WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.419 So as I say, we're going to begin studying the book of Joshua for the next little while just to introduce it. 00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:23.000 It's interesting that Joshua is author, Joshua is the title, and Joshua is the key theme in the sense that Joshua means the Lord saves. 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:30.539 Now, the book of Joshua is all about the next phase of God's salvation plan. 00:00:31.140 --> 00:00:36.519 It records the next phase of the history of redemption after the death of Moses. 00:00:37.120 --> 00:00:49.519 It will see the people of God led by Joshua enter into the promised land, engage in conquest in order to bring God's judgment and for them to enjoy salvation. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:57.020 And then we see them sharing out the inheritance as God fulfills his promise. 00:00:58.359 --> 00:01:08.400 Joshua is a prophet as well as being leader, and he is deliberately, for the people then and for our benefit today, choosing sermons. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:13.400 He's preaching to us to preach more of God's redeeming love to us. 00:01:13.400 --> 00:01:21.760 This isn't just the history, this is the history of God's acts, revealing God's character, showing God's covenant love. 00:01:22.240 --> 00:01:31.960 So with that in mind, we're going to hear Keith read for us from Joshua chapter 1, and then he'll pray, and then we'll get into our text. 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:36.820 Our scripture reading is from Joshua chapter 1, verses 1 through 18. 00:01:36.819 --> 00:01:45.439 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua, son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 00:01:45.979 --> 00:01:47.619 Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:54.780 Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the river Jordan into the land I'm about to give to them, to the Israelites. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:58.959 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:08.180 Your territory will extend from the desert of Lebanon and from the great river, the Euphrates, all the Hittite country to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 00:02:08.780 --> 00:02:12.060 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. 00:02:12.599 --> 00:02:15.219 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:02:15.539 --> 00:02:17.500 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:02:18.180 --> 00:02:24.180 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:26.639 Be strong and very courageous. 00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:30.679 Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:35.459 Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:39.000 Keep this book of the law always on your lips. 00:02:39.619 --> 00:02:43.739 Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. 00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:46.379 Then you will be prosperous and successful. 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:49.579 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 00:02:50.119 --> 00:02:54.579 Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 00:02:54.580 --> 00:02:57.960 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people, 00:02:58.600 --> 00:03:00.140 Go through the camp and tell the people, 00:03:00.620 --> 00:03:01.620 Get your provisions ready. 00:03:02.140 --> 00:03:04.460 Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here, 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:09.100 and go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own. 00:03:10.380 --> 00:03:14.939 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 00:03:15.320 --> 00:03:18.280 Remember the command that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you. 00:03:18.280 --> 00:03:22.840 After he said, The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land. 00:03:23.379 --> 00:03:28.300 Your wives, your children, and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:33.879 but all your fighting men ready for battle must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. 00:03:34.659 --> 00:03:38.479 You are helping them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:43.060 and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:46.479 After that you may go back and occupy your own land, 00:03:46.560 --> 00:03:50.819 which Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise. 00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:52.819 Then they answered Joshua, 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:57.240 Whatever you have commanded us, we will do, and wherever you send us, we will go. 00:03:57.740 --> 00:04:01.580 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. 00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:05.599 Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:08.900 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, 00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:12.000 whatever you may command them, will be put to death. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:14.659 Only be strong and courageous. