Who Me? A Leader? - Joshua 1:1-18 - September 3, 2006

Sunday School Lesson - Who Me? A Leader? – September 3, 2006

We begin a new series of study. It is amazing to me how our LORD works. This series continues where we left off in our five (5) part series study on Exodus. Our study will center on the life and leadership of Joshua. Joshua is first mentioned in Exodus 17 where he led the fighting men of Israel against the Amalekites (uh-MAL-uh-kights). Joshua became the servant of Moses and accompanied Moses part of the way up Mount Sinai when GOD gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Joshua was also with Moses when he came down the mountain and found that the Israelites had made a golden calf.

Joshua was one of the twelve (12) spies who scouted the Promised Land and brought back a positive report along with Caleb. Joshua stood with Caleb urging Moses and Aaron to enter the Promised Land at that time. The other ten (10) negative spies prevailed and they did not enter the Promised Land until forty (40) years later. The LORD placed Joshua in the position to be Moses under study to prepare him to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. After Moses death, Joshua fulfilled his calling to conquer and possess the Promised Land.

The outline of Book of Joshua is:
Israelites crossing the Jordan – Chapters 1-4
The conquest of Canaan – Chapters 5-12
The distribution of the land among the tribes – Chapters 13-21
Joshua’s final address to the Israelites – Chapters 22-24

Our series of study will be:
Leadership Qualifications – Joshua 1:1-18 (Sept. 3)
The joy of victory – Joshua 4:1-24 (Sept. 10)
Handling Defeat – Joshua 7:1-26 (Sept. 17)
Leaving a legacy - Joshua 24:1-34 (Sept. 24)

As you may recall, our series of study in Exodus gave us a graphic description of our journey as Christians. Again the LORD has revealed that this study is a continuation of our journey as Christians. This revelation brought tears to my eyes and a joy to my heart that almost took my breath. My prayer is that each of you will see the LORD’S hand at work in your life as we study HIS work in the life of Joshua and the journey of the Israelites.

In Exodus we saw the parallel of GOD delivering the Israelites from the bondage of slavery in Egypt with our deliverance from the bondage of slavery to sin and death through the death and resurrection of JESUS. When we accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR, JESUS’ death and resurrection prepared the way for the human body to be indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT. When we ask CHRIST to forgive us of our sins and to come into our lives the HOLY SPIRIT indwells our human body. GOD has moved from being “with us” to GOD being “in us”. This allows us to move from knowing “about” GOD, through intellectual pursuit, to “knowing” GOD intimately through experiencing HIM in the most intimate way possible, “in us”. GOD “in us” can now, with our permission, change us from “within”.

Self help courses and motivation speeches appeal to our human senses. I am not saying these are not good, only that they work from the exterior to reach our interior. GOD wants to work on our interior, our core and change us from within.

The Ten Commandments attempt to shape us from the outside and lead us to GOD and reveal that we need GOD’S help for us to abide by the Ten Commandments. That is why we need a SAVIOR. Again, it is left up to us to choose. Do we choose to partner with HIM to build a loving intimate relationship? Do we want to enter the Promised Land of knowing GOD in a real and intimate way?

Our series of study in July brought us to the Promised Land, where it was scouted by twelve (12) spies. Of the twelve (12) spies only two (2), Joshua and Caleb, had faith and trust in GOD to be willing to enter the Promised Land at that time. The other ten (10) spy’s negative opinion prevailed and the decision not to go into the Promised Land was made. This decision displeased GOD which resulted in the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for forty (40) years. This series of study opens up a continuation of our journey into the Promised Land.

Let’s compare this to our Christian journey. When we ask CHRIST to forgive us of our sins and to come into our lives, we are delivered from the bondage of sin and death. Accepting CHRIST as our SAVIOR begins our Christian journey. We experience GOD with us as depicted by the miracles GOD performed and the Ten Commandments. We also arrive at the Promised Land by committing our lives to CHRIST and scouting it out. Can we trust GOD? Will we follow HIM or will we follow our own desires? If we commit to going into the Promised Land, can we trust GOD to help us stay the course and be a committed Christian? Can we trust our selves to stay the course? Will GOD ask us to do something we do not want to do?

Moses was disobedient to GOD and was denied entrance into the Promised Land. Are many of us denied entrance to really knowing and experiencing GOD because of our disobedience? Moses trained Joshua to be his successor. Because of Joshua’s obedience, he was granted entrance into the Promised Land. But the entrance is not without concerns.

Many of us have been faced with committing our lives to CHRIST but out of fear, have decided not to be obedient to HIS call. I know I fought the call for many years. Some respond to the call and enter into the Promised Land. Others of us for a variety of reasons delay. In fact some will enter into the Promised Land of heaven without experiencing the Promised Land of earth. We wander in the wilderness for years wanting to experience GOD. We see HIS hand at work all around us but never trust HIM enough to move out of our comfort zone and allow HIM to direct our lives. GOD sustains us during these times as HE sustained the Israelites by caring for them while they wandered in the wilderness. They never experienced the land that GOD had promised them.

So here we are again at the borders of the Promised Land. Shall we enter? Oh yes! We are going in to enter and conquer the land. We will see the hand of our LORD work in our lives.

We have gone to church, studied the Bible, prayed, taught bible studies but have never said here I am use me or send me or here I am as I am oh LORD take my life, mold me and use it as YOU want. Often these are very scary steps for us to take. Why?

