Observations and Interpretations:
3 key words repeated: Moses, promise, do not be afraid
(1) Although Moses was dead v.1, 2 the promise God gave to him was still valid v.3. The reason for Moses' military success was due to the presence of God. Now God would be with Joshua, too v.5.
However, Joshua had his responsibility, too. To obey the Law that Moses gave them v.7. Joshua also shown to be obedience to the LORD. Right after the LORD talked to him, Joshua put His Words into action and called the leaders and asked them to get ready v.10.
Lastly, when Joshua reminded the 2.5 tribes to cross the Jordan river to fight for their 9,5 tribes brothers he reminded them the commands of Moses v.15. When they replied, "17 Just as we obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. But may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses."
To be a successor of a spiritual giant would not be easy, especially when the enormous task was in front of Joshua. How would the people obey him? When they see the LORD was with Joshua just like He was with Moses. God has already promised to be with him, but he needed to obey the Law like Moses did.
Application: Do you have any spiritual mentor that you admire? At different stages of my life I have different sisters that I admire. When I was a teen, I admired the older sisters in our youth fellowship. They were so dedicated to the LORD and worked so efficiently. Then I admired the missionaries, the obedient wives, and others... Lately, I admired a cancer survivor and the faith in her.
The last generation is gone and it is our turn. Can we do that?
Do not forget why they are so admirable? It is because God is inside of them. God is with them.
Pray that we will obey God like they do and we will have the spiritual power inside of us, too.
(2) Promise and do not be afraid
3 I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses.I am handing over = The verbal form, “I have given it," is probably a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action. Another option is to translate, “I have already assigned it.” In this case the verb would probably refer to the LORD’s decree to Abraham that he would give this land to his descendants.
The Promise about the land was repeated in v.6 and the promise of the presence of the LORD was repeated in v.9. In both places and v.18, Joshua was also commanded to be brave. Even the leaders encouraged Joshua not to be afraid when the see that God was with Him just like He was with Moses.
Application: Why do we need to be brave and not be afraid? Not because of ourselves, but because the presence of God and His Promise. God sees His promise as a done deal. There is not doubt it can be done.
On the other hand, even God had promised the land, Joshua and Israel still needed to be brave and fight for the land. Do we have that courage and fight a good fight in our faith today?
Audrey
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