Imagine the Israelites as they wander in the wilderness. “Alright already, can we get to our homeland?” You know how you feel after a long trip in the car? Imagine a 40 year car ride before reaching home.
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This part of the story of the Israelites is the turning point. They are led in exodus from slavery in Egypt only to find themselves wandering the wilderness for 40 years. Now their great liberator, Moses, has died and his chosen successor Joshua plans to lead them into a period of conquest where they will finally move from a homeless people to a homed people, landing in the area promised to them by YHWH. How does God ask Joshua to be faithful in this passage?
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Joshua 1:1-11
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory. 5 No one shall 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 not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful. 9 I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11 “Pass through the camp, and command the people: ‘Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God gives you to possess.’”
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So how does God ask Joshua to be faithful?
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Congregational Responses:
Be strong and courageous
Act in accordance with the law
Do not be frightened or dismayed, trust in God
Be a leader
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This passage is a speech from the Lord directly to Joshua. It is evident that Joshua is left with more to do than simply walk down from Mt. Nebo and make a claim on the land. It will not be easy. There are rivers to cross, ridges to climb, and existing inhabitants to deal with. God is not handing the land over. It is going to be difficult.
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This promise comes with a caveat doesn’t it? For Joshua and Israel must “be careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you.” It seems that in order to have success in this pursuit, total adherence to the law is required. Joshua and Israel are to look to God only and not their own reasoning or understanding.
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Yes, fear is an incredible emotion that has the power to overcome us. Doubt is expected. God is asking Joshua to withhold fear because God is with him.
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Be a leader like Moses was. The man who brought the law from YHWH to His people. The man who seriously doubted his own leadership credentials. The man who remained faithful to God and the law despite his doubts.
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This is a story of faithfulness; from God to Israel and Israel to God as they seek to adhere to the law.
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Let me jump ahead in the story and reveal that, yes, Joshua and Israel were successful in their military conquest and settlement of the nation of Israel soon followed. Victory was achieved not because Israel had more warriors, better weaponry, or even God’s backing, it was achieved because they had trust in God.
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Settlement of the promised land always hinged on adhering to the law, as we are reminded in this passage. The law calls us to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God. This is what the Lord required of Moses, Joshua, and Israel; and this is what the Lord continues to require of us today.
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I’m reminded of a quote from a speech Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the night before his death: “I just want to do God’s will. And he’s allowed me to go to the mountain. And I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.”
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Moses was the liberator of Israel due to his faithfulness to God, not because he had the most power or the mightiest military. And just like Moses, Joshua continued to lead Israel to the promised land not in spite of the law but in adherence to it.
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We are at the top of the mountain, Moses has just died, Joshua is our leader now, and God is delivering the promised land to us. It still will not be easy but we are at the doorstep.
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This opportunity is available to all of us. Our promised land might be better relationships with family, a home we can call our own, or merely to be acknowledged as a person of value in our community.
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Brothers and sisters, the good news is that God is continually delivering all of us to our promised land. So let us walk into our promised land with strength and courage, all the while looking to God and acting with mercy and justice towards others.
