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Joshua 1:1-18 The Call To “Get Ready” Kevin E. Jesmer 2-27-17

The Call To “Get Ready”

Joshua 1:1-18                                                                                                                      Kevin E. Jesmer   2-27-17

Key verse: 1:2

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.”

Part 1: Joshua Was Called To “Get Ready” To Lead (1-15)

Let’s imagine the setting. The Israelites were camped on the shores of the Jordan River, poised to enter the Promised Land. Moses had just died and the people were mourning his passing. They had been wandering in the desert for forty years. The original generation of Israelites were forbidden by God to enter the land, due to their disobedience. But that generation had passed away (save Caleb and Joshua) and the next generation was ready to go in and fight in obedience to God.

Joshua and Caleb were the two spies who alone gave an encouraging report to the Israelites when they first started their desert journey. In the forty years of wandering, the people had learned many important things about faith and obedience. They had learned about worship. Most importantly they learn about their God. Though they were far from perfect, the Lord was pleased to lead them into the Promised Land and fulfill his many promises through them.

It was time to inaugurate Joshua as the leader. God first appointed him in Numbers 27:18-23. He was one of the original generation of Israelites that were delivered from slavery in Egypt. He was the executive assistant for Moses for forty years.  And so he was well prepared to take leadership of the people after Moses passed away.

God told Joshua to get ready.  He had a great task to lead millions of Israelites into the Promised Land. This was a daunting task for anyone. It must have been a frightful, for it was impossible to lead the Israelites to victory and see them established as a holy nation. Despite the enormity of the mission, Joshua was still called to “get ready”. God had a plan, despite the impossibility of it all. With God at their side, there was nothing to be afraid of.  Joshua and his people were being led on a grand adventure.

But what does “get ready” mean? From the context of this chapter it could mean at least five things. It could mean, “get ready”… 1. By stepping into your calling. 2. By preparing to fight the physical and spiritual battle 3. By remembering the promises of God 4. By determining to be strong and courageous 5. By meditating on the word of God and deriving your strength from God, through his word.

As God tells his people to “get ready” he also helps them to be ready. God works in the hearts of his people to make them ready. How can God make getting ready, possible? What is God asking you and I to get ready for? Let’s think more about these things.

First, Get ready to step into your calling. Look at verses 1-2, “After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “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.”  “Get ready to cross the Jordan” means to get ready to take Moses’ place as the leader of the people of God and lead them into the Promised Land. That land was standing in full view of the nation. And so for Joshua getting ready meant to personally embrace the challenge that God has set before him…accept it…take ownership of it.

This would not be easy for Joshua, or anyone for that matter. Moses was a very strong servant of God. Who in the world could fill Moses’ shoes? With anyone, this was impossible. But with God this was more than possible. He is the sovereign Lord. He all powerful. God can raise up his people according to his will. God can raise up children of Abraham from stones. When Joshua did not dwell on himself and on his own inability, the sovereign Lord, who called him, would raise him up and enable him to take his place of leadership.

Joshua needed to step up and take his place of leadership that God called him to, by faith. This required setting his heart right and getting ready to assume his position. He must never compare himself with Moses, for he was God’s servant for a new generation and a new chapter in God’s history. He must never look to his frail self, but rather to God who was calling him. He should simply stand before God with his own identity and his own sense of calling and complete trust in the Lord. God in his wisdom had called Joshua and God in his wisdom would help him to stand.

Actually, we are all called to be servants of God and to serve a unique purpose in this generation. But in order to step up to God’s calling, we must depend on the Lord to help us stand.

Second, “get ready” to fight the battle. This means both the physical and spiritual battles. Let’s face it, for Joshua and his people there would be lots of fighting. God knew that it was war that he was leading his people into. They would have to fight many battles. (Actually, their warring was God’s act of judgement on the pagan nations dwelling in the land).

God wanted his people to fight in order to take hold of the inheritance that was promised them. The blessings were abundant. It was a land flowing with milk and honey. But in order to fully enjoy their lives in the Promised Land that God was giving them, they needed to obey God and fight.

