Moses, the chosen leader by God Himself to lead His people out of the land of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land, has died.
The nation of Israel was at the doorstep of entering the Promised Land roughly 40 years after they had been miraculously delivered from the land of Egypt.
Israel’s deliverance was a ‘Heavenly Coming’. (See Exodus 1-15)
The Books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy document the history of the nation of Israel and their relationship to their God.
God’s intent was to fulfill His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,the fathers of the nation of Israel; however, the nation of Israel, did not really know the God of their fathers; therefore, God, because of His love for His people sought to make Himself known to them and to establish His ‘government’ in their hearts.
If you would like in depth understanding what God was doing, I recommend that you read Deuteronomy 8.
Again, Moses has died, and God has buried him. (Deuteronomy 34:1-8)
Deuteronomy 34:9-12 relates to us the transference of leadership from Moses to his servant, Joshua.
“Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord commanded Moses. Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord know face to face, [none equal to him] in all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and in all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.” (Amplified Version)
Joshua has assumed his new responsibility
The Book of Joshua continues the history of the nation of Israel under his leadership.
Joshua 1:1-9, the Lord comes to Joshua, and engages him, as He had engaged Moses, his predecessor.
I would like to encourage you to envision what the Lord said to Joshua as words you, can personally receive as you walk with the Lord; words that will encourage and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit; and instructs you to daily meditate upon the Word of God, knowing that the Lord Who spoke to Joshua, is the same Lord that speaks to you daily, and says,”I will never leave you nor forsake you”.(Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5)
Also, I would like to encourage you to envision these same words spoken to Joshua as words that Jesus would say to His Church, the Body of Christ, the Israel of God to encourage and instruct it serves Him who is the Head of the Church.
Let us now read this passage of scripture for our edification.
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them-the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night that you observe to do according to all that is written in til For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
The Person of Jesus Christ, Who is our Lord and Savior, we have in ‘Him’ the complete fulfillment of these words to Joshua.
The name Joshua means, “Jehovah saves” or “the Lord is salvation”, and corresponds to the NT name “Jesus”. (Introduction to ‘The Book of Joshua’, MacArthur Study Bible)
Many years prior to this moment, Joshua had been selected by Moses to be one the 12 men that were sent out to ‘spy out’ the Promised Land.
The spies reported that there were giants in the land and by comparison the people of Israel were grasshoppers. (Numbers 13:33)
The land they ‘scouted out’ was a good land and plentiful with food; but there were these ‘giant’ obstacles.
10 of the spies said that the people of the land were stronger than they were, and gave a bad report about the land; however, 2 of the spies, Joshua and Caleb ,gave a good report and said that the nation of Israel should go up and ‘take the land’ of promise. (Numbers 13)
It is interesting that in Numbers 13:30, it says that Joshua “quieted the people before Moses” and said that the nation should go up and capture the land.
This is the same Joshua that has taken Moses’ place of leadership after his death.
Unfortunately, the people’s ‘grumbling and complaining’ before Moses and Aaron throughout the night, and their desire to stone Moses and Aaron really infuriated God . (Read Numbers 14)
The people’s verbal rebellion against Moses and Aaron’s leadership in God’s sight was ‘grumbling and complaining’ against God Himself.
The result of their rebellious hearts precipitated God’s judgment for them to wander for 40 years in the wilderness until the adult generation that ‘grumbled and complained’ completely had died in the wilderness.
God’s judgment is a ‘Heavenly Coming’.
And the ‘Heavenly Coming’ keeps coming.
[A note of transition: In the wilderness there was a tent of meeting for God and Moses to talk. The ‘Heavenly Coming’ wasn’t very far away in the natural world. This tent was outside the camp, where God and Moses met(Exodus 33:7), and Joshua was sometimes there too. (Exodus 33:11)]
I would encourage you to read Numbers 15 to see God’s heart for His people and the future He had for them in spite of the disobedience.
This has been my introduction to the next POST.
Let’s stop here, take a deep breath, and then continue.
Blessings, deo
Living Words of Encouragement 