JOSHUA1:1-9

GOOD BEGINNINGS

 

Often, things that are new start with small beginnings.

 

The first electric light was so dim that a candle was needed to

see its socket. One of the first steamboats took 32 hours to

chug its way from New York to Albany, a distance of 150 miles. Wilbur and Orville Wright's first airplane flight lasted only 12 seconds. And the first automobiles traveled 2 to 4 miles per hour and broke down often. Carriages would pass them with their passengers shouting, "Get a horse!"

 

Sometimes getting started is the hardest thing for someone to do.

 

Kim Linehan held the world record in the Women's 1500-meter freestyle. According to her coach, Paul Bergen, the 18-year-old was the leading amateur woman distance swimmer in the world. Kim did endless exercises and swam 7 to 12 miles a day. The hardest part of her regimen?  "Getting in the water," she said.

 

I have often put things off, dreading doing what I had to do.

To my surprise, once I got around to doing what I needed to do, it took little time, and was fairly easy to accomplish.

 

Tonight we meet a familiar character who needs to get off to a good start in a new job.

 

His name is Joshua.

 

Originally his name was "Hoshea", which means "salvation".

Then, Moses changed his name to "Jehoshua or Joshua" which means, "Jehovah is salvation."

 

Joshua was Moses' assistant.

 

Exodus 24:12-13 - And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.

 

Joshua was also one of the two spies who brought back a good report about the Promised Land. When Israel rebelled, Caleb and Joshua did not. Hence, they were allowed to enter the promised land.

 

Numbers 14:30 - Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, [concerning] which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

 

He was the first general of the Israeli army.

Exodus 17:8-9 - Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

 

He was already publicly appointed by God through Moses to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

 

Numbers 27:18-21 - And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom [is] the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put [some] of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask [counsel] for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, [both] he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

 

Deuteronomy 34:9 - And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

 

As we study the first few verses in the Book of Joshua tonight, we see that Joshua is now being charged with the responsibility of leading the Children of Israel.

 

You can imagine some of his apprehension, as he is called upon to replace a great and Godly man, a legend! Joshua needed to get off to a good start.

 

I have seen pastors try to replace legendary pastors who were loved and had been in a church for a long time.  They usually don't last long because they were following a legend.  It isn't easy.

 

By looking at this text, we can see how we can get off to a good start when God calls on us to do something, even if we have to follow a "legend" at doing something.  And I have seen it done.

There is a pastor of the Hawthorne Bible Church in New Jersey who followed a man who ministered there for over 50 years. And yet, this young pastor has been able to successfully do the job of following the legend.

 

Our outline this evening:

REALITY - THE JOB IS MINE, Vss, 1-2

REASSURANCE - GOD IS WITH ME Vss. 3-5

RESPONSIBILITY - DO AS GOD SAYS Vss. 6-9

 

REALITY - THE JOB IS MINE Vss. 1-2

 

Moses had led the children of Israel, but was not allowed to go into the Promised Land. Why? He had disobeyed God.

 

Numbers 20:7-12 - And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts [also]. And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

 

Read Deuteronomy 34:7-12, then Joshua 1:1-2.

Joshua's story is the continuation of Deuteronomy.

 

Vs. 1 - Moses is called the "Servant of The Lord".

           That is a title that Moses deserved.

            It was a title of high honor.

           Moses, at this point, was well respected by his people.

           He had done a good job leading.

           No one, not even Joshua, could be another Moses.

 

For as much as Joshua is told to be "strong and of good courage" in these verses, I personally think that Joshua was scared to death.

 

He was probably apprehensive about filling the shoes of a great man.

He was probably apprehensive about the people.

He remembered how stubborn their parents were!

He was probably apprehensive about crossing the Jordan during flood stage.

He was probably apprehensive about the wars that faced him in the Promised Land.

And, he was probably apprehensive about his own ability to lead.

