MARCH 20, 2016
JOSHUA TAKES COMMAND
INTRODUCTION:
1. God had chosen Joshua and set him apart to be Moses successor, and bestow on him the singular honor of being the man who would conduct the people of Israel into the land of promise. Although Joshua knew this to be his calling, he did not immediately upon Moses’ death thrust himself into that roll. Even after the thirty days mourning period was past Joshua still did not assert himself, but rather waited upon the Lord to speak. This fact further speaks to the good character of God’s choice servant.
2. When, in due time, the Lord spake to Joshua, and gave him his commission, we can even better understand why Israel’s new leader did not rush in where angels would fear to tread. The awful magnitude of his calling can be ascertained from the assurances and encouragements that attended it. (Verses 5, 6)
a) Great strength and courage would be required, which only the Lord’s presence could supply.
b) Like Moses, when he was commissioned to go before Pharaoh, Joshua needed assurance of the Lord’s presence and help. (Ex. 4:12)
c) The Lord encouraged Joshua by assuring him that in this enormous undertaking he would be successful, because He would make good His covenant promise. (Verse 6)
3. The Lord further assured Joshua that he would receive guidance and encouragement in his mission from the Book of the Law, which he was to constantly read and meditate upon. (Verses 7-9)
a) Joshua was to be guided and governed by the written Word.
b) The Word of God was to be his personal meditation as well as his rule of government.
c) We, like Joshua, must have God’s presence and His Word, and we shall not have the one without the other.
4. After having received his orders along with these encouragements, and also with clear instructions how to prosper and succeed, Joshua set himself to the work.
I. JOSHUA GAVE THE COMMAND TO MAKE READY FOR THE MARCH. (VERSES 10, 11)
A. JOSHUA IN FAITH GAVE ORDERS TO HIS OFFICERS TO INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE WHAT TO DO. (VERSES 10, 11)
1. Notice how Joshua’s faith is here seen in that his response was immediate. “Then…” (Psa. 119:60; Col. 3:23) He did not wait for a more accommodating time, perhaps when the waters would not be at flood stage, as they then were. God’s commands do not wait for convenient seasons, and obedience must disregard the difficulties.
2. Notice also, “Joshua commanded the officers.” He did not confer with these heads of tribes. He conferred not with flesh and blood, but rather acted with the authority of His God-given position.
a) These men were themselves officers, but there was a chain of command, and Joshua was their commander. In carrying out our commission, we are not to weight the opinion of men, when it comes to declaring God’s Word. (Acts 4:19)
b) This kind of chain of command is essential in the ministry of the church, if we are to have good success.
(1) Our great Joshua, the Lord Jesus Christ, commands with all authority. (Matt/ 28:18)
(2) His ministers are therefore to exhort with all authority. (Tit. 2:15)
(3) Heads of families are by the same authority to command their households. (Gen. 18:19)
c) Up the chain of command each individual finds himself subject to the Supreme Authority Himself. In this case had a family member disregarded the order of the family head, he would also have been acting in disobedience to the officer who issued the order, to Joshua who commanded the officer, and to the Lord Himself Who commanded Joshua. It is therefore very serious when we assert ourselves against duly ordained authority. (Eph. 6:1; Heb. 13:17; Luke 6:46)
B. JOSHUA ISSUED ORDERS TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE TO PREPARE FOR THE MARCH. (VERSE 11)
1. They were to prepare victuals for the journey, and they had but three days to see to it. “Prepare you victuals, for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan.”
a) They must not count on being able to find and prepare food once they were in the land, at least not right away.
b) They could not expect to gather manna for the passage. That was sent every morning with the dew, and could not be laid in store.
c) The word here rendered victuals is literally meat, and more specifically game. The verb form means to hunt or catch game. This was something very different for them, something they had not done for some time, if ever.
2. These orders may have seemed strange for another reason. Perhaps had he said, “Prepare you boats” it would have seemed more reasonable. However, God, Who bore them out of Egypt upon eagles’ wings, would in like manner bring them into the land of Canaan.