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:16.939 This is the word of the Lord. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:29.139 So as we begin in Joshua 1, we are going to meet Joshua as God's chosen leader. 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:37.519 This week, all over the news, we have seen tragic scenes at the Capitol building, haven't we? 00:04:37.519 --> 00:04:42.839 We've seen a painful transition of leadership. 00:04:44.120 --> 00:04:45.259 Fear on the one hand. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:48.379 Anger on the other hand have been very evident. 00:04:49.379 --> 00:04:59.599 Divided loyalties pointing to perhaps towards deep divisions within a nation that's been so sad to watch. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:08.080 I wonder, on a lesser scale, have you ever found yourself unsettled by leadership changes? 00:05:08.620 --> 00:05:15.840 Perhaps in a classroom setting, a new teacher introduced with a different way of working. 00:05:15.839 --> 00:05:24.500 Perhaps in your workplace, a different boss or project manager with different views and a different leadership style. 00:05:25.019 --> 00:05:29.819 Even in church, a change of ministry can become unsettling, perhaps. 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:38.959 And those leadership changes are made even more difficult when they come at critical moments or when they come during a time of crisis. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:46.819 So it's one thing having a teacher change, but it's quite another when that change happens during an important exam year. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:57.000 Changing a boss is one thing, but if you're working on a project and it's near completion and new management is introduced, that can add layers of complexity. 00:05:58.000 --> 00:06:04.480 And of course, any kind of change during a pandemic is so difficult to manage. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:08.639 We put ourselves in Israel's shoes for a moment. 00:06:09.639 --> 00:06:15.120 Israel has been led by Moses for over 40 years. 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:19.139 And remember, the book of Joshua begins with a funeral. 00:06:19.819 --> 00:06:22.740 It begins after the death of Moses. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:31.439 Moses, who was called by God, who was sent to Egypt, who led the people out of slavery, led them through the Red Sea, 00:06:31.840 --> 00:06:36.819 led them in the wilderness towards God to establish covenant with the people. 00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:39.019 He has now died. 00:06:39.740 --> 00:06:44.160 They are within sight of the promised land, just over the Jordan River. 00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:49.260 And that both speaks to them of hope and fulfilment, but also speaks of danger, 00:06:49.260 --> 00:06:54.760 because they've already discovered there are spies and there are giants and there are fortified cities. 00:06:54.759 --> 00:07:02.139 So when we reflect for a moment, perhaps we can imagine some of the fear, some of the questions. 00:07:03.219 --> 00:07:07.879 We can imagine that some in Israel may have been daunted by the task at hand. 00:07:07.939 --> 00:07:13.699 And certainly Joshua seems to have been daunted by the task facing him. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:20.019 Well, what becomes clear in the book of Joshua, chapter one, is that God is in charge. 00:07:21.259 --> 00:07:28.800 God speaks and God in mercy chooses his new leader to continue his plan of redemption. 00:07:29.539 --> 00:07:34.139 He then sets out qualities for that new leader, Joshua, to follow. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:41.659 And he also makes it plain that God's people are to follow God's leader. 00:07:43.240 --> 00:07:47.759 Now, for us today, I'm sure the connection to Israel is not that difficult to make. 00:07:47.879 --> 00:07:51.439 We, many times, I imagine, have felt unsettled. 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:55.899 A sense of our own weakness, daunted by what's ahead. 00:07:55.899 --> 00:08:03.419 But we, too, have that same call to follow, in our case, Jesus, God's chosen king. 00:08:04.199 --> 00:08:14.219 As we stand on the edge of an uncertain future, we are called to live by trusting and obeying Jesus. 00:08:15.159 --> 00:08:17.159 Trusting that God will be with us. 00:08:17.719 --> 00:08:21.219 Ultimately, God will take us home to our promised land. 00:08:21.500 --> 00:08:24.120 And to recognise that Jesus is the better Joshua. 00:08:24.120 --> 00:08:27.780 He is God who saves. 00:08:28.180 --> 00:08:32.679 Because he is God and he has come as our saviour. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:42.740 So let's pick up our Bibles and let's look at what we discover about God's chosen leader in verses one to six. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:45.000 So again, back to verse one. 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:49.560 After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua. 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:57.959 So into this potential power vacuum, where his dominant figure has been removed from the scene of time, God speaks. 