 

You have probably been called upon at one time or another to do a job for the Lord.  If you haven't, you will.  You will have a tendency to have the same type fears that Joshua had when you:

 

·       Are filling the shoes of a great predecessor

·       Looking at the situation and doubting your own abilities

·       Wondering how you will ever be able to lead people who are stubborn

 

Vs. 2 - God speaks to Moses, and you might say that God uses "shock therapy."

 

God says to Joshua, "Moses my servant is dead."

God is saying to Joshua, "Wake up and face reality."

Moses is dead and gone.

It has been said, "God buries his workmen, but not his work."

 

"Moses is gone Joshua. He's not coming back.

You are the new leader, Joshua, get up and take Israel across to the Promised Land."

 

God did not ask Joshua to be a Moses.

God asked Joshua to be Joshua, leading the people of God.

He did not have to fill Moses' shoes or be as good as Moses.

 

He simply had to do what God called Joshua to do!

 

You have probably heard of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, great preacher in 19^th century England. But have you ever heard of Thomas Spurgeon, his son?

 

It was said of Thomas Spurgeon, 'Young Spurgeon does not possess the fire and dash of his father, but he has much originality, humor, and force." Warren Wiersbe, Walking with the Giants (Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Book House, 1976), page 124

 

Thomas Spurgeon ministered in Australia and New Zealand quite successfully.  When his father, Charles Haddon Spurgeon died, there was much disruption and division in the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Thomas was called home for a year of ministry and ended up pastoring there successfully for about 15 years.

 

Thomas Spurgeon was no Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

According to Warren Wiersbe, "He knew himself and accepted himself. He did not try to be his father, although he certainly learned from his father. No doubt many people came to hear him because he was a Spurgeon; but after they heard, they came back. They detected an authentic note. Thomas Spurgeon was a voice for God, not an echo of his father. The gifts God had given him would have made him a successful minister of the Gospel even without the name Spurgeon." Wiersbe, page 127

 

There will be times when God will call you to do something that someone else has been doing. God will call you to take on a responsibility.

 

God might say to you, "So and So is dead," or "so and so has left."  There is a job to be done, and I want you to do it!  We might say, "I'm not qualified." or "I'm not as good as he or she was." That's not the point. If God calls you to do something, you need to do it!

And folks, remember this. God does not change. Even when leadership or personnel change, God remains the same!

 

Matthew Henry - "God will change hands to show that whatever instruments he uses, He is not tied to any."

 

REALITY - THE JOB IS MINE Vss. 1-2

REASSURANCE - GOD IS WITH ME Vss. 3-5

 

Vss. 3-4 - God had promised Moses and Israel a vast territory.

                God now says that the promises He made to Moses were good for Joshua.

 

Here is a great truth which you and I must grasp.

God's promises do not change.

God maintains His promises to each and every generation.

What are some of these promises?

 

Hebrews 13:5-6 - [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

Jeremiah 33:3 - Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

 

Psalm 23 - The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and GOOD BEGINNINGS - PAGE 8

 

mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

Romans 6:14 - For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

 

Romans 8:35-39 -  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

One of the reasons we should read the Bible for ourselves is so that we can discover the great promises found in the Scriptures.

 

Vs. 5 - There are great promises here:

 

1.  No man can stand before you.

     We might say, "God plus one man = a majority!"

     Goliath could not stand before David.

     Neb could not stand before Daniel or his friends.

     The enemies could not stand before Stephen, even though  

     they took his life.

      Paul could not stand before the Lord Jesus.

 

2. "As I was with Moses, so will I be with you."

 

When Moses spoke for God, God backed him up.

When Moses needed guidance, God gave guidance.

When Moses needed strength, God gave strength.

God stuck with Moses through thick and thin.

God tells Joshua, "I will do the same for you, as I did for Moses."

 

Let us remember that God will do for us, what He has done for other Christians.

 

3. I will not fail thee or forsake thee.

    Have you ever been left holding the bag?

    The board in one church made "snowballs" and I had to throw them.

   God says "I will never you leave you in the lurch."

   "I will never leave you holding the bag."

 

REALITY - THE JOB IS MINE, Vss, 1-2

REASSURANCE - GOD IS WITH ME Vss. 3-5

RESPONSIBILITY - DO AS GOD SAYS Vss. 6-9

 

If Joshua was going to be successful in his new role as leader he had to be obedient.  I think that we forget just how important obedience is.

