Be strong!

Joshua 1:1-18

Key Verse 1:6

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them."

Book of Joshua is a spiritual manual teaching us how to fight the spiritual battle and win all the time. 

This chapter teaches us the importance of spiritual morale. Let us see how we can build up the morale, the spirit of a brave, invincible army of the Lord. 

1. Read v. 1. What does the expression "Moses' aide" suggest to us about one of the secrets behind Joshua's great success in leading the flock into the Promised Land? 

** Spiritual discipline. Under Moses Joshua learned everything about spirituality, especially the way to fight the Lord's battle. One of the reasons why Jesus' disciples became largely successful was their spiritual discipline which they received under Jesus. Read also Proverbs 27:18 re: Joshua's service for his shepherd Moses. He worked hard in service of Moses, serving Moses for 40 long years. 

Proverbs 27:18  He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored.

2. Read v. 2. In what respect is the call to "get ready to cross the Jordan River" challenging to Joshua and all the rest? Yet why was this task necessary for them (cf. Eph 4:15)? 

** The opportunity to go out to the field, face the enemies, fight the battle, and earn the territory for the Lord inch by inch, offers you the opportunity to grow up as true leadership material. 

Ephesians 4:15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

Notice that the Lord God put the Israelites through 

three grounds: slave ground, training ground, and testing ground. The life in Egypt was a slave ground, the life in the desert a training ground, and the life they are facing now a testing ground, the ground where they can test what they learned thus far as a kingdom of priests and holy nation. This coincides with the three transactions described in Revelation in 5:9-10 which describes what they were (sinners), what they have been (a kingdom of priests), and what they will be (rulers in the world to come.)

3. Memorize v. 3. What does the expression "you set 'your' foot" tell us about the way to claim the promises the Lord God gives to his children (cf. Mat 11:12; Mar 9:23)?

** Two words explain the way: faith and obedience. We need to believe in the promises of God and then we need to take action by practically going out and making disciples one by one, pioneering college campuses one by one. 

Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 

Mark 9:23  "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."

4. Read v. 4. Who occupied the "territory" (cf. Deu 7:1; Num 14:43)? Yet why do you think the Lord God promised to give the land to the Israelites (cf. Exodus 17:11; Deu 20:18; Col 3:5)? 

** The Amalekites and the seven Canaanite nations. 

Deuteronomy 7:1  When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations--the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you--

Numbers 14:43 For the Amalekites and Canaanites will face you there. Because you have turned away from the LORD, he will not be with you and you will fall by the sword."

** The Lord God asked them to terminate these nations, because: 

1) Amalekites denied the existence of God as well as the Lord's ability to help people.

Exodus 17:11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.

Notice that Amalekites were descendants of Esau. Cf. Gen 36:12. 

Esau represents materialism, for he sold the birthright for one bowl of lentil soup. 

2) Seven Canaanite nations represented the root of idolatry. The Lord God wanted to root out idol worship, and establish the worship of the Lord. 

This indicates that the purpose [cause] of the battle was to root out the rule of flesh and material, and build the rule of God and His word. 

5. Read vs. 5-9 and describe the promises and charges the Lord gave to Joshua. How are they related to one another? What does this passage teach us about the key secret to a fruitful year? 

** This passage begins and ends with the promise (for the Lord to be with Joshua) and charge (to be strong), but in between them we can find the charge to obey the law of the Lord (or simply the Bible), showing us that obedience to God's word is the key for the Lord being with us as well as for us being not fearful but courageous. 

6. Read vs. 10-11. What can we learn from the following commands the General Joshua issued? 1) Get 'your' supplies ready; and 2) Go in and take possession of the Lord...for your own? 

** Thus far the Lord God provided them with everything, including food and drink. But from now on they were to learn to take care of themselves. They were to live as self-supporting shepherds and shepherdesses. 

** They must go in and fight the battle for their own benefit as well! In the final analysis, the Lord God asks us  to fight the Lord's battle like making disciples of all nations, not for Him, but for you, not for even for your pastors or religious organizations, or even for God, but for YOU!

7. Read vs.12-18. Why did Joshua put these tribes on the front line (cf. Numbers 32:7)? 

** To not hurt the spiritual morale. Joshua knew that in fighting the battle, spiritual morale is more important than anything else, and that one of the best ways to build up morale (the fighting spirit) is by encouraging everyone to participate in the sufferings of the Lord together!

  The end.