00:08:59.199 --> 00:09:09.559 And it's important that Joshua understand and the people understand that whereas Moses has died, God's promises, God's power, God's plans have not. 00:09:09.559 --> 00:09:14.259 God's voice comes as the answer to Joshua's fears. 00:09:14.779 --> 00:09:18.199 God's word is the answer to our fears. 00:09:18.619 --> 00:09:22.379 Three promises are brought into view for Joshua. 00:09:22.919 --> 00:09:27.259 And the one hope that binds them all together is none other than God himself. 00:09:28.479 --> 00:09:31.279 The first promise is all about a place. 00:09:31.279 --> 00:09:33.339 We go to verse two. 00:09:34.519 --> 00:09:36.019 Moses, my servant, is dead. 00:09:36.199 --> 00:09:42.980 Now that you and all these people get ready to cross the river Jordan into the land I am about to give to them. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:46.439 And then the details of the extent of that territory are laid out. 00:09:46.500 --> 00:09:53.779 And then in verse six, be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 00:09:53.779 --> 00:09:57.659 So this land is God's gift to them. 00:09:58.199 --> 00:10:01.720 This land is their inheritance from God. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:06.419 The promised land belongs to God and he wants to give it to his own people. 00:10:07.019 --> 00:10:09.579 This land had been promised to Abraham. 00:10:10.019 --> 00:10:20.100 You can read Genesis 12 and 15 and see those promises made that Abraham, his family would become a nation and that nation would enter into Canaan and it would be the promised land for them. 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:28.580 We can see that promise repeated to Moses as he is called by God to go to set the people free from slavery in Egypt. 00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:34.060 They were to be set free in order that they would enjoy life with God in the promised land. 00:10:36.860 --> 00:10:43.779 The difference of time between Abraham and Joshua is maybe about 500 years, but that promise of God holds true. 00:10:43.779 --> 00:10:52.959 And so Joshua is going to be the leader who will take Israel into that land, which is both a gift and an inheritance from God. 00:10:54.379 --> 00:11:04.919 So he reminds Joshua of the promise of a place, but he also promises his powerful protection in verse five. 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:10.039 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. 00:11:10.039 --> 00:11:15.679 Now we need to bear in mind that Israel is a small nation, not a superpower. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:18.659 It has no formal standing army. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:22.759 It has had very little experience of battle. 00:11:24.219 --> 00:11:31.199 When spies were sent over the Jordan into the promised land, they came back and 10 of them were fearful. 00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:34.279 There be giants, they said. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:42.299 But here, God reminds Joshua, he is a warrior for them. 00:11:42.839 --> 00:11:46.519 He is the commander in chief for them. 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:49.480 And they have evidence to look back on. 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:58.259 The 10 plagues in the story of the Exodus, showing that God was much greater than the gods of Egypt. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:02.059 The parting of the Red Sea to let his people go across. 00:12:02.059 --> 00:12:06.059 The fact that they were provided for in the wilderness for 40 years. 00:12:06.099 --> 00:12:09.379 So they always had water, they always had food and their clothes didn't run out. 00:12:09.979 --> 00:12:14.379 And in their more recent history, they've defeated the kings of Sion and Og. 00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:23.599 And so Joshua is being encouraged that he as leader will see kings and nations fall in line with God's covenant promise, 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.659 because God will fight for his people. 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:30.339 And then there is this third promise. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:35.500 And it's the promise of God's presence. 00:12:36.360 --> 00:12:37.719 End of verse 5. 00:12:37.939 --> 00:12:41.579 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:12:42.139 --> 00:12:46.059 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:54.299 Now Joshua, when we look at the story of his life to date, we see him as a warrior in the army. 00:12:54.419 --> 00:12:56.939 We see him chosen as Moses' assistant. 00:12:58.179 --> 00:13:02.679 We see him acting as a faithful spy, saying God will give them the land. 00:13:03.159 --> 00:13:06.439 We see that he is appointed to succeed Moses. 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:10.380 But we also see he is someone who is nervous and afraid. 00:13:10.760 --> 00:13:16.800 And it says no wonder, I mean, Moses' shoes are big shoes to fall, to step into. 00:13:17.280 --> 00:13:20.500 And what a gift, verse 5 then, is to Joshua. 