THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
Joshua 1
High School graduates seeking the secret to success?
“Most likely to . . .” . . . get rich; become famous; be successful in life?
How can WE be sure WE get there?
WHAT IS THE SECRET OF SUCCESS for a great leader?
What was Joshua’s secret of success? => Joshua 1
DEATH OF MOSES Deut. 34:1-8
At the end of 40 years of wandering in the desert, Moses, God’s servant, climbed Mt. Nebo, received a guided overview of the land, and died.
For 40 years Moses had been their leader, in every aspect of their life.
Moses died, but God’s promises remained very much alive!
Even though Moses would not lead the people into the land, God promises to fulfill His covenant and take them there. 34:4
The Lord buried him in Moab, so the Israelites would not be tempted to go back for him, nor worship at his grave.
They grieved over Moses for 30 days.
Then it was time to move on.
BEGINNING OF JOSHUA’S MINISTRY 34:9-12
With the death of Moses, a great period of Israel’s history came to a close.
Never again would God’s people be led by such a mighty leader.
Never again would their head talk face-to-face with God Himself, as Moses had done, until the Messiah should come. 10-12
Now it was up to Joshua to take them into the land. 9
Moses trained him.
The Holy Spirit prepared him.
God’s people followed him.
Under his leadership they would move into the land to claim it for Yahweh.
INVASION OF THE LAND Joshua 1-5
As Joshua begins, Moses, the mediator God used to communicate His covenant and to establish a relationship with the people, has died.
God demonstrates that His relationship with His people doesn’t depend on Moses.
God establishes a new mediator and assures him of His presence with him.
Under Joshua's leadership, God gives His people the land He promised them.
PREPARING FOR BATTLE Joshua 1-2
JOSHUA COMMISSIONED 1:1-9 God calls Joshua to lead His people.
Death of Moses 1:1-2a
Joshua is informed of Moses' death.
Moses is described as “the servant of the Lord.”
At the end of Joshua’s life, God refers to Joshua in the same way.
Though Moses is dead, God isn’t!
His purpose and His promise are very much alive!
They haven’t changed!
God is going to work through Joshua, as He did through Moses.
Though Moses is dead, God’s plan was never about Moses;
it was about God’s faithfulness to His people.
Command to conquer 1:2b-4
God commands Joshua to lead the people into the land to conquer it.
His heart must have skipped a beat as he heard God describe the boundaries of the land he was to lead the people to conquer.
Thirty-eight years earlier he had gone in to look around
–now he would lead God’s people and take it!
He knew firsthand what a great and fruitful land it was!
Can you imagine the questions in Joshua’s mind?
How can I fill Moses’ shoes?
What if I fail?
Joshua had good reason to be afraid!
The challenge was awesome!
It wasn’t easy to lead Israel around.
If they wouldn’t do what Moses said, how would they ever listen to him?
And the enemies were GIANTS!
Promise of God's presence 1:5
In summary, God’s answer to Joshua’s doubts was: be bold, cling to God’s Word, and leave the results to God!
God promises to be present with Joshua.
As He has been with Moses, He will be with Joshua–in the same way!
Joshua knew what that would be like–he had seen it personally!
God promises that He will never leave nor forsake Joshua.
He has made the same promise to us (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5)
Call to courage 1:6-9
Leading God’s people in their attempt to take over the land would have been frightening.
It was one thing to anticipate when Moses was with them.
Now Joshua has assumed that role.
He knows full well just how strong the enemy is.
Only GOD can do this. If He isn’t with them, they’re in trouble!
God encourages Joshua to bravely lead the people in accordance with His Word.
Three times God instructs him: “Be strong and courageous!”
He must not be overcome by his fears.
He must not let the people intimidate him.
* Trust God to lead you and to fulfill His promises. 1:6
Joshua was to be strong and courageous because of the promise of the land.
God promised to give the land to His people.
He is able to fulfill what He promised.
* Obey God’s Word and meditate on it. 1:7-8
Joshua was to be strong and courageous because of the priority of the Word.
Talk about it.
Don’t stop talking about it!
