 GOD'S PERMISSIVE WILL REGARDING THE 2 1/2 TRIBES.
NUM 32:1-42. THESE TRIBES WERE THE FIRST TO BECOME INDIFFERENT TO THE WELFARE OF GOD'S PEOPLE AND THE FIRST TO FALL UNDER HEATHEN INFLUENCE.
VS. 16 THEY NEEDED THE COOPERATION OF EVERYONE TO POSSES THE LAND. THE PRINCIPLE OF UNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL TRUTH: WE NEED THE HELP OF OTHER BELIEVERS TO POSSESS GOD'S PROMISES. (HEB 10:24-25)
WE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT.
WE NEED INTERCESSORY PRAYER.
JOSHUA 1 REVIEW:
WE SAW THE GREAT PROMISES OF GOD IN CHAPTER 1:
POSSESSION OF THE LAND
GOD WOULD BE WITH HIM
GOD WOULD NOT FAIL OR FORSAKE HIM
THE BALANCE BETWEEN IDLE TRUST AND ACTIVE COOPERATION:
IDLE TRUST = SITTING BACK AND SAYING "IF GOD WANTS ME TO HAVE IT HE'LL GIVE IT TO ME".
OVER-ACTIVE COOPERATION = GETTING SO ZEALOUS IN DEAD WORKS THAT WE JUMP THE GUN AND PRECEDE GOD (LIKE SARAH).
HOW DO WE KNOW WHERE THE BALANCE IS BETWEEN REST AND ACTIVE COOPERATION?
BY EXPERIENCE
BY HOLY SPIRIT GUIDANCE
BY THE WORD OF GOD
GOD REVEALED TO JOSHUA IT WAS TIME FOR ACTION.
JOSHUA'S LEADERSHIP PREPARATION OF A LEADER AND THE LESSONS HE LEARNED:
EXO 17:9
A GENERAL IN THE BATTLE WITH THE AMALEKITES WHO WERE AGAINST THE THRONE OF GOD.
LESSONS:
GOD WON'T TOLERATE THE REBELLION OF MEN AGAINST HIMSELF.
POWER IS NOT MERELY MAN'S POWER WITH A SWORD BUT THE POWER OF GOD.
EXO 24:13
MOSES AND JOSHUA ASCENDED THE MOUNT AND THEY SAW THE GOD OF ISRAEL.
LESSON:
IT REMINDS US OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN THE SEEN AND UNSEEN WORLD NOT FAR OFF BUT RIGHT HERE AND NOW.
EXO 32:17
TIME OF THE GOLDEN CALF WHEN MOSES AND JOSHUA DESCENDED THE MOUNT.
LESSON:
THE TERRIBLENESS OF SIN AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GOD.
EXO 33:11
PEOPLE REPENTED FOR IDOLATRY--JOSHUA REMAINED INSIDE THE TABERNACLE.
LESSON:
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADERSHIP TO PRAYER AND INTERCESSION.
NUM 11:24-29
70 ELDERS PROPHESIED--2 PROPHESIED IN THE CAMP
JOSHUA ASKS MOSES TO FORBID THEM BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE MOSES' PRIOR APPROVAL.
LESSONS:
GOD'S GLORY COMES FIRST BEFORE MAN'S AGGRANDIZEMENT.
MAN CANNOT BIND GOD TO MAN-MADE RULES.
NUM 13-14
ONE OF THE 12 SPIES AND ONE OF THE 2 WITH A GOOD REPORT
LESSONS:
BE WILLING TO STAND FOR GOD EVEN WHEN THE MAJORITY IS AGAINST YOU.
REBELLION AGAINST GOD CAUSES MISSED BLESSINGS.
NUM 27:18-23
JOSHUA'S ORDINATION
LESSON:
LEADERSHIP COMES FROM GOD TO BE RECOGNIZED BY MAN.
DEU 31:2-8
JOSHUA'S COMMISSION BY MOSES
LESSON:
GOD'S PRESENCE AND GUIDANCE MUST GO BEFORE HIM FOR THERE TO BE VICTORY.
DEU 34:7-8
DEATH OF MOSES
LESSON:
NO MAN IS INDISPENSABLE BUT EVERY MAN IS UNIQUE.
IS THERE ALWAYS A LONG TIME PREPARATION FOR SPIRITUAL
LEADERSHIP? NO, NOT ALWAYS BUT USUALLY. TIMOTHY WAS AN EXCEPTION -- 1TIM 4:12
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT:
GOD WANTED TO ENLARGE THE DESTINY OF THE ISRAELITES. GOD WANTS TO ENLARGE YOUR DESTINY.
HOW CAN WE HAVE AN ENLARGED DESTINY? EVALUATE YOUR LIFE AND DREAMS.
WHAT IS GOD'S VISION FOR YOU?
DO YOU NEED TO MEDITATE IN THE WORD?
DO YOU NEED A FRESH AWARENESS OF GOD'S PRESENCE THROUGH PRAYER?
DO YOU NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON OBEDIENCE?
HOW CAN YOU HELP SOMEONE ELSE THIS WEEK TO ENLARGE THEIR DESTINY?
HOMEWORK FOR JOSHUA 2
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
APPLICATION OF JOSHUA 1
ALL YOUR LIFE GOD HAS BEEN PREPARING YOU--THE QUESTION IS FOR WHAT?
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO COOPERATE WITH GOD'S PREPARATION?
WRITE A LIST OF MAJOR EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE--WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THEM?
WRITE A LIST OF MAJOR EVENTS IN YOUR LIFE AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE--WHAT SPIRITUAL LESSON DID YOU LEARN FROM EACH EVENT?
PREPARATION FOR JOSHUA 2
READ JOSHUA 2:1-14 AND JAMES 2:24-25
WHAT WAS RAHAB'S ORAL CONFESSION OF FAITH BASED UPON?
READ JOSHUA 2:15-24 HEB 9:19-22 HEB 11:31
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SCARLET THREAD?
MEMORY VERSE: PROVERBS 18:21