00:13:21.460 --> 00:13:23.480 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:25.120 How was God with Moses? 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:32.160 Well, God revealed himself and revealed his truth and revealed his glory to Moses. 00:13:32.159 --> 00:13:32.459 Moses. 00:13:34.620 --> 00:13:38.799 Moses enjoyed communion with God. 00:13:40.079 --> 00:13:43.620 God spoke to Moses, the Bible says, as a man talks with his friend. 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:48.000 And God gave guidance and wisdom to Moses. 00:13:48.519 --> 00:13:52.199 And these realities that Joshua would need would be his. 00:13:52.679 --> 00:13:53.579 That's the promise. 00:13:54.539 --> 00:13:57.659 And God says, never will I leave you, never will I forsake you. 00:13:57.699 --> 00:13:59.559 You're not going in there alone. 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:03.139 You're not going in, Joshua, on your own strength. 00:14:03.959 --> 00:14:10.179 Rather, as God's leader, he would know the I am God who is with him. 00:14:11.119 --> 00:14:14.719 Speaking comfort to his anxious heart. 00:14:15.139 --> 00:14:18.919 Just as Jesus did with his disciples. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:30.039 In human terms, we can think, I am sure, of particularly high profile, well-established leaders. 00:14:30.699 --> 00:14:35.459 Where succeeding that person, it seemed like you were almost destined to fail. 00:14:36.959 --> 00:14:39.620 To take that job would be the poison chalice. 00:14:40.439 --> 00:14:43.319 They spoke of that a lot with Alex Ferguson at Man United. 00:14:43.439 --> 00:14:44.459 Still do, in fact. 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:46.980 Or we might think about Steve Jobs at Apple. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:48.180 A couple of examples. 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.800 Would that be true for Joshua? 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.440 Following on from Moses? 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:53.900 No. 00:14:54.500 --> 00:14:58.220 Because in God's kingdom, it's all about God and not us. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.300 It's all about God's plans. 00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:01.759 God's strength. 00:15:01.920 --> 00:15:02.460 God's will. 00:15:02.780 --> 00:15:04.680 And God's chosen leader. 00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:10.840 Now, there's some important lessons that we can learn for ourselves. 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:12.660 And the first is this. 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:21.300 Right from the beginning, we see that God speaks to make clear who he has chosen to continue the plan of redemption. 00:15:21.639 --> 00:15:22.460 It had been Moses. 00:15:23.120 --> 00:15:24.300 Now it would be Joshua. 00:15:24.700 --> 00:15:30.860 And ultimately, he will speak so clearly to announce to the world, Jesus is my chosen king. 00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:38.240 We see it at his baptism, where the voice from heaven speaks, this is my son who I love. 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:46.919 At the transfiguration, Jesus shines with the glory of God and the disciples are told, this is my son and you need to listen to him. 00:15:48.300 --> 00:15:51.919 He is revealed to us as God's chosen king in so many ways. 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:59.700 Paul in 2 Corinthians 1 says, all the promises of God are yes and amen in Jesus. 00:15:59.700 --> 00:16:05.980 So secondly, we need to recognise that the great promises God makes here are promises that are fulfilled in Jesus. 00:16:07.020 --> 00:16:09.379 God promises his people a place. 00:16:10.220 --> 00:16:14.200 Jesus comes and he says to his disciples, in my father's house are many rooms. 00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:19.879 I am going to prepare a place for you and I'll come back and take you to be with me so that you might be where I am. 00:16:20.280 --> 00:16:25.160 Our place is eternal glory in heaven with Jesus. 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:25.399 Jesus. 00:16:27.219 --> 00:16:28.799 The promise of protection. 00:16:29.919 --> 00:16:35.100 What becomes clear is that Jesus has come into the world to enter into spiritual battle on behalf of his people. 00:16:35.719 --> 00:16:40.100 Jesus has fought not physical but spiritual enemies, Satan and sin and death. 00:16:40.199 --> 00:16:47.860 And at the cross, he has won a decisive victory so that by faith in Jesus, our sin is forgiven. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:51.019 We're in the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of darkness. 00:16:52.300 --> 00:16:57.200 And we have the assurance that nothing now can separate us from the love of God. 00:16:57.940 --> 00:17:00.720 And what about that promise of presence? 00:17:02.700 --> 00:17:05.940 Jesus also said, I will never leave you. 00:17:06.400 --> 00:17:07.779 I will never forsake you. 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:13.420 Jesus, having spoken the great commission to his disciples, said, I am with you always. 