“Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.” - 1 Corinthians 16:13
Good morning! Today we are beginning our new series through the Old Testament books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the opening chapters of 1st Samuel. We will be discussing the period of Israel’s history during which the Hebrews invaded, occupied and settled in the land of Canaan - the Promised Land. This took place over 355 years, from approximately 1405 BC to 1050 BC. It began with the conquest of Joshua, which lasted about 7 years, and ended with the age of the judges, which persisted for almost 3 and ½ centuries. In terms of the overall timeline of the Old Testament, this era was immediately preceded by the exodus under Moses and followed by the united monarchy of Israel under kings Saul, David, and Solomon respectively.
I am calling this series “The Conquering and Independent Church”. This title highlights both the initial invasion of Canaan and the many years afterward when Israel existed as a confederation of independent tribes. This title also refers to Israel as the Church, though the 2 are distinctly different. Israel consists of a particular ethnic people group, sometimes referred to as the Jews. The Church includes all ethnicities, races, and nationalities - anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of their lives. The reason for equating them is to highlight that both groups were/are chosen by God and both had/have the same purpose of declaring Him to the lost world. The New Testament Church of today can benefit by reading and learning from the experiences of Old Testament Israel.
Over the coming months we will encounter many remarkable men and women including Joshua, Rahab, Deborah, Gideon, Ruth, Sampson, and Samuel. I pray that the stories of their boldness and faith will be an encouraging example to all of us. We will read of several amazing and miraculous victories, such as the iconic Battle of Jericho, but also of much hardship and oppression under the hands of the Mideonites, Philistines, and others. This period of history is characterized by a constant fluctuation of fortunes, from high to low and back again. I trust that we can apply many of its truths to our lives.
Let’s set the background… Some 40 years earlier Moses and the children of Israel departed from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and came to Mt. Sinai. After almost 2 years there, they broke camp and moved to the southern edge of the Promised Land. Spies went into the land, surveyed it, and based on their report, the Hebrews decided not to invade. As a result, they wandered about in the wilderness for 38 years as the entire older generation died off. By the end of the exodus, the children of Israel had arrived and camped in the plains of Moab - immediately east of the Jordan River adjacent to the land of Canaan. Moses climbed Mt. Nebo, looked out over the Promised Land, and then died, leaving a new generation of Hebrews to take up where their ancestors had left off…
I. GOD’S CHARGE TO JOSHUA (Joshua 1:1-5)
After Moses’ death, Joshua assumed command over the children of Israel. Though his exact age at this time is unknown, he would likely have been somewhere between 60-80 years old. Seeing that all of the older generation had died in the wilderness except for he and Caleb, Joshua would now be among the eldest survivors. Joshua had served faithfully as Moses’ second in command throughout the entire 40 year exodus. As a young man, he was 1 of the 12 spies who had been sent into the Promised Land. Joshua had already proven himself to be a man of incredible faith and military genius, and was the perfect leader for the task ahead.
God spoke to Joshua and told him that it was time for Israel to enter into the Promised Land - they had wandered about long enough. He told Joshua to rise up, cross the Jordan River, and lead the sons of Israel in their conquest of Canaan. He assured Joshua that all of the land where he’d set foot would be given to him, just as it had previously been promised to Moses. God further promised to be with Joshua - not to desert or abandon him - all the days of his life so that no one could stand against him.
There comes a time in most peoples’ lives when they are called to step up and take charge. Whether it be as the head of the family, in the workplace, or in some other context the day will come when others look to you as the leader. This was Joshua’s time. His spiritual mentor and hero was gone, and it was his turn to lead this new generation of Hebrews to finish what God had started. Would they be able to do what their fathers and mothers had failed to do? Would they be able to overcome the Canaanites and finally settle in the Promised Land?
II. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS (Joshua 1:6-9)
God told Joshua to be strong and very courageous. He would give this land to Israel as a possession just as He’d promised to Moses and their parents. Still, this mission would be dangerous and fraught with violence and warfare. The invasion and occupation of Canaan wouldn’t be easy because the inhabitants of the land were a mighty and formidable people. In fact, the first generation of the exodus were so fearful of the Canaanites that they’d cowardly opted not to invade.
Again God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. He urged him and the Hebrew children to carefully obey the Law which had been handed down to them during the days of Moses. He told them not to turn from it, but rather to speak it, meditate on it, and practice it. If they faithfully followed the Law, God would make Joshua and the descendants of Jacob prosperous and successful. Then, for a third time, God urged Joshua to be strong and courageous and said that He’d be with him wherever He went.