God wants us to “fight” as we take hold of what he has promised us in this world. I say, “in this world”, because the promise of the forgiveness of sins and eternal life is a totally free gift. But there are some things that we are called to battle for while we live in this world. There are blessings given to us by God, that are totally free and there are blessings given to us by God that are accompanied by sacrifices and sufferings, that demand us to spiritually “fight”.

Somehow, having to fight for something, rather than having it given to us on a silver platter, with absolutely no effort, is good for us. In his wisdom, God subjects us to struggles. Through the struggles, we develop our gifts and talents and learn faith and to trust in God. Think about a university degree. If you are simply given a university degree, with no effort or sacrifice on your part, that degree on the wall does not mean much to you. You may even be plagued by thoughts that you are a poser. But if you studied heard for four years then it is absolutely valuable. Procuring God’s blessings without any effort on our part, is that what is really best for us? The best thing for us is to be ready to fight. God knows that and deep down, we all know that.

Third, get ready by remembering the promises of God. In this fallen world, as fallen human beings, we can’t do much. We are so weak and prone to sin. Holding onto the promises of God is all we can do sometimes…. most times. But remembering the promises of God is an expression of our faith. Remembering God’s promises mark the beginning, middle and end of our struggle.

Fourth, “Get Ready’  by determining to be strong and courageous. Look at verse 6. “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “God calls Joshua to be strong and courageous three times. For Joshua and for anyone, this is easier said than done. How easy it is to give into our fears and insecurities and become impotent. There is only one way out of our cowering. It is by knowing that strength and courage comes from the Lord. The Psalmist knew this fact.

Psalm 121 reads, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (NIV)

God imparts his strength and courage to us, by his Spirit and his Word. Look at verse 7-9, “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 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. 9 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.” These verses reveal the importance of the Word of God in becoming strong and courageous. Bible study is very important for anyone about to step into their calling. Bible study must be regular, deep, and coupled with faith and an obedient attitude. God really works through such a discipline to help a person to stand.

Fifth, “Getting ready” by practically stepping into the position . This means making some “executive decisions” by faith.  With courage and strength from God, Joshua stood up and took charge. He stepped into the mission that God gave him. He held onto God. He could have confidence in God. He commanded the people by holding onto faith through strength from the Lord.

Joshua became strong and courageous by the grace of God. Look at verses 10-15, “So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘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 for your own.’” 12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

God had told him three times to be strong and courageous (6,7,9) and God helped him to be just that. Obviously, he accepted the call of God. He stood up as the leader of his people. He took charge and began to give wise directions to his people. Strength and courage are always readily available from God for his people.

     Along with the charge to get ready, comes the promise of prosperity and success. Look at verse 8, “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.”  God really wanted his people to be prosperous and successful in taking possession of the Promised Land. What would success mean? The people would be successful in battle. They would possess the cities and the fields and the livestock. They would live in the land flowing with milk and honey. They would grow as a nation. They would pass on faith and the word of God to the next generation.

Most importantly, success would mean that God’ people would a Kingdom of priests a holy nation. It would mean that the Name of the Lord, Jehovah, would be glorified among the nations. It would mean that the way of God would be advertised to those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. It meant that God’s plan for world salvation would continue to unfold and bear fruit all the way to Jesus Christ.  This is such and wonderful plan. It is vast. It is huge. It is plan that is vital for the Gospel to shine forth to the ends of the earth. It is a plan that leads to Jesus Christ and the populating of the everlasting Kingdom of God. God was hoping to bring his people spiritual prosperity and success. This would be brought about by God. They could live in God’s blessing through their faith and obedience.

We need to think about what success is. This is not proclaiming a wealth and health Gospel. From a Christian’s point of view, it is not about having power. It is not about knowing the right people and getting a foot up in this world. Success and prosperity is all about being successful in God’s eyes. It is all about God’s heart to prosper his people for his holy purposes alone. He wants to reward obedience and faith.