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.779 Even to the end of the age. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:20.079 A promise for the church in all times and all places, including for us. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:27.839 And a third lesson for us at this stage is to recognise that like Israel, 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:34.160 we will be called to follow God's chosen leader who is Jesus. 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:39.540 Just like them, our circumstances might be changing and of course they're changing right now. 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:45.180 But we follow and we trust an unchanging God who has unchanging purposes for our good. 00:17:45.259 --> 00:17:50.680 And so we are called to walk by faith, following Jesus as Lord. 00:17:52.779 --> 00:17:57.820 So having established that Joshua is his chosen leader, 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:02.920 God then speaks to Joshua to set out for him, secondly, 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:06.360 God's pattern for his leader. 00:18:07.480 --> 00:18:10.240 So he's armed Joshua with rich promises. 00:18:11.240 --> 00:18:14.660 And now it becomes clear that he must live for God. 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:17.560 And he must do that in two basic ways. 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:20.460 First of all, he must trust God. 00:18:21.420 --> 00:18:24.080 There is a repeating theme in chapter one that we see 00:18:24.080 --> 00:18:26.900 in different places throughout the book of Joshua. 00:18:27.820 --> 00:18:29.759 Be strong and courageous. 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:34.740 Verse seven, be strong and very courageous. 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:40.900 Now it's really important that we understand that Joshua is not being invited 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:45.579 to put his trust in his own resolve and courage. 00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:51.160 Rather, he is invited to consider the source of his trust. 00:18:51.160 --> 00:18:57.240 It's because of God's character and God's promise. 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:05.500 It's because God is present with him that he and we can be strong and courageous. 00:19:06.300 --> 00:19:08.880 We are weak, but he is strong. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:16.860 In verse nine, he is reminded that as God's chosen leader, 00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:20.340 he must show faith and not fear. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.660 Verse nine, have I not commanded you? 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:25.320 Be strong and courageous. 00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:26.540 Do not be afraid. 00:19:26.680 --> 00:19:27.720 Do not be discouraged. 00:19:28.260 --> 00:19:31.900 For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 00:19:31.900 --> 00:19:37.019 So that command to be strong and courageous is sandwiched by, 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:40.720 I will be with you wherever you go. 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:42.580 I have commanded you. 00:19:44.640 --> 00:19:51.460 The temptation for Joshua and the temptation for us when we face daunting times 00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:57.460 is to change our perspective, to change what we look at and focus on. 00:19:57.460 --> 00:20:01.100 So we look around at circumstances. 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:03.340 For Joshua, he may have looked at the Jordan River and thought, 00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:05.019 how are we going to get across safely? 00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.779 He may have looked at the enemies. 00:20:06.860 --> 00:20:07.340 He'd seen them. 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:07.860 There's giants. 00:20:07.980 --> 00:20:09.000 There's fortified cities. 00:20:09.059 --> 00:20:12.480 He may have looked at the relative size of Israel compared to the great nations 00:20:12.480 --> 00:20:14.200 that they were going to do battle in. 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.100 He could have looked around. 00:20:15.220 --> 00:20:19.140 We can look around at our circumstances so that we end up not with faith, 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:19.840 but with fear. 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:25.120 There's also that temptation to look in, to think, hang on a minute. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.120 I'm not Moses. 00:20:26.200 --> 00:20:26.960 I'm no Moses. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:30.440 How on earth can I do what God is asking me to do? 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:32.019 And maybe we have that. 00:20:32.100 --> 00:20:34.840 We feel like we're being tested beyond our capacities. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:39.140 And instead of that being a cause for displaying God's glory 00:20:39.140 --> 00:20:42.920 and his grace and strength in our weakness, we just give in to fear. 