Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Life is full of beginnings and endings
• Examples: school, death, jobs
• Such times are often key times
• The book of Joshua is in many ways a book of beginnings
• They Israelites had spent 40 years in the wilderness - due to disobedience
• A whole generation of people had died
• The call now was to cross over the Jordan river and enter into the promised land
• A time to consecrate themselves afresh
• Tonight marks:
• The end of a holiday period
• Children beginning school
• As a church On the eve of three nights of prayer
• Overview:
• Entering into a New Phase
• Entering into God's Plan
• Entering into Victory

Entering into a New Phase (v1-2)

The Death of Moses

• Joshua needed to be reminded that Moses was dead
• Now it is you Joshua
• Now is the time to move on - you cannot rely on Moses
• Joshua is reminded that the land is for the children of Israel
• The death of Moses
• The death of an individual is difficult
• The death of a revered individual is especially difficult
• Personal example
• Imagine Joshua who had known Moses
• It must have been very hard to see Moses die
• Example of Moses accomplishments and character
• Deut 34:7
• Died at 120 full of vigour
• Maybe this was a shock for Joshua
• "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints"
• Buried in the plains of Moriah
• God's people wept for 30 days
• It was the unfolding of another era
• Another people
• Changed from unbelief
• To be victorious over the enemies
• To support their leader
• Death provided a vacancy
• Joshua would be the one to lead God's people forward
• It was a new phase

Cross the Jordan

• Joshua has to lead the people of God forward
• The land belongs to the people of God
• It is the fulfillment of the Covenant
• 'Go and possess the land'
• The time to advance, to be strong and of good courage

What do we learn from this?

• Depend on God
• Moses could no longer be depended on
• Joshua and the people of God had to depend on God
• God gives the jobs
• Moses had one job - Joshua was given a different job
• We are not to be dependent on any man or woman
• God is quite able to fill spaces and vacancies
• We are to look to God to open or close doors
• We are to accept God's providence
• God's encouragements
• Joshua was one of the eldest - he must have felt very overwhelmed but God knew how to encourage him
• Deut 31:7-8
• He receives encourage from Moses himself
• He receives a promise from Moses
• It is a promise that God gave directly to Joshua (later on)
• Can we take this promise to ourselves?
• God has promised that He will never leave not forsake us
• You never face things alone - God is with you
• We are to depend upon the promises of God
• Specific encouragements:
• Joshua 1:5 - God will be with Moses
• God was with Moses at all times
• Moses and Joshua were sinful men and we are sinful people - yet God has promised to be with us
• Joshua 1:6 - Be strong and of good courage
• Joshua 1:18 - The people repeat this exhortation
• Are we not crippled by our own fears?
• Look to God
• Joshua 1:9 - God is with us wherever we go
• A wonderful promise to Andrew and Jenny
• If we enter a new phase, we are never alone - God is with us
• Hold onto the promises that God has given in your life

Entering into God's Plan

• They were entering into the fulfillment of God's plans
• 600 years previously God had spoke to Abraham
• Not quite fully fulfilled at the time of David and Solomon
• Imagine a promise made 600 years ago - God is now fulfilling His promise
• Even though there was 40 years of wandering in the wilderness
• Joshua was from a slave family
• He was a man of war
• He was a man of consecration - Ex 33:11
• He was a man of humility - Num 11:28
• He was a man of faith
• He was God's man
• God set him apart - Num 27
• The Spirit of Moses fell upon him
• He was to fulfill God's plan to enter into the land
• If we are the children of God, we are in His plan and will
• The Lord might have a person for you to speak to
• You have certain gifts that others might not have
• The Lord has service for you to do
• There are good works that He has prepared for you to walk in
• You will be part of the fulfillment of God's plan

Entering into Victory

• Some of the best scholars see lessons of salvation in the Book of Joshua
• Joshua in Greek is Jesus
• Moses changed the name of Joshua
• Joshua means the Lord is Salvation
• Joshua is a type of Christ
• Comparisons
• Read AW Pink, Spurgeon, FB Myer - they see more than just black and white [written in Joshua]
• v3 - Example
• Quotes: AW Pink, FB Myer
• You can overcome through Christ
• Our [spiritual] enemies can be defeated
• You are to know peace, joy and all the blessings God has promised to you
• God makes no provision for retreat but does provide blessings when they advance
• God wants us to know victory
• God wants us to know holiness
• We will face trials and spiritual enemies but God will be with us
• Let us depend upon the promises of God