Chapter 7: The Battle Begins OR Joshua: The Battle Within

Joshua 1:1-9 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them – to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country – to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

Joshua 1:1-9 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “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.

Joshua 1:1-9 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Be strong and courageous. Weakness and Fear Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Joshua 1:9)

Weakness and Fear Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9) They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large… We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. (Numbers 13:27,31)

Old Testament as Prototype These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. (1 Cor 10:11)

Old Testament as Prototype In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. (Genesis 15:16)

Old Testament as Prototype Do not say to yourself, “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you.  It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you... Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess (Deut 9:4-6)

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage Joshua son of Nun and Caleb… tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:6-9)

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide:  “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. (Josh 1:1-2)

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites (Josh 1:2) And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”… Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. (Josh 3:7-8,15)

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage Unmanageable: Unsafe: Unpredictable:

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage Unmanageable: the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. (Josh 3:15) Unsafe: Unpredictable:

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage Unmanageable: the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. (Josh 3:15) Unsafe: But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large… We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are (Num 13:28,31) Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred (Josh 6:1) Unpredictable:

Joshua as Prototype of Strength and Courage Unmanageable: the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. (Josh 3:15) Unsafe: But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large… We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are (Num 13:28,31) Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred (Josh 6:1) Unpredictable: Then the five kings of the Amorites… joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. (Josh 10:5)

Strength and Courage from the Promises of God

Strength and Courage from the Promises of God The Lord said to Joshua… get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.  I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses… No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them… So Joshua ordered... ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you (Josh 1:1-6)

Strength and Courage from the Promises of God Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men… have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”  So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”…  The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!  (Josh 6:2-6,16)

Strength and Courage from the Promises of God The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.  (Josh 10:8-9)  

Strength and Courage from the Promises of God Joshua, by then a very old man, summoned all Israel.. and said to them: “I am very old… The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you… One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. Be very strong… You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise  has been fulfilled; not one has failed. (Josh 23:1-2,5,10,14)  

Strength and Courage from the Commands of God

Strength and Courage from the Commands of God  “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.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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.  Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged… Joshua said, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you (Josh 1:7-9,13)  

Strength and Courage from the Commands of God  Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses… There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses…  Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.  There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them. (Josh 8:30-35)  

Strength and Courage from the Commands of God Joshua, by then a very old man, summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: “I am very old… “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left… On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.  (Josh 23:1-2,6; 24:25)  

In the face of fear and weakness in our lives, we can find strength and courage to step forward in the Promises (Declarations) of God and the Commands (Decrees) of God Remember… The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake.  Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve  (Josh 23-24)