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:47.680 We're being reminded, where does faith look? 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:49.319 It doesn't look around. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.319 It doesn't look in. 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.660 Faith looks up. 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:56.620 It looks up to our God and to our Saviour. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:21:06.579 So God's leader is called to trust in God and called, secondly and importantly, to obey God. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:15.240 Priority number one for Joshua as leader is to keep, to obey, to live by God's word. 00:21:15.319 --> 00:21:17.079 We see that in verse 7 and 8. 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.619 Be careful to obey all the law. 00:21:18.619 --> 00:21:21.740 Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:26.919 Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:30.039 Keep this book of the law always on your lips. 00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:36.439 Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. 00:21:36.440 --> 00:21:40.120 This book of the law was a covenant document. 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:49.059 God had entered into a covenant, a relationship with his people by his grace and goodness, not because of their merit. 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:58.720 And God is saying that he would be faithful to his side of the covenant, but that Joshua and Israel, they had a choice to make. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:00.759 It was clearly laid out within the covenant. 00:22:00.919 --> 00:22:03.319 If you choose to obey, you will enjoy God's blessing. 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:07.599 If you choose to disobey, you will experience God's curse. 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:14.539 And so Joshua, as leader of the people, was to commit to obeying the book of the law. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:19.019 Not turning from it, but being careful to keep all of it. 00:22:19.459 --> 00:22:22.659 Total obedience, not optional, not when it was convenient. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:25.980 That's what obedience looks like. 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:28.699 He's told, keep it on your lips. 00:22:30.179 --> 00:22:32.819 Be reading God's word. 00:22:33.199 --> 00:22:35.099 Be listening to God's word. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:37.980 Be sharing the truth of God's word with others. 00:22:39.339 --> 00:22:41.339 Meditate on God's word. 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:41.819 What does that mean? 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.859 It doesn't mean to empty one's mind. 00:22:43.959 --> 00:22:46.019 It means to fill one's mind with God's truth. 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.439 To chew it over. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:50.819 To reflect on it so it becomes internalised. 00:22:50.899 --> 00:22:56.359 We might do that by writing a verse down or trying to memorise. 00:22:56.359 --> 00:23:01.500 Or picking out key words and reflecting on them and certainly turning it to prayer. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:08.039 But the message is God's leader must obey God's law and God's will with all his heart. 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:17.720 Now remember, this is Joshua being spoken to as leader of the people of God, leader for Israel. 00:23:18.440 --> 00:23:22.639 He is intended to be an example for all to follow. 00:23:24.460 --> 00:23:26.180 And remember, Joshua is also prophet. 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.379 So he's preaching this. 00:23:27.460 --> 00:23:30.480 He's saying, listen, this is what God has taught me. 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:32.299 I must trust him and I must obey him. 00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:35.700 People of God, we must do the same. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:37.940 It's like family values. 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.620 We know how that works, don't we? 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.819 Parents aim to model. 00:23:42.100 --> 00:23:47.140 We know we do this imperfectly, but we aim to model how children should live. 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:52.519 Especially as Christian parents, we look to show how God's word should influence all of life. 00:23:52.580 --> 00:23:57.880 How the gospel should give hope and life and joy and love to our children. 00:23:57.880 --> 00:23:59.620 It's true, it's true, it's true, it's true. 00:23:59.620 --> 00:24:06.640 It's true, the shared values of any group that they are passed down and that we can also learn by a process of imitation. 00:24:09.640 --> 00:24:14.780 That brings us to two really crucial truths for us to understand. 00:24:15.780 --> 00:24:23.340 One, Joshua is the pattern for all Christian leaders. 