Joshua 01
The Lord Commissions Joshua
1:1 After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant:
When Moses died, General Joshua was 80 years old. He waited at the Jordan in order to hear marching orders from God. In the Old Testament, God spoke in dreams by night, in visions by day, through the high priest, through prophets, and sometimes in an audible voice. In the present Age, God speaks only through the written Word of God.
1:2 “Moses my servant is dead. Get ready! Cross the Jordan River! Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them.
Moses was dead, but God’s purpose was not. General Joshua was the one chosen to execute God’s will.
1:3 I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses.
Joshua will take every piece of land that he sets foot upon.
1:4 Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
These land dimensions were promised to both Abraham and Moses via the Abrahamic Covenant.
1:5 No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone.
The Canaanites were powerful warriors who built fortified cities in mountainous areas. However, since God is on the side of Joshua, Israel cannot lose. Israel will win every battle.
1:6 Be strong and brave! You must lead these people in the conquest of this land that I solemnly promised their ancestors I would hand over to them.
God encouraged Joshua to be strong and brave. God promised this land to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for eternity. Therefore, Joshua was backed by the promises of God.
1:7 Make sure you are very strong and brave! Carefully obey all the law my servant Moses charged you to keep! Do not swerve from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful in all you do.
God encouraged Joshua a second time to be strong and brave. To gain strength and courage, he was to study and obey the Mosaic Law. Studying Bible doctrine makes one strong and brave.
1:8 This law scroll must not leave your lips! You must memorize it day and night so you can carefully obey all that is written in it. Then you will prosper and be successful.
In order to become an effective leader, Joshua was to memorize the Mosaic Law. There were only five books written at this time of Israel’s history. The secret to a victorious life is memorizing and applying the Word of God.
1:9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.”
God repeated a third time that Joshua was to be strong and brave. He was never to panic, because God would always be at his side.
Joshua Prepares for the Invasion
1:10 Joshua instructed the leaders of the people:
General Joshua gave his battle plans to his army officers.
1:11 “Go through the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to you.’”
God was still feeding the Israelite people manna. However, this manna would not be available on the other side of the Jordan. Therefore, the people were to gather food supplies for the army. They could collect the fruit, grains, and livestock from the plains of Moab.
1:12 Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh:
These two-and-a-half tribes asked for land on the wrong side of the Jordan River.
1:13 “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you.
Joshua reminded these two-and-a-half tribes that they were still to fight with the other tribes.
1:14 Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers. You must help them
The women, children, and cattle were to remain in their homes, but the men were to fight. Liberals will encourage women to fight in wars, even though women were not physically, mentally, or spiritually created for combat. Women were to stay at home, raise godly children and support their men with prayer, food, and supplies. Feminists merge themselves with the satanic world system and attempt to disrupt God's original plan for men and women. If women get themselves involved in military, politics, public education, and business, then their children will be lost to the godless education system of the atheistic, liberal, feminist, and homosexual agenda. Mothers need to stay at homee and preserve the next generation while personally raising their children to become godly citizens who serve Christ and not mammon.
1:15 until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord’s servant assigned you east of the Jordan.”
The two-and-a-half tribes would be able to go back to their land after they helped the other tribes secure the land of Canaan.
1:16 They told Joshua, “We will do everything you say. We will go wherever you send us.
The two-and-a-half tribes were eager to follow General Joshua.
1:17 Just as we obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. But may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses!
The two-and-half tribes would follow Joshua as long as they knew that he was following God.
1:18 Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed. But be strong and brave!”
Anyone who failed to follow Joshua’s orders would be executed. Joshua was given the legal jurisdiction to capital punishment. Liberals try to strip away this God-given responsibility of government, When capital punishment is removed by a government, then violent crimes will make the streets of that nation unsafe.
Morale was high in the Israel army camp. The nation of Israel was young and eager to follow Joshua, but their lack of Bible doctrine would later cause them problems.
It is important to note that there are many new Christians in the world who are eager to serve the Lord, but they do not have enough Bible doctrine to fulfill their mission. They become complacent in their Bible study, ending up as casualties of war. Their divine appointments are given to another soldier who is better equipped to execute God's plan. These complacent soldiers place a greater burden on their brothers-in-Christ and also lose eternal rewards.