Because we do not trust the LORD and what HE might ask us to do. HE may ask us something we do not want to do. This is why we must first have the personal intimate relationship with HIM. When we know and trust someone, we trust them with our lives.

We all have our favorite doctor or surgeon and trust our lives to their skilful hands and care. Many of us trust our spouse with our life to the extent of giving them power of attorney to pull the plug if we become incapacitated. How can we do such a thing? We have built a trust relationship with our spouse so that we trust them with our lives.

This is why our relationship with GOD is so important for us to move into the Promised Land. GOD can build that trust as we journey with HIM but we have to allow HIM to build that trust.

The question becomes who is the leader in our lives? Self or GOD?

When we enter the Promised Land, the land GOD has given to us, HE is the only ONE WHO can give us victory. HE is the only ONE WHO can give us power to conquer. There will be times of joy and times of disappointment. As we are on this journey we need to share with others – family, friends – so that our obedience will to partner with GOD and build a loving intimate relationship with HIM. They will be the future leaders and the future sojourners through life in relationship with our LORD.

Let’s read Joshua 1:1-5:

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua[1] = The Lord Will Save, or The Lord Is Salvation; Joshua is related to the name Jesus. son of Nun, who had served Moses: 2 “Moses My servant is dead.[2] Dt 34:5–8 Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.[3] Dt 11:24 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea.[4] Lit and to the Great Sea, the going down of the sun [5] Dt 11:24 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.[6]

JESUS marked off our territory before HE ascended into heaven. What is our territory?

Matthew 28:18-20:

18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[6] Lit and instruct, or and disciple (as a verb) all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[7] Lit look I am with you always,[8] Lit all the days to the end of the age.”

The world is our territory but the key is the last part of verse 20, “And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Allowing CHRIST to have full control of our lives is to enter into the Promised Land where GOD reigns as King of Kings and LORD of LORD’S. But to enter is a choice we make.

We read books about an area we wish to travel to. We can see pictures and videos of that area but until we go there we have not experienced it. Are we apprehensive when we plan a trip? Yes! But we choose to go, realizing there are concerns.

The same is true with our journey when we commit our lives to our LORD. When someone we love is in another place, we long to go to that place because of our relationship to him or her. This is why our relationship with our LORD is so important.

We need to spend time with HIM and tell HIM that we want to have the best possible relationship with HIM. Allow HIM to build that relationship with us. We cannot build a relationship by doing more things to try to please GOD but spending time with HIM through reading the scripture and talking to HIM through prayer. Then, as HE brings things to our mind, we can work on them together. We need to be honest with GOD and tell HIM about concerns we have with our relationship and then be still and allow HIM to open the eyes of our heart and reveal the area(s) in our lives that need attention to enhance our relationship.

Let’s read Joshua 1:6-9:

Heb 13:5 6 “Be strong and courageous,[7] Jos 1:7,9,18; 10:25; Dt 31:7 for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.[8] Gn 15:18; Ex 32:13 7 Above all, be strong and 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. 8 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. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. 9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous?[9] Jos 1:6–7,18; 10:25; Dt 31:7 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
When we serve our LORD, we must be obedient to HIM. We are filled with and guided by the HOLY SPIRIT. We must always look to HIM and not be led by our selfish desires. Our nature will rise up and try to take control, because our nature is at war with GOD. We can not look at the circumstances around us and let them discourage us. This is why we must have the relationship with our LORD to trust HIM in all circumstances and situations.

Let’s read Joshua 1:10-11:

10 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.’ ”

Preparation is always something the LORD asks us to do. Preparation is important from physical and spiritual points-of-view. Spiritual preparation is by asking the LORD to search our hearts for any unconfessed sin in our lives, prayer and Bible study. It is important that we move as GOD leads us and not as we lead ourselves. Sometimes we get tired of waiting on the LORD and we take matters into our own hands and do something.

When called, some of us need to raise support money or gather provisions to do the job. GOD directs our paths as we go about securing the provisions needed for the job.

When we have the relationship with GOD, we are in the center of HIS will for our lives and we will know which way to turn as HE directs. That is why our relationship with HIM is so important.

Let’s read Joshua 1:12-18:

12 Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: 13 “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land.’[10] Dt 3:18–20 14 Your wives, young children, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan.[11] East of the Jordan River But your fighting men must cross over in battle formation[12] Or over armed ahead of your brothers[13] Fellow Israelites and help them 15 until the Lord gives our brothers rest, as [He has given]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you, and they too possess the land the Lord your God is giving them. You may then return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of what Moses the Lord’s servant gave you on the east side of the Jordan.” 16 They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17 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. 18 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!”[14] Jos 1:6–7,9; 10:25; Dt 31:7

The Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had asked Moses to allow them to remain on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses gave them permission to do that, provided they helped the others conquer their portion of the land. They agreed.

I think this shows that we can make special requests of the LORD when we serve HIM. It is up to HIM to give the permission and that permission may have certain provisions attached.

Who is the leader in our lives? Self or the HOLY SPIRIT?

Where are you dwelling? In the wilderness, waiting to enter the Promised Land or are you in the Promised Land? Are you where you want to be?
Joshua is preparing to cross the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. Are we willing to cross over from our self controlled lives to following our LORD through the leadership of the HOLY SPIRIT?

As we commit out lives to the leadership of our LORD, others will be influenced by our decision. Those influenced are the ones closest to us, our family and friends. So as we follow our LORD, then we become leaders and influence others. JESUS said it best when HE said we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Who better to influence than those closest to us?