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:31.439 That in whatever our role, our responsibility of leadership, we lead others in this way. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:40.039 We do it as we trust in God and as we are led by God's word and as we look to be faithful in obeying God's word. 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:48.460 So if you're a leader in your workplace, you go there trusting God. 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:55.319 You look to have the values of God's word determining how you go about your business. 00:24:57.819 --> 00:25:05.259 Husbands, this is a call to show spiritual leadership in our homes. 00:25:05.259 --> 00:25:21.619 Parents, this is a call to us as leaders of our children. 00:25:22.579 --> 00:25:26.140 That we want to show them what it looks like to trust in God. 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:31.400 We want to show them the value of God's word by reading it with them. 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:43.580 By reflecting on its truth with them, by seeking to show Jesus and the gospel from the stories and the poetry, from the letters that are found in there. 00:25:44.820 --> 00:25:54.560 Church leaders, in whatever level, we do that trusting in God, being directed by the word of God. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:26:01.539 If you're a leader of any kind, this is your most basic and fundamental blueprint for leadership. 00:26:02.659 --> 00:26:11.819 As Christians, we are to trust God and we are to be led by God's word as we go out to lead others. 00:26:11.819 --> 00:26:24.839 And the second vital thing for us to recognise is that Jesus, as God's chosen king, perfectly models trust and obedience. 00:26:25.700 --> 00:26:35.639 Because when we are honest, it doesn't take us too long in our past to recognise how often, sometimes how badly we fail. 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.460 But not Jesus. 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:41.620 Jesus kept God's law absolutely. 00:26:42.700 --> 00:26:47.940 Jesus resisted the most fierce temptation and never gave in to sin. 00:26:48.440 --> 00:26:54.240 Jesus showed total commitment and determination to do God's will in God's way. 00:26:54.340 --> 00:27:00.380 And that led him to the cross because he'd come to die in our place for our sins, to be our saviour. 00:27:00.380 --> 00:27:12.260 And crucial for the good news is that Jesus is the one leader, the one king who perfectly obeys. 00:27:12.700 --> 00:27:14.840 Because Jesus came as our substitute. 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:24.440 So where we fail and where we break God's law in our thoughts, our words, our actions, Jesus always succeeded. 00:27:24.440 --> 00:27:29.120 So the demands of the law have been met. 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:41.220 But Jesus also, as our substitute, takes the curse for a broken law that we should pay on himself at the cross. 00:27:41.900 --> 00:27:51.320 Jesus suffers and dies in our place for our sins, satisfying the justice of God for a broken law. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:28:01.039 But showing us the love of God and that God himself pays the price so that we, by trusting in Jesus, by faith in Jesus, 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:06.619 we can receive all the blessings of life in fellowship and covenant with our God. 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:19.359 So on our pilgrimage, as we live as exiles, whether we're leaders or not, we trust in our perfect king and saviour, Jesus. 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:27.619 And we choose faith and obedience as the tracks that our lives will follow. 00:28:27.619 --> 00:28:34.039 One last thing to draw our attention to. 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:37.619 And this time the story shifts focus. 00:28:38.299 --> 00:28:40.479 Attention is now on Israel's response. 00:28:40.579 --> 00:28:46.439 Because the third thing I want us to see is obeying God's chosen leader. 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:48.279 We see the people obeying. 00:28:48.279 --> 00:28:57.539 Attention focuses in verse 10 to 18 on Israel, but especially on the two and a half tribes who have already received an allotment of land. 00:28:57.619 --> 00:28:59.619 They're already settled and secure. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:03.579 And the question is, how will they react to Joshua as leader? 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:06.819 Representing the people, how will they respond? 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:09.879 Will we see power plays? 00:29:10.639 --> 00:29:14.539 Will we see a clash of personalities? 00:29:14.539 --> 00:29:21.460 Will there be hostility or will there be a smooth transition? 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:25.039 So God's plan will continue. 00:29:26.500 --> 00:29:34.359 We see Joshua acting as a ruler in verse 10. 