“The Promised Land” part 10 1400- 1000 BC… Joshua – 1Sam (Page 151) & Selected Pastor Dave Martin, Cross Creek Community Church, Nov 2, 2014

Background… Because of unbelief, Israelites wander 40 years in the wilderness Moses dies on Mt Nebo, God calls Joshua to lead His people

Deuteronomy 31:2-3 2 "I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, 'You shall not cross the Jordan.' 3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.

I. Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land (Fulfilling God’s promise made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob)

Understand the Situation… Joshua 1-5 2-3 million people with no escape route… Flooded Jordan River

Understand the Situation… Joshua 1-5 2-3 million people with no escape route… Flooded Jordan River Now in the land of their Hostile enemies… Jericho, Giants

Understand the Situation… Joshua 1-5 2-3 million people with no escape route… Flooded Jordan River Now in the land of their Hostile enemies… Jericho, Giants Men hurting from circumcision… Celebrating Passover

Understand the Situation… Joshua 1-5 2-3 million people with no escape route… Flooded Jordan River Now in the land of their Hostile enemies… Jericho, Giants Men hurting from circumcision… Celebrating Passover Joshua in new position of leadership… Pressures mounting

II. God gives Joshua three assurances: His Promise v6, His Power vs7-8, His Presence v9

Joshua 1:6-9 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 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. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; 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. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

Led by God, they claimed their possession! Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.

III. Joshua dies, ushering in the 350 year rule of the Judges… (12 Judges such as Ehud, Deborah & Barak, Gideon, Abimelech, Samson, Samuel, etc)

Baal & Ashtoreth worship Judges 21:25 25 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

The Pattern of the 12 Spiritual Cycles… … Israel falls into Sin & Idolatry > Enslavement > Cries out to the Lord > God raises up a Judge > God delivers > Israel again serves the Lord …

IV. Israelites failed to recognize God as their True King (God gives the people the leaders they deserve)

1 Samuel 8:4-7 4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 They said to him, "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have." 6 But when they said, "Give us a king to lead us," this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.

1 Samuel 8:17-22 17 He (Gov’t / King) will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. 18 When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day." 19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles." 21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, "Listen to them and give them a king."…

Saul, People Choice Award – proud, indecisive, divider 1 Samuel 12:12-13 12 "But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, 'No, we want a king to rule over us'--even though the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you asked for; see, the Lord has set a king over you.

David, Man after God’s Heart – humble, decisive, uniter Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'

What makes the Difference between political leaders: Core Valves (Current cultural Issues /core values should matter to Bible believing Christians)

V. What our Political Leaders believe today does matter! Righteousness exalts and blesses a nation, Prov 14:34 As sin & corruption increases - freedom decreases, Rom 1:18-22 Solution for America is God… repentance & participation, 2Chron 7:13-14

BE sure to VOTE your VALUES!

Next Week: “HIS story – OUR story” Dedication Join us Wednesday’s at 6:30 for “Digging Deeper” Bible study!