Joshua 1 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Josh 1:1-9

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant: 2 ‘Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the River Jordan into the land I am about to give to them – to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates – all the Hittite country – to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will 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 never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 ‘Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’

A. Find out:

1. In what 2 ways is Joshua described? v.1
2. What was God’s first command to him? v.2
3. With what result? v.2,3
4. Why will no one be able to withstand him? v.5
5. What did God 3 times instruct him to be? v.6,7,9
6. What did the Lord promise would be the result? v.8c

B. Think:

1. What was Joshua’s overall task to be?
2. What personal characteristics would he need?
3. What guidance would he have?

C. Comment:

     The time has come when Israel may enter the promised land, Canaan, and take it for their own. Joshua is to lead the people and the Lord briefs him on the task ahead.

      First of all, the Lord PROMISES SUCCESS. He promises Joshua a large piece of land and He, the Lord, will go with him to take it. Again and again in Scripture the Lord promises success for His people, e.g. Psalm 1:3. See also Genesis 39:2,3 and Daniel 1:9,17,20

      Second, note, the PROMISE IS CONDITIONAL. Joshua will only take as much land as he goes to take. Not only that, there are two other things to follow.

      So third, Joshua will need to MAINTAIN A RIGHT OUTLOOK; he will have to be strong and courageous, for he will come against opposition and his heart could faint in the face of it.. No, he must continue to have strength and courage.

       Fourth, Joshua has to OBEY THE LAW that God had given Moses. The Lord may guide them in the warfare, but He has decreed His will in terms of everyday living, so Joshua must ensure that they follow that. He must ensure he is a “good Bible student” (he hasn’t got much of it yet but what he has got he must obey!), for only by that means can he ensure that his people are walking in God’s ways

D. Application?

1. To achieve success, follow the Maker’s rules!
2. Success follows faith, courage, and obedience. it is the Lord’s desire for us to succeed in what we do with His guidance and help.

Passage: Josh 1:10-18

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 ‘Go through the camp and tell the people, “Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.”’

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 ‘Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, “The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.” 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan towards the sunrise.’

16 Then they answered Joshua, ‘Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!’

A. Find out:

1. Who did Joshua tell to get ready? v.10
2. How soon were they to cross the Jordan? v.11
3. Who were to settle on the east of the Jordan? v.12,14
4. What were their fighting men to do? v.14c
5. How long were they to be away? v.15
6. What was their response? v.16,17

B. Think:

1. What does this passage teach us about the unity of the tribes of Israel?
2. What does it say about what they thought about Joshua?

C. Comment:

     It’s a time for preparation, for getting ready to do that which God commanded nearly forty years ago. It is now about to happen! But for one group of people there must have been mixed feelings about crossing the Jordan to take the land, because some time previously Moses had allocated areas of the land to the various tribes, and two and a half of them had been allocated land to the east of the Jordan, the very land where they were now standing. In a sense they were already standing in their inheritance, so why should they cross over? Right, says Joshua, we need your fighting men but everyone else in these tribes can stay here and settle the land. When we’ve settled everyone else, your fighting men can return.

     Such was the unity of Israel and such their loyalty to Joshua, that there wasn’t a murmur against that. Indeed, it was the very opposite; there was a statement of total commitment to Joshua that is heart warming. Basically, what they said was, we are totally available to you and we’ll do whatever you say. Our only desire is that we’ll know the Lord remains with you as He was with Moses. If you have that sort of relationship with the Lord we’ll know we’re secure with you!

D. Application?

1. Want to be a leader who others will follow? Get a close relationship with the Lord!
2. Unity brings blessing. (Psalm 133)