Joshua
(Brave
JOSHUA into Canaan’s land the hosts of Israel leads)
Moses had died. His time on earth had now
ended.
Joshua was available. His time had now come.
The Lord of Heaven had His man on earth prepared and ready to continue the ongoing work.
Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun. (Joshua 1:1).
CALL AND COMMISSION
Joshua was to commit himself to the Law
of the Lord. He was to commit himself to the leadership of his people. He was to
encourage himself to the promise and presence of God. This arrangement is
special in its simplicity. Faith should be uncomplicated like walking - just one
step at a time.
FLOOD
OF JORDAN – FORCE OF THE CANAANITES
The plans, purposes, promises and
performance of the Lord of glory are always precise.
And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day
will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know
that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
The Lord was with Moses in power now
the Lord was with Joshua in promise.
He opened up the waters of the Red Sea
for Moses and his people.
He was about to open up the waters of
the River Jordan for Joshua and his people.
And it came to pass, when the people
removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark
of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto
Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of
the water, (for Jordan overflowed all his banks all the time of harvest,)
Jordan in overflowing with the harvest
season flood cannot keep out the people of God, and the full military might and
force of the Canaanites could not turn them out again.
PASSOVER
CELEBRATED – PROTECTION CONTINUES
The plains of Jericho
were the place where the solemn Passover was celebrated by the leaders and
people of Israel. It was an act of bravery at the appointed time set by the law
and in defiance of the surrounding Canaanites. Faith triumphed over fear. The
feast was to highlight the special protection of Divine providence. For
I will cast out the nations before
thee, and enlarge thy borders: neither shall any man desire thy land, when
thou shalt go up to appear before the LORD thy God thrice in the year. The
promise of protection (Exodus 34:24) The Lord kept his Word. The people acted on
the promise and food and faith were shared whilst the enemies watched and waited
and planned.
Today Israel is still
surrounded with enemies who have sworn to destroy her, by any means possible. We
need to remember all the borders of Israel are set and designed by God. It is
and remains his land. (Genesis 15:18). In
the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying,
Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great
river, the river Euphrates.
(Leviticus 25:1-2)
And the LORD spake unto Moses in mount Sinai, saying,
(Joel 3: 16-17)The
LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the
heavens and the earth shall shake: but
the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of
Israel.
So
shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain:
then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any
more
READINESS
AND RESOLUTION
Christians of every
persuasion should be prayerfully aware of the history of Israel. Historically
and theologically it has so much to say and teach. The Bible is Jewish.
Jesus is Jewish. The
prophets were Jewish. The apostles were Jewish. The Gospel is to be taken to the
Jew first. We must not ignore the facts neither should erase these facts.
Preachers should be truthful in the pulpit and fervent in prayer concerning
Israel’s past, present and future.
The
Lord had a plan at the beginning for His land which powerfully suggests He has
plan for future of His Land. That Divine strategy also includes the involvement
of neighbouring nations, now so hostile and threatening. Indeed the Gospel is
for all nations and in that simple statement we must include Israel not
ostracize her.
RUIN WITHOUT REMEDY
The
Gospel alone is the remedy in these areas of faith, fighting, fudging the facts
of past and present.
The
book of Joshua links the past time of Passover and protection with the present
showing that Israel is still surrounded with nations opposed to her very
existence. The Lord is still in this continuing saga of salvation and
redemption.
If the
Gospel is the remedy as revealed by Scripture we must face the reality emanating
from that central fact, which means to remove the Gospel from the equation we
are looking at ruin on a vast scale and it will be ruin without a remedy.
Joshua’s Israel continues to be a vital issue for the believer, church and for the world.
1 October 2007