II. JOSHUA NEXT REMINDS THE TWO TRIBES AND A HLAF OF THEIR OBLIGATION. (VERSES 12, 13, NUM 32:1-5, 16-19) Moses had agreed to grant the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh the inheritance which they had requested on this side of Jordon with the stipulation that they go over with their brethren, who would inherit in the land of Canaan, and help them conquer the land by driving out the enemies. This they agreed to do. Since the agreement was made between the two and a half tribes and Moses, Joshua felt it necessary to remind them of the agreement.
A. MOSES WAS DEAD, BUT THE WORD THAT HE COMMANDED WAS STILL BINDING. “REMEMBER THE WORD WHICH MOSES, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD COMMANDED YOU.”
B. THEY MUST SEE THEIR BRETHREN SETTLED BEFORE SETTLING DOWN TO ENJOY THEIR INHERITANCE WHICH THEY NOW HAD IN POSSESSION.
C. THE WARNING THAT MOSES GAVE AT THE TIME HAD NOT LOST ITS PUNCH. (NUM 32:23)
D. TO THE CREDIT OF THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES, THEY DID FULFILL THEIR OBLIGATION WITH HONOR. (JOSH. 22:1-4)
III. THE PEOPLE’S GOOD RESPONSE TO JOSHUA AS THEIR NEW LEADER. (VERSES 16-18) This answer was, of course, expressing the allegiance of all of the people, not merely that of the two and a half tribes whom Joshua had just singled out in the verses immediately preceding.
A. THEY PLEDGED THEIR ALLEGIANCE AND FAITHFUL OBEDIENCE TO HIM. (VERSE 16)
1. To Joshua as their prince and also their captain they promised their obedience.
2. This is the very allegiance that we owe to our Prince and Savior, Jesus Christ. “What He says we will do, where He sends we will go.”
B. THEY HELD JOSHUA IN THE SAME HIGH HONOR AS THEY DID MOSES. (VERSE 17a)
1. This generation of Israelites had hearkened unto Moses much more so than their fathers. Moses had in the first four chapters of Deuteronomy rehearsed in their ears the failures of the previous generation to hearken to him and to the Lord. Now that the Lord had taken Moses from them, and ordained Joshua to take command, the people express their intention to obey him as they had obeyed Moses.
2. It is good when God’s people honor and hearken to those whom He places over them. However, it is not good when the attachment is so strong that, should the Lord remove His servant, none would be seen as a worthy successor. Let us count God’s faithful ministers worthy of honor for their work’s sake, especially those that rule well, who labor in the word and doctrine. (I Thess. 5:13; I Tim. 5:17)
C. THEY OFFERED APPROPRIATE PRAYER FOR THE NEW LEADER. (VERSE 17b) “The Lord thy God be with thee as he was with Moses.”
1. What better prayer could God’s people offer for their leaders than this?
2. The presence of God brings with it everything that is good, and everything that is needful. (Ex. 33:14-16)
3. Every true minister covets the prayers of the people that God has given him. (Eph. 6:18, 19)
D. THEY PROPOSED A SENTENCE OF DEATH FOR ALL WHO WOULD BE GUILTY OF INSUBORDINATION. (VERSE 18)
1. This proposed sentence was just, for in time of war insubordination constitutes treason. It was just also because Joshua was God’s commander.
2. The previous generation had not proposed such a law, but for their disobedience God had Himself condemned them to die in the wilderness.
3. One thing is certain; all who refuse to obey Him of Whom both Moses and Joshua are clear types that is, Jesus Christ, will surely be cut off. (Deut. 18:19)
E. THEY ENCOURAGED JOSHUA, EVEN WITH GOD’S OWN WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. “Only by strong and of a good courage.”
1. God had said, “Be strong and of a good courage.” (Verse 6a) These words were spoken with the force of a command, for when the Lord repeated them in Verse 9 He said, “Have not I commanded thee?” Note, Who it is that gave the command, “have not I (God Himself) commanded thee?”
2. There is no better encouragement than God’s own words.
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