Meditate on it.
Meditate on it continually–not just once in a while; but all the time–day and night!
Obey it.
He is cautioned to obey ALL of it.
No deviation would be acceptable.
This advice runs contrary to the spirit of OUR age, as it did to popular opinion in Joshua’s day.
Everyone wants to follow their own idea
–I have a better idea!
We don’t want anyone to tell US what to do–not even God!
God says if you want true success,
it only comes by doing things HIS way!
If we meditate on God’s Word and do what it says, God promises true prosperity and success.
This is NOT a “prosperity gospel:” “Do this and get rich!”
* Don’t be afraid for God is with you. 1:9
Joshua was to be strong and courageous because of the presence of the Lord.
He doesn’t guarantee that there will be no opposition.
He promises His presence, when Joshua faces the opposition!
The “giants” and the fortified cities haven’t gone away!
=> But GOD is with him!
Joshua undoubtedly had days when he felt weak and incapable of leading God’s people against the giants.
At times like that WE need to be reminded of God’s challenge: “Be strong and courageous!”
At times like that we need to be reminded: “I am with you!”
God is the source of our power and abilities.
We must continually recognize our dependence on God
and obey Him.
PEOPLE PREPARED 1:10-18
Joshua immediately assumes command and prepares to enter Canaan.
His faith in God is demonstrated by his immediate obedience.
He speaks to the people, as God has spoken to him.
Officers organized 1:10-11
He orders the officers to organize the camp for departure.
He reminds them of God’s promise: God is giving the land to them.
They are about to go in and take possession of the land GOD is giving them.
It’s not about them! It’s about GOD!
That’s true of our battles too! It’s not about us!
The battle belongs to the Lord.
Transjordanites reminded 1:12-15
Joshua reminds the tribes who were planning to settle in Transjordan that they must first assist their brethren possess the land God is giving to them.
He calls on them to remember Moses’ command:
God has given them their land.
But before they can relax and enjoy it, they must help their brethren take possession of their land too.
Their response demonstrates that they haven’t forgotten.
They are ready and willing to join their brethren in the fight.
In fact, they are ready to go at the front of the battle!
Obedience promised 1:16-18
Joshua's confidence of his divine appointment is contagious.
The people assure him of their support and encourage him to obey God's voice and to tell them what God wants them to do. 1:16-17a
It must have been a strong encouragement for him to know the people were united in following his leadership.
Wouldn’t YOU have been excited to hear that they would be as submissive to your authority as they were to Moses’ authority over them? NOT!!
It’s one thing to be told that God would be with him in the same way.
It’s another to be told they would obey him as they had Moses!
Nevertheless, they offer a wholehearted promise of support for Joshua. They are sincere, even if they don’t see the irony in it!
Their promise acknowledges their recognition that God WAS with Moses.
They want Joshua to be the same kind of leader as he was.
The only condition they place on Joshua is that they must know that the Lord is with him as He was with Moses. 1:17b
If that’s true, they will be the enforcers to see to it that the people obey his Word. 1:18a
They echo the Lord’s encouraging words to him:
“Be strong and courageous!” 1:18b
Don’t let the situation get you down.
Hang in there! Trust God!
What an encouraging word from those who had been slow to believe previously!
So, what WAS Joshua’s secret of success? 1:7-8
Just as Joshua needed to be strong and courageous to face the uncertain situations he would face in his day, so we must be strong and courageous in our day as we face uncertain situations in our day.
We may not know what the future holds but, like Joshua, we know Who holds the future!
We can trust Him!
Young people, you graduate from high school without a clue as to what tomorrow may bring ...
But whether it’s more school, a job, or military service,. . .
Whatever political pressure we face, . . .
We can be just as sure that God’s in charge and we can trust Him!
His Word to us:
Be strong and courageous!
Cling to God’s Word.
Leave the results to God!
We can trust Him with OUR future, just as Joshua was able to trust Him.
We can be sure:
God will never leave us nor forsake us!
God knows all about our weakness!
Our confidence is based on God’s Word–NOT our abilities.
Obedience will produce blessing.