Dennis Prager is a Jewish radio personality and writer who I respect and listen to regularly. He contends that courage is among the most uncommon human traits, yet it is absolutely critical. What good is love if we don’t have the courage to love the unlovable? What good is wisdom if we don't have the courage to speak it in the face of foolishness? What good is a faith that crumbles or cowers under persecution? True goodness demands courage. Joshua would need strength and courage to succeed, and in much the same way, we need it to overcome the challenges of life,
III. PREPARING THE TROOPS (Joshua 1:10-18)
Joshua summoned his officials and instructed them to go throughout the camp and prepare the people. Within 3 days, they would break camp and cross the Jordan River. This would mark the beginning of the conquest of Canaan. Every family needed to get their possessions in order and ready themselves for the task ahead.
A few years earlier, during the later part of Moses’ life, he had given the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Mannasseh an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River, outside of the Promised Land. At that time, these 2 ½ tribes committed to assist their brothers in the invasion of Canaan when the appropriate time came. Seeing that that time had now come, Joshua reminded them of their commitment and told them to prepare themselves also. While their wives, children, servants, and so forth were allowed to stay home, these men would join in the invasion and remain until it ended. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Mannassites all agreed to honor their word, to fight alongside their brethren, and to obey and defend Joshua.
Notice that Joshua did not send a team of spies into the land to determine if an invasion attempt would be realistic or advisable. Instead, he immediately obeyed the command of God and prepared to enter. It was up for debate or discussion. God had already given the Promised Land to the children of Israel as an eternal possession. Their parents had squandered their opportunity to take it, and had paid a high price for their cowardly inaction. Joshua would not repeat the same mistake. He would not make obedience to the clearly revealed will of God the subject of a committee’s vote…
CONCLUSION
Many prominent voices describe the United States today as a “post-Christian” nation. They cite the precipitous decline of the Christian Church over the past century and the diminishing influence of Christianity upon the culture and society. While many Americans still identify as Christian, a large percentage of them are Biblically illiterate and fail to understand or even acknowledge Christianity’s historic role in shaping our country. Morality today is based more on secular popular opinion than on the written Word of God.
Beloved, I don’t know if the United States is past the point of rescue or not. Has God’s judgment already been determined for us, is it now unavoidable, and has it already begun? Is there any hope of revival or spiritual awakening left for America? Well, if there is, it will only happen when Christian men and women with the character of Joshua begin to step up and lead the way. We must return to a careful obedience of God’s commands. We must fearlessly wade into the cultural battle and stand for Biblical truth. We must be strong and courageous.
Good morning! Today we are beginning our new series through the Old Testament books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and the opening chapters of 1st Samuel. We will be discussing the period of Israel’s history during which the Hebrews invaded, occupied and settled in the land of Canaan - the Promised Land. This took place over 355 years, from approximately 1405 BC to 1050 BC. It began with the conquest of Joshua, which lasted about 7 years, and ended with the age of the judges, which persisted for almost 3 and ½ centuries. In terms of the overall timeline of the Old Testament, this era was immediately preceded by the exodus under Moses and followed by the united monarchy of Israel under kings Saul, David, and Solomon respectively.
I am calling this series “The Conquering and Independent Church”. This title highlights both the initial invasion of Canaan and the many years afterward when Israel existed as a confederation of independent tribes. This title also refers to Israel as the Church, though the 2 are distinctly different. Israel consists of a particular ethnic people group, sometimes referred to as the Jews. The Church includes all ethnicities, races, and nationalities - anyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of their lives. The reason for equating them is to highlight that both groups were/are chosen by God and both had/have the same purpose of declaring Him to the lost world. The New Testament Church of today can benefit by reading and learning from the experiences of Old Testament Israel.
Over the coming months we will encounter many remarkable men and women including Joshua, Rahab, Deborah, Gideon, Ruth, Sampson, and Samuel. I pray that the stories of their boldness and faith will be an encouraging example to all of us. We will read of several amazing and miraculous victories, such as the iconic Battle of Jericho, but also of much hardship and oppression under the hands of the Mideonites, Philistines, and others. This period of history is characterized by a constant fluctuation of fortunes, from high to low and back again. I trust that we can apply many of its truths to our lives.
Let’s set the background… Some 40 years earlier Moses and the children of Israel departed from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and came to Mt. Sinai. After almost 2 years there, they broke camp and moved to the southern edge of the Promised Land. Spies went into the land, surveyed it, and based on their report, the Hebrews decided not to invade. As a result, they wandered about in the wilderness for 38 years as the entire older generation died off. By the end of the exodus, the children of Israel had arrived and camped in the plains of Moab - immediately east of the Jordan River adjacent to the land of Canaan. Moses climbed Mt. Nebo, looked out over the Promised Land, and then died, leaving a new generation of Hebrews to take up where their ancestors had left off…
I. GOD’S CHARGE TO JOSHUA (Joshua 1:1-5)
After Moses’ death, Joshua assumed command over the children of Israel. Though his exact age at this time is unknown, he would likely have been somewhere between 60-80 years old. Seeing that all of the older generation had died in the wilderness except for he and Caleb, Joshua would now be among the eldest survivors. Joshua had served faithfully as Moses’ second in command throughout the entire 40 year exodus. As a young man, he was 1 of the 12 spies who had been sent into the Promised Land. Joshua had already proven himself to be a man of incredible faith and military genius, and was the perfect leader for the task ahead.