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:38.519 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people go through the camp and tell the people, 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:43.059 get your provisions ready because they were going to go over the Jordan in three days. 00:29:43.059 --> 00:29:48.740 And then in verse 12 to 15, there's a special order for this two and a half tribes who are already settled. 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:57.679 They're told, get ready to fight, to help the rest of the people so that everyone might enjoy God's rest. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:06.440 They might have the joy of being God's people in God's place, under God's rule and enjoying God's blessing, 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:08.419 as Vaughan Roberts puts it so helpfully. 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.440 How will they react? 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:16.480 And the good news is, verse 16, they answered Joshua, 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:18.759 whatever you have commanded us, we will do. 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:21.600 And wherever you send us, we will go. 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:23.200 We will obey your command. 00:30:23.380 --> 00:30:28.080 They recognize God's chosen leader and they're going to show full loyalty to him. 00:30:28.620 --> 00:30:33.279 Verse 17, just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you only. 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:36.279 May the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 00:30:36.279 --> 00:30:42.099 They desire the best for him and the best that a leader can know is to know God with them. 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:47.919 One last verse, and it's a really striking verse. 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:57.400 These tribes, they say, whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them will be put to death. 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.240 Only be strong and courageous. 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:07.359 In other words, choosing to honor and to obey God's chosen leader is no small thing. 00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:10.200 Rather, it's a life or death thing. 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:15.640 To follow Joshua as leader will bring life and rest in the promised land. 00:31:16.360 --> 00:31:21.059 But to rebel will bring death as judgment. 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:30.319 So chapter one concludes, showing Joshua has been clearly appointed as God's leader. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:35.559 And the people are clear that they must obey. 00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:47.500 In our setting, Jesus has for us clearly been demonstrated to be God's chosen king. 00:31:47.939 --> 00:31:52.179 At his baptism, at the transfiguration, in his resurrection. 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:57.019 Ascension, risen as God's king with power. 00:31:57.900 --> 00:32:04.880 Seated at the right hand of God at his ascension, now ruling and reigning until his return. 00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:11.279 Jesus is God's ruling, reigning, returning one day king. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:17.839 And so the challenge for Israel becomes the challenge to ourselves. 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:24.799 Are we submitting, submitting fully and submitting gladly to Jesus as our king? 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:28.420 Showing undivided loyalty. 00:32:29.980 --> 00:32:31.500 Following his word. 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:37.779 Because we're reminded how serious an issue this is. 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:43.160 Responding to Jesus is a life or death choice. 00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:46.139 Eternity is at stake. 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:48.859 Heaven and hell are at stake. 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:51.559 Jesus must be our Lord. 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:54.799 We must follow his ways. 00:32:55.779 --> 00:32:58.359 Trusting in his saving work for us. 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.960 To redeem us. 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:03.440 And to bring us. 00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:05.259 To anticipate. 00:33:05.619 --> 00:33:06.639 To have hope in. 00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:08.500 And to be found in. 00:33:08.940 --> 00:33:09.360 Our. 00:33:10.140 --> 00:33:10.940 Promised Land. 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.820 Ideal to be found in. 00:33:12.320 --> 00:33:14.420 Undernat distortion. 00:33:14.420 --> 00:33:15.420 Geoled to Feat boom in. 00:33:16.140 --> 00:33:17.279 If we apostate in. 00:33:17.320 --> 00:33:18.299 We must follow his findings. 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:19.380 To be found in. 00:33:19.380 --> 00:33:19.940 Christian. 00:33:20.019 --> 00:33:20.320 Visto. 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