JOSHUA 1:1- 4
Moses no doubt was a great leader; he provided Israel with an exemplary leadership and direction in their most crucial and challenging period. Moses’ leadership was unparallel, matchless, without comparison (Heb.3:4-5; Num.12:1-12). Now that he was dead, Israel must move forward, the journey must continue, the promises of God must not be allowed to be frustrated (Deut.34:1-12; Josh.1:1). His death really created a vacuum and it appeared his shoes were too big for everybody in Israel, yet God's work must not be allowed to stop. Before his death, God has spoken to him to anoint Joshua for that office (Num. 27:12-23; Deut.34:9).
What lesson can we learn from Moses' death and the continuation of the work? Everybody is important and nobody is too important that his demise will stop God's purpose and programme and so nobody should see himself or should be seen as such. After Moses’ demise, Joshua was commissioned to take over; he equally provided a challenging leadership also at the critical period of Israel's life. Joshua also died and Israel still continued (Judges 1:1-4; 2:1-23). After the death of Joshua and the elders and all the generation that knew God, a spiritual decline set in.
We shall consider the following points:
1. Who Is Joshua
2. God's Mandate To Joshua
3. The Generation That Arose After Joshua's Tenure.
(1). WHO IS JOSHUA? (Joshua 1:1)
Joshua was the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim (Josh. 1:1; Num.13:8). He had been an intimate and faithful assistant of Moses during the forty years of wilderness wandering (Ex.17:8-13; 24:13; 32:17-19; Num. 13:8, 16). He was the leader of the Israelites in their conquest of the Promised Land. His full name Jehoshua (Num.13:16) means "Yaweh is Salvation" and is the same as the Hellenized (Greek) form of the name Jesus (Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8) His original name was Oshea (Num.13:8). He was over forty (40) years when he left Egypt and seemed well qualified to command the Israelite forces who fought the Amalekites at Rephidim (Ex.17:8-16). During the years at Mount Sinai, Joshua served as personal attendant to Moses (Ex. 24:13; 32:17; 33:11). Though he had commanded the army of Israel, even after leaving Sinai, Moses considered Joshua to be "Young" and found it necessary to rebuke him for trying to forbid two elders in the camp from prophesying (Num. 11:27-29). He was among the twelve selected to spy the land of Canaan. He represented the tribe of Ephraim and gave an approved heavenly report (Num.13:8, 27-33; 14:7-9).
Joshua and Caleb were the only two among others who searched the land that entered the Promised Land (Num. 14:36-38). Only Joshua and Caleb of those over twenty (20) years at the beginning of the wilderness journey remained alive at the end of the forty (40) years and were permitted to enter Canaan (Num. 26:65; 32:12; Deut.1:34-40).
(2). GOD'S MANDATE TO JOSHUA (Josh. 1:2-4)
The Lord ordered Moses to give Joshua a commission (mandate) as the new shepherded of his people when the Law Giver realized he would soon die (Num. 27:12-23; Deut. 3:21-29). Moses invested Joshua solemnly with honour or authority before Eleazer the high priest and the entire congregation and imparted to him spirit of wisdom as he laid his hand upon him (Num. 27:18, 23; Deut. 34:9). As part of Moses’ arrangement for covenant continuity, he charged Joshua publicly to be strong and courageous in order to bring Israel to the land of promise (Deut. 31:3-8). When Moses and his successor went and stood at the door of the tent of meeting, God directly commissioned Joshua (Deut. 31:14-15, 23).
After Moses' death, the Lord graciously repeated this charge to Joshua privately, enlarging His promise to encourage him on the eve of the invasion of Canaan (Josh. 1:1-9). This second commissioning or charge privately by the Lord defined for Joshua (a) The dimensions of the land he was to conquer as promised by the Lord (Joshua 1:4; Deut. 34:1-4; Gen. 15:18). (b) Assured him of giving him every place the sole of his foot shall tread (Josh. 1:5). (c) He was firstly charged to arise and go over Jordan (Josh. l:2). Jordan River at that point in time was the flood period. It was a very difficult task given the time of the year the task was to be undertaken.
Like the experience of Israel in the wilderness, their entrance into and conquest of Canaan can be called an "example" that was written for our admonition (I Cor. 10:11). The Promised Land and its conquest by the people of God typifies not heaven, but believers' present spiritual inheritance and salvation in Christ (Heb. 6:9; Mt. 6:31-33). Another point is that believers although already possess salvation and in one sense are in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3), yet they must fight the good fight of faith to ensure their possession of final salvation and eternal rest (l Tim. 1:18-20; 4:16; 6:12). As with taking of Canaan, the possession of salvation and eternal life involves a very serious spiritual warfare and conquest (Joshua 1:2-5; Eph. 6:10-20).
For Joshua and the Israelites, the possession of the Promised Land was realized and maintained by faith in God, expressed in obedience to His word and warfare against God's enemies (Josh. 1:7-9; Deut. 28:1-13). For the believer under the new Covenant, the possession of salvation and God's blessings are likewise maintained by a present living faith in Christ (1 Jn. 3:36) and in spiritual warfare against sin, the flesh and Satan (Gal. 5:16-21; Eph. 6:11).