God spoke to Joshua and told him that it was time for Israel to enter into the Promised Land - they had wandered about long enough. He told Joshua to rise up, cross the Jordan River, and lead the sons of Israel in their conquest of Canaan. He assured Joshua that all of the land where he’d set foot would be given to him, just as it had previously been promised to Moses. God further promised to be with Joshua - not to desert or abandon him - all the days of his life so that no one could stand against him.
There comes a time in most peoples’ lives when they are called to step up and take charge. Whether it be as the head of the family, in the workplace, or in some other context the day will come when others look to you as the leader. This was Joshua’s time. His spiritual mentor and hero was gone, and it was his turn to lead this new generation of Hebrews to finish what God had started. Would they be able to do what their fathers and mothers had failed to do? Would they be able to overcome the Canaanites and finally settle in the Promised Land?
II. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS (Joshua 1:6-9)
God told Joshua to be strong and very courageous. He would give this land to Israel as a possession just as He’d promised to Moses and their parents. Still, this mission would be dangerous and fraught with violence and warfare. The invasion and occupation of Canaan wouldn’t be easy because the inhabitants of the land were a mighty and formidable people. In fact, the first generation of the exodus were so fearful of the Canaanites that they’d cowardly opted not to invade.
Again God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous. He urged him and the Hebrew children to carefully obey the Law which had been handed down to them during the days of Moses. He told them not to turn from it, but rather to speak it, meditate on it, and practice it. If they faithfully followed the Law, God would make Joshua and the descendants of Jacob prosperous and successful. Then, for a third time, God urged Joshua to be strong and courageous and said that He’d be with him wherever He went.
Dennis Prager is a Jewish radio personality and writer who I respect and listen to regularly. He contends that courage is among the most uncommon human traits, yet it is absolutely critical. What good is love if we don’t have the courage to love the unlovable? What good is wisdom if we don't have the courage to speak it in the face of foolishness? What good is a faith that crumbles or cowers under persecution? True goodness demands courage. Joshua would need strength and courage to succeed, and in much the same way, we need it to overcome the challenges of life,
III. PREPARING THE TROOPS (Joshua 1:10-18)
Joshua summoned his officials and instructed them to go throughout the camp and prepare the people. Within 3 days, they would break camp and cross the Jordan River. This would mark the beginning of the conquest of Canaan. Every family needed to get their possessions in order and ready themselves for the task ahead.
A few years earlier, during the later part of Moses’ life, he had given the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Mannasseh an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River, outside of the Promised Land. At that time, these 2 ½ tribes committed to assist their brothers in the invasion of Canaan when the appropriate time came. Seeing that that time had now come, Joshua reminded them of their commitment and told them to prepare themselves also. While their wives, children, servants, and so forth were allowed to stay home, these men would join in the invasion and remain until it ended. The Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Mannassites all agreed to honor their word, to fight alongside their brethren, and to obey and defend Joshua.
Notice that Joshua did not send a team of spies into the land to determine if an invasion attempt would be realistic or advisable. Instead, he immediately obeyed the command of God and prepared to enter. It was up for debate or discussion. God had already given the Promised Land to the children of Israel as an eternal possession. Their parents had squandered their opportunity to take it, and had paid a high price for their cowardly inaction. Joshua would not repeat the same mistake. He would not make obedience to the clearly revealed will of God the subject of a committee’s vote…
CONCLUSION
Many prominent voices describe the United States today as a “post-Christian” nation. They cite the precipitous decline of the Christian Church over the past century and the diminishing influence of Christianity upon the culture and society. While many Americans still identify as Christian, a large percentage of them are Biblically illiterate and fail to understand or even acknowledge Christianity’s historic role in shaping our country. Morality today is based more on secular popular opinion than on the written Word of God.
Beloved, I don’t know if the United States is past the point of rescue or not. Has God’s judgment already been determined for us, is it now unavoidable, and has it already begun? Is there any hope of revival or spiritual awakening left for America? Well, if there is, it will only happen when Christian men and women with the character of Joshua begin to step up and lead the way. We must return to a careful obedience of God’s commands. We must fearlessly wade into the cultural battle and stand for Biblical truth. We must be strong and courageous.