Today, many people grow up in church, but when they become adults, they wander away from Jesus. This is similar to something we see in the Old Testament. Yahweh brought Israel out of Egypt, but over the following centuries, the Israelites repeatedly rebelled against Yahweh and served idols.
Today, we begin reading through the book of Joshua. There is a simple pronoun at the end of today’s passage which gives us insight into why Israel may have constantly rebelled against Yahweh. That pronoun also helps us understand something that needs to happen in the lives of people who grow up in church.
The events recorded in the book of Joshua took place around 1400 BC.
At the end of the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites were camped on the east bank of the Jordan River, across from the city of Jericho, poised to cross the river into Canaan, the Promised Land.
Joshua 1:1 ¶ Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ attendant, saying,
Notice the word “attendant”. Joshua was Moses’ attendant.
The first time Joshua appears in the Bible is Exodus 17. This was shortly after the Israelites left Egypt and before they arrived at Mount Sinai. The Amalekites attacked Israel and Joshua led the men who went and fought Amalek.
Joshua was serving as the attendant of Moses when Israel was at Mount Sinai (see Exodus 24:13). Joshua was with Moses on the mountain when Aaron made the golden calf (see Exodus 32:17). Joshua was one of the twelve spies who were sent to spy out the land shortly after Israel left Mount Sinai (see Numbers 13). Joshua and Caleb were the only two men who encouraged Israel to enter the Promised Land when the other spies discouraged Israel from going (see Numbers 14:6). Near the end of their 40 year journey through the wilderness, Moses appointed Joshua to succeed him as leader of Israel (see Numbers 27:22).
Joshua 1:2 “Moses My servant is dead; so now arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
Joshua 1:3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
Joshua 1:4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
Don’t miss the ramifications of this verse. The final words are “will be your territory”. The geographical areas indicated by this verse would belong to Israel. This verse refers to a much larger area than is typically associated with the land of Israel.
The wilderness refers to the area south of Canaan which Israel wandered in for 40 years. Lebanon was the area north of Canaan. The Euphrates River is 250 miles / 400 km away from the area of land known as Israel. The Great Sea refers to the Mediterranean Sea.
Again, this is a much larger area than is controlled by the modern nation of Israel. This raises the question of how large Israel should be today. Should the nation of Israel extend to the Euphrates River?
Joshua 1:5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
Take note of the command to be strong and courageous. Joshua had been one of the twelve spies who had explored the land 40 years prior. He knew how well-fortified the Canaanite cites were. He knew the battle Israel faced to take over the land.
Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous to be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be prosperous wherever you go.
Once again we see a connection between serving God and being prosperous. Keep in mind, this was a promise given to Joshua and Israel. It does not apply to Christians in the 21st century.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way successful, and then you will be prosperous.
Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be in dread or be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
Notice the words “dread” and “dismayed”. Yahweh not only told Joshua to be courageous, He told him not to be afraid.
Joshua 1:10 ¶ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
Joshua 1:11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving you, to possess it.’”
Joshua 1:12 ¶ To the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
Joshua 1:13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, saying, ‘Yahweh your God gives you rest and will give you this land.’
Near the end of their 40 year journey through the wilderness, as Israel approached Canaan from the east, Israel conquered several nations east of the Jordan River (see Numbers 21). That land was given to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the Manassites as their inheritance on the condition that they help the rest of the tribes conquer the land on the west side of the Jordan River (see Numbers 32).
Joshua 1:14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them
Joshua 1:15 until Yahweh gives your brothers rest as He gives you, and they also possess the land which Yahweh your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and possess it, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan to the east toward the sunrise.”
Joshua 1:16 ¶ And they answered Joshua, saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
Joshua 1:17 Just as we listened to Moses in all things, so we will listen to you; only may Yahweh your God be with you as He was with Moses.
Look at the pronoun “your”. They did not say, “Yahweh our God.” They said “Yahweh your God.”
At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses had predicted that Israel would rebel against Yahweh after they entered the Promised Land. This verse may give us insight into a fundamental cause of that. If Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh thought of Yahweh as the God of Moses and Joshua, but not as their own God, that may be why they eventually abandoned Him and served false gods.
Joshua 1:18 Anyone who rebels against your command and does not listen to your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
Many people grow up going to evangelical churches, but when they become adults they wander away from church. Part of the problem is they always thought of Jesus as being the God of their parents. They never adopted Jesus as their own God. One thing churches and parents need to do today is help younger generations grasp that at some point they need to claim Jesus as their own God.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”