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Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus
Joshua: Part 1 East Rock
Joshua: Part 1
Today we are beginning a new teaching series in the book of Joshua.
Our goal in this series is not just to brush up on ancient history, but to join the generations of God’s people who have looked back to see the faithfulness of God.
Our series begins at a watershed moment in the story of God’s people.
Joshua 1:1-2
After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
In these opening verses, the book of Joshua is linked to the entire story of God’s people that has led up to this watershed moment.
The book of Joshua is a continuation of the story of God and his people.
Beginning all the way back in Genesis 12 and Abraham, God had promised Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the starts in the sky and that his people would have their own land, it would be a land given to them by God himself.
A promise hundreds of years in the making was about to be realized, and Joshua was God’s chosen man to lead his people.
Joshua 1:3-5
I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
God had given the people the land, now it was time for them to step out in faith and live into that promise.
This promise was not without its challenges. Flooded rivers and fortified cities. Real giants in the way, hard battles to be fought, this new life would require faith to triumph over fear. It was not going to be easy
Joshua was being called to lead his people into battle, into seemingly impossible situations.
Joshua 1:6
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
The promise of God’s presence comes before the command to be strong and courageous.
This wasn’t about Joshua being a super warrior- this was about what God was about to do- he needed Joshua to have faith.
It’s as if God says: “Joshua, I am with you, I am your strength. Be strong, because I am here, you are going to do this, be bold because we are going to do this together.”
Joshua was God’s chosen leader, but it was God’s strength that would ultimately bring about victory for his people.
Joshua 1:7-9
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
First Joshua is commanded to be strong and courageous in God’s presence. Now, he is to be strong and very courageous through obedience to God’s word.
They key to life in God’s promised land, was living God’s way. Joshua was to be strong and courageous in obedience to God’s word.
What we see in the story of Joshua is the people of God encountering real obstacles to living out their faith. And in the face of all those things, we see the power of God’s presence and his continued faithfulness to his people.
And Friends, that links the story of Joshua to our story today.
We were brought from the wonderings of our life in sin, to the promise of His spirit birthed within us by one greater than Joshua- Jesus Christ himself. Now, we have a life to live in Christ, and it’s not easy.
Sure, we don’t have literal flooded rivers to cross of fortified cities to conquer. But we do have real struggles- Health challenges, financial pains, relational brokenness. We have things in our lives that seem impossible. Real situations that we have to choose faith over fear. Real life circumstances that are beyond anything we can do alone.
That’s our story, and that’s the story of Joshua.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”