Joshua 1:1-9

God's Promise to Joshua 1:1-9

Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses-' minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them,
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper wither-soever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written herein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

1.

How long after Moses-' death did God wait to instruct ?Joshua 1:1

God gave specific instructions to Joshua after the death of Moses. When Moses died, no man knew where he was buried. The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days (Deuteronomy 34:8). A thirty-day period of mourning was customary among people of Joshua's time. When Jacob died in Egypt, Joseph commanded that his father be embalmed according to all the arts of the physicians of Egypt. This process took forty days. The people then mourned for an additional thirty days so that the entire period of mourning was threescore ten days (Genesis 50:3). When Joseph died, he was also embalmed. We would expect that a similar period of mourning would follow for Joseph (Genesis 50:26). When Aaron died, the children of Israel mourned for thirty days for him (Numbers 20:29). It is reasonable to expect that the people of Israel would have done very little in the way of preparing to enter Canaan until after the period of mourning for Moses was ended. At the time God began to give specific instructions to Joshua. Joshua turned to the people to give them directions concerning their crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land.

2.

What is the difference between the titles of Moses and ?Joshua 1:1

Moses is called the ... servant of Jehovah. Joshua is called ... Moses-' minister. Moses-' title is a standing epithet applied to Moses as an honorable title (cf. Numbers 12:7-8; Deuteronomy 34:6; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Kings 18:12, etc.). Joshua's title is also used in Exodus 17:9 and Numbers 13:16. The Hebrew root, sharath, is a verb meaning to minister, serve. Joshua was not Moses-' minister in the sense in which this word is used in modern church circles. He must have enjoyed a position similar to the one occupied by John Mark, who was called a minister of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 13:5). Joshua was an assistant or aide to Moses. As all Christians are servants of God, so was Moses. In a special way, however, Moses did God's bidding.

3.

Did this command come by the use of the Urim and Thummim? Joshua 1:2

When Joshua was first called to his work, he was told that the high priest would bring him God's messages through the medium of the Urim and Thummim. On this occasion, the thing required was not merely that the will of God should be made known to him, but that he should be given the courage and the strength that he would need to carry out the will of God. Actually, this was something of a second calling (cf. Numbers 27:21; see Joshua 5:13). The kind of strength which Joshua needed to begin his conquest of Canaan could hardly come from knowledge which would be gained through the medium of the Urim and the Thummim, The situation called for God's speaking directly to him.

4.

Why was this second address necessary? Joshua 1:3-9

Even the bravest men hesitate when they come face to face with the great challenges of their lives. They may even step aside and shun to perform their duty for a moment. Joshua was a brave man, and God's assuring him of His abiding presence would give him additional courage. Moreover, the people needed to know that Joshua did not take action until God had given him complete instructions. This would make them much more inclined to follow him. For all these reasons the second address of God to Joshua was not at all superfluous. It only enhances the charge which Moses gave to Joshua as the Lord commanded (Numbers 27:18-23).

5.

How could they understand this Lebanon? Joshua 1:4

Even from the place of encampment the mountain would be visible as it towered above the surrounding land. If reference were not made to the peak itself, the range would be visible. With a wave of the hand, a speaker could address the congregation and point to the horizon where the mountains met the sky and formed the northern boundary. The Lebanon range reached to the headwaters of the river Euphrates, which was also mentioned in the setting of the boundaries of the Promised Land. The Great Sea was the Mediterranean Sea and would be the western boundary toward the going down of the sun.

6.

What promise did God make to ?Joshua 1:5

Especially significant is this promise, I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. This compares very favorably with the promise made in Deuteronomy 31:8. At that time Moses was giving his final address to the people of Israel. He had reminded them of the way in which God had given them victory over their enemies. He pled with them to be strong and of good courage. He especially gave a parting exhortation to Joshua as he told him to be courageous inasmuch as he had the responsibility of going with the people into the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers to give them. Moses knew that Joshua would have the privilege of causing them to inherit it. The greatest encouragement given to Joshua came through knowing God would be with him and not fail him nor forsake him. For this reason, Moses could tell Joshua not to fear nor to be dismayed. God Himself repeats this promise to Joshua.

7.

Was this an unconditional promise? Joshua 1:6

Joshua had something to do. The following list of duties was his:

a.

To be firm and strong (Deuteronomy 31:6)

b.

To rely on God, as Moses had said (Deuteronomy 31:7; Deuteronomy 31:23)

c.

To divide the land for an inheritance (Deuteronomy 1:38; Deuteronomy 3:28)

d.

To observe carefully the Law (Deuteronomy 5:29; Deuteronomy 28:14)

If Joshua did these things, then God would be with him. If Joshua failed to do these things, he had no promise of God's abiding presence.

8.

What is meant by the expression ... not to depart from thy mouth? Joshua 1:8

This was not to be a theoretical speculation, but a practical study on the part of Joshua. God's Word was to be hidden in his heart. He was to be thoroughly familiar with the Scriptures so that his speech would be flavored by the Word of God. He was to be conversant in the Scriptures so that he would feel at home when speaking to the priests, the prophets, and the elders of the people. Although he was primarily a military man and had the responsibility of government, his campaigns were to be waged in the light of God's instructions. His government was to be the kind of government which could be blessed by God.

9.

Why did God ask the question, Have I not commanded thee? Joshua 1:9

This is what is known as a rhetorical question. It was just another way of saying, I have commanded thee. It is an assertion on the part of God which could be met only with obedience on the part of Joshua. It was an assurance given by God on Joshua's behalf, and Joshua would naturally be inclined to respond with ready action in the name of God. When Joshua would ask himself this question, the answer would be apparent to him. He knew what God had commanded him. If God had commanded him, he need have no fear of doing what he was expected to do. The question would also remind Joshua that he had no other alternative. If God had commanded him, he could not shun his responsibility, He was not serving man. He was God's servant,

10.

In what other circumstances had God said, Be not afraid? Joshua 1:9 b

The believer's mind turns reflectively to many such occasions. Adam and Eve had been afraid in the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:10). Their fear came from their disobedience. The shepherds were afraid when the angelic host appeared to them. The angel said unto them, Fear not (Luke 2:9-10). The disciples were afraid when Jesus came unto them walking on the sea. At that time He said, It is I, be not afraid (John 6:20). Mortal man is naturally afraid when he stands in the presence of immortal God. He feels his weakness and sinfulness; but when he is willing to yield his will to the will of God, the Heavenly Father speaks peace to the troubled heart. Joshua was not only made fearful by the message from God, but he was naturally afraid of the enemies whom he would face in the Promised Land. Moses had earlier encouraged him not to be afraid (Deuteronomy 31:6; Deuteronomy 31:8), and now God speaks directly to encourage Joshua in his work.