As Joshua was charged to possess every bit of the land, so the believer is to conquer in every area of his life. Possession of the Promised Land (The Lord’s Inheritance) may be fortified as Joshua warns (2 Pt. 1:3-4; Josh. 23:16). The hope of final possessions of God's ultimate rest lies in faithfulness to and faith in God's promises (Josh. 1:6; Heb. 3:1-17; 4:1-6) in His power (Josh. 3:17) and in His personal presence and word (Josh. 1:5-9).
(3). THE GENERATION THAT AROSE AFTER JOSHUA'S TENURE (Judg. 2:1-10, 17-19)
After the demise of Joshua and all the people that outlived him, there arose a new generation which knew not the Lord (see Judg. 2:10). The cyclical pattern of spiritual decline and renewal of Israel began with the passing on of the generation that had taken the Promised Land and the emergence of a new generation of Israelites (Judg. 2:1-l3).
The following occurred when the old generations were gathered unto their fathers:
(a). The new generation drifted away from the righteous commitment and standard of their fathers and departed from personal relationship with the Lord (Judg. 2:10).
(b). They conformed to the lifestyles and values of their surrounding culture and it resulted in general apostasy (Judg. 2:11-13).
The result of the spiritual decline was the judgment that came upon Israel in the form of bondage and captivity (Judg. 2:14-15). But when they cried out to God because of their distress and repented of their backsliding (Judg. 2:15, 18) God heard their cry and restored them by raising a spirit filled leader (Judg. 2:16, 18).
When we understand/discover the root cause, and the fundamental nature of Israel's spiritual decline, we will know what is behind the serious spiritual decline in Christianity today (Judg. 2:7, 10-17).
(i). The new generation of Israelites departed from the ways and teachings of their father, they forsook their covenant relationship with God (Judg. 2:10) and turned to evil (Judg. 2:11-13) and questioned the standards and laws of the founding fathers (generation) (Judg. 2:17).
(ii). They turned aside from seriously obeying God's word (Judg. 2:2, 17) and lived instead according to their own desires (Judg.17:6; 21-25).
(iii). The Israelites failed to separate themselves from the evil culture of the Canaanites (Judg. 2:11-13; 1:28) instead they preferred the materialistic benefits and immoral pleasures of the people (Judg. 2:12-13; 1:27-28, 30, 33). They intermarried with the Canaanites (Judg. 3:5-6) and began to worship Baal and Astharoth (Judg. 2:13). Thus the inevitable, unavoidable syncretism of the two cultures and lifestyle took place.
(iv). This history illustrates that the natural direction of human nature since the fall is downward. Therefore the spiritual vitality of an individual or group of believers will diminish and decline except spiritual renewal periodically occurs by God’s grace through repentance, prayers and recommitment (2 Chron. 7:13-14; Is. 57:15; Mt.5:6; Jude 20).
(v) The second and third generation of Israel corrupted themselves more than their fathers (Judg. 2:19). Israel had a progressive deterioration; each successive generation was characterized by greater apostasy and spiritual corruption. The present generation of believers (Watchman) should ask themselves if they are as committed and devoted to God as was the generations that preceded them or are they conforming more and more to the ways of their society while rejecting the original standards of their fathers.
(vi) They refused to cease and to turn from stubbornness (Judg. 2:19-23). The serious failure (problem) of many of God's people to remain faithful to Him and His word is a recurring theme throughout biblical history.
(a) The Old Testament reveals God's people repeatedly turning from His love, righteousness, forgiveness and revelation, e.g. Adam (Gen. 3:1-7). His descendants (Gen.11:1-9) and the children of Israel (Ex. 32; Acts 7:34-53).
(b) Likewise in New Testament, Christ and the apostles reveal that towards the end of the age, many within the Church will depart from true faith in Christ and His revelation in the Bible (Mt. 24:10-12, 24; 2 Tim. 1:15; 4:1-4; Rev. 2:1-5; 3.1-5).
However, the scripture emphasizes that a righteous remnant will remain faithful to God and His revelation during times of spiritual decline. Among the many biblical examples of faithful men and women are:
1. Enoch - Gen. 5:21-24
2. Noah - Gen. 6:9-12; 7:1
3. Abraham - Gen.12:1-5, 18, 19.
4. Joseph - Gen. 37-50
5. Moses - Exo. 33:11-14; Deut. 34:1-13
6. Joshua and Caleb - Num.14:1-10
7. Ruth - Ruth 2:12
8. Samuel - I Sam. 2:26; 3:19.
9. Elijah - 1 Kg.18:20-22; 19:1-18; Rom. 11:2-5
10. The Prophets - Acts 2:52
11. John The Baptist - Lk.1:15-17
12. Simeon and Anna - Lk. 2:25-38
13. The Disciples - Acts 5:27-42; Jn. 6:66-69
14. Paul - 2 Tim. 4:6-8
15. The Overcomers - Rev. 2-3
16. The Blameless - Rev.14:1-5, 12 who constitute a great multitude from every nation that washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev.7:9-17). Are you among the few remnants or have you joined the bandwagon of the new generation seekers that have forsaken the Lord?
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