Success in God’s plan comes along with a large amount of suffering and sacrifice. The 2 ½ tribes returned home after seven years of war. And even after that there was a whole lot of struggles. Not exactly the health and wealth message propagated by some preachers today.

What is the connection between the peoples’ obedience and God’s plan to bring them into the Promised Land? This passage make us think that this vast, wonderful plan was dependent on Joshua’s and the nation of Israel’s obedience. Obedience is connected, but not dependent on God fulfilling his plan. If that is the case, then the plan of God would always be on the verge of failure, for people are always failing. But that is not so. God never fails and he is certain to accomplish his will. We know that the plan of God is unfolding on a rock-solid foundation, the foundation of God himself.

And so, what is the relationship between the prosperity and success of Israel and their obedience? It is all about God’s grace and his attaining prosperity and success for himself and his Gospel cause.  God’s plan would surely come to fruition. It is all in God’s hand (and not ours). But the experience of God’s people would be blessed though their obedience to God’s word. God called his people “get ready” and participate in his world salvation plan. He wants to work through them, in them and alongside them. Following God’s word, they would grow and mature in their faith. They would taste God’s victory. They would enjoy his prosperity and success. They would rejoice. It is all about God’s grace to his people.

God did promise his people rest. Look at verse 13, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’” It is God himself who would bring his people into his rest. They needed rest. For four hundred years, they suffered under slavery. They had just struggled through a forty-year journey in the desert. They were about to engage in seven years of warfare. They needed the promise of peace. Actually, people do not know how to attain peace and rest themselves. Jesus leads us into the peace of God. He leads us into green pastures and quiet waters. (Psalm 23:2).

Part 2: Getting Ready Brings Unity (16-18).

God had just inaugurated Joshua as Moses’ successor. The Israelites had rallied around the Lord and his chosen leader. The people were very responsive. Look at verses 16-18, “Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”  The response of the people revealed that God was with them.  With the help of the Lord they achieved unity and a spirit of co-working together as one.  

      The people needed to be brought into complete unity in order to conquer the land of Canaan. They needed to agree with God’s plan and stand behind God’s chosen leader as one body. In order to be united like this, the people needed to study the word of God deeply. They needed to know what to be unified around. Once they knew the will of God for them, they needed to make a commitment before God. But ultimately it was the Spirit of God who brought them together.

We wonder is such a response is possible in this day and age. It is possible when God determines to bless. Nobody can make people react like this. It was clearly the result of the Spirit of God. When people hear the call the “get ready”, God works powerfully in their hearts and draws them together. He inspires people to respond with a commitment to obey.

Can people keep their decisions to rally around the Lord and the cause that he has called us to? I would say not. We are prone to weakness and unfaithfulness. This means that in order to achieve unity among believers we need to trust not in ourselves, but in the Lord. He will keep us unified. He will keep our hearts impassioned. Let us pray for unity among us as we serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

God has a great plan to establish his people as a holy nation, through which he would bring about world salvation. That is his plan and he will accomplish it with his sovereign power and strength. He will do it for his glory.

But God calls his people to get ready. They could get ready in many ways, Get ready 1. By stepping into your calling. 2. To fight the spiritual battle 3. By remembering the promises of God 4. Determining to be strong and courageous 5. By meditating on the word of God.

When God’s people heed the call the get ready, they can participate in God’s redemptive work and enjoy the spiritual prosperity and success that our journey in God brings. Obedience, according to this passage is to “Get ready” and holding onto God’s promises. God works through his people as they express their faith through their obedience.  God brings about a unity and a passion among his people as we obey the call the “get ready”.

God is calling his people to get ready even today as his redemptive plan is continually unfurling. How is God calling his church to “Get ready”? How is God calling you to “Get ready”? God really wants to include us in his work. He wants to fill our hearts with a sense of prosperity and success. Answer the call to “Get ready” and taste his prosperity and success in your spiritual life.  Be part of the unity and the passion of God’s people as we follow God’s lead, serving his purpose in our generation.

Joshua 1:1-18 NIV

After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “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. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 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.5 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. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors 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 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. 9 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.”

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘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 for your own.’”

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” (NiV)




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