 

We can make all sorts of sacrifices for the Lord, but if we don't do as we are told by Him what good is it?

We can spend all sorts of money on the Lord's work, but if it is "peace offering" because we are not doing what we are told what good is it?

We can spend all our time attending church and listening to or watching religious programs, but if we don't what we told by Him what good is it?

 

1 Samuel 15:22-23  - …Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…

 

In verses Joshua is told three times to be strong and courageous or of good courage.  When I repeat myself, I want a point to sink in. When God repeats Himself, He wants the point to sink in.

 

Actually in these verses there are three reasons to be strong and courageous.

 

Vs. 6 - BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PROMISE.

 

As mentioned before, God had promised that He would give Israel the Promised Land.  He could be strong and courageous because of this promise.

We've already talked about us having the promises of God. As we believe them and obey the conditions for the promises, we can be strong and courageous because we know that God keeps His promises.

 

Vs. 7 - BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PRECEPTS.

 

It will take strength and courage to obey the Word of God.

But true success will only come as we do exactly as God says, not going off to the right or the left.

 

Think of God's Word as Anderson Creek Road.

When you drive on Anderson Creek Road you need to obey the road, that is, you must stay on your side of the road.  If you go too far to the left, you could hit an oncoming car. If you go too far to the right you could end up in a ditch, the trees, someone else's yard, or a parked vehicle.

 

If we take God's Word too far to the left, we end up being liberal and displeasing God.

If we take God's Word too far to the right, we become legalistic.

 

Vs. 9 - BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE

 

God is saying, "Joshua, are you going to the Promised Land? So am I!"

 

Joshua could be strong and courageous because He wasn't going anywhere without God, especially when God was the one sending Him.

 

When Jesus was with the disciples in the middle of a storm out on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus didn't expect them to be afraid for two reasons. First, it was Jesus who had led them out into the sea that night. Second, Jesus went with them.  And, of course, it was Jesus who calmed the storm.

 

My friend, as long as you follow the will of God, you can be assured of His presence to help and strengthen you.

 

BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PROMISE

BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PRECEPTS.

BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE

 

We want to obey God, by being strong and courageous, but how do we go about doing so?

 

Vs. 8 - Here is the answer.  We become strong and courageous as we do as we are told in this verse.

 

Vs. 9 - First of all, "this book of the law", or God's Word, is not to depart from our mouths.  In other words, God's Word should be talked about, referred to, and discussed.  If the Word of God is the topic of our conversation, we are more likely to do as it says.

 

But a word of warning, what comes out of your mouth is a direct result of what is in your heart.

 

Luke 6:45 - A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 

So how do we get the Word of God on our lips?  It must be in our hearts first. How do we get the Word of God in our hearts? By meditating on God's Word.

 

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…

 

Psalm 1:2 - But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 

Psalm 119:15-16 - I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. [16] I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

 

Psalm 119:97 - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

 

To meditate is to think upon or dwell upon something.  You already meditate on a lot of topics including your job, your family, your problems and your daydreams.

 

In order to effectively meditate on God's Word I believe we need to memorize it. That will take effort. And don't say you can't memorize! You can memorize at least one verse a month, and probably one a week or more. And you will need to review your verses.   I place my verses on 3x5 cards.  

 

Joshua 1:8 gives us the purpose for meditation on God's Word.

that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:

   

The whole purpose of meditating on God's Word is so that we will be obedient.

 

Psalm 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 

And what is the result of obedience to God's Word?   

 

Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

True prosperity and success are the results.

 

REALITY - THE JOB IS MINE, Vss, 1-2

REASSURANCE - GOD IS WITH ME Vss. 3-5

RESPONSIBILITY - DO AS GOD SAYS Vss. 6-9

We are to be strong and courageous.

BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PROMISE

BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PRECEPTS.

BE STRONG BECAUSE OF GOD'S PRESENCE

 

We become strong as we meditate in the Word of God.