July 21, 2024: Sunday School

Order of Service

• Sunday School Lesson — Joshua 1:10-18
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: Faithful Leadership and the Charge to God's People

Scripture: Joshua 1:10-18

I. Review of Previous Lesson — Joshua 1:1-9

A. God establishes his leaders in his time

1. Joshua served as Moses' assistant for roughly 40 years, likely aged 69–79 when taking leadership — paralleling Moses at age 80 after 40 years with sheep
2. The number 40 recurs as God's pattern for preparing leaders

B. Leadership requires courage

1. "Be strong and courageous" appears three times in Joshua 1:1-9 and twice earlier in Deuteronomy

C. Leadership requires careful obedience to God's Word

1. Three commanded behaviors: do not turn from it, do not let it depart from your mouth, meditate on it
2. Success and prosperity promised for obedience

D. Joshua foreshadows Jesus — the true Joshua

1. Same name (Yeshua/Joshua)
2. Courage to become man, strength to go to the cross, careful obedience to all God commanded

II. Joshua's Charge to the People — Joshua 1:10-15

A. Godly leaders provide clear direction

1. Joshua uses repeated action words: pass through, prepare, pass over, take possession
2. He references the Lord five times — his authority is derived, not self-generated
3. Contrast with the Exodus flight from Egypt: here the people have three days to prepare provisions

B. Joshua delegates through officers rather than addressing all the people directly

1. Reflects the pattern Moses established with 70 elders on the advice of Jethro
2. Good biblical leadership is not monarchal but representative — leaders work through established order

C. Joshua does not shy away from difficult tasks — specifically addressing the two and a half tribes

1. He calls them to remember what Moses commanded, quoting Deuteronomy 3:18-22
2. Much of leadership and teaching is reminding people of what they already know but tend to forget
3. The two and a half tribes (Reubenites, Gadites, half-tribe of Manasseh) already have their inheritance — they are the least likely to comply and have the most to lose
4. Moses had earlier expressed concern about this same problem — Numbers 32:6-7; the tribes gave assurances in Numbers 32:16-17

III. The People's Response — Joshua 1:16-18

A. The response stands in stark contrast to the previous generation's rebellion

1. In Numbers 14:1-10, the people wept, grumbled, wanted to return to Egypt, and moved to stone Joshua, Caleb, Moses, and Aaron — only the appearance of God's glory stopped them
2. Here the people pledge full obedience and declare that anyone who rebels against Joshua's command shall be put to death — a dramatic reversal

B. The people echo the Lord's own words back to Joshua: "only be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:18)

1. Joshua may not have shared verses 1–9 with the people — if so, hearing these same words from them would have been a powerful confirmation from God
2. God repeatedly confirms Joshua in his leadership role

C. The people refer to "the Lord your God" rather than "our God" — possibly reflecting Joshua's uniquely close relationship with the Lord, similar to Moses

IV. Joshua as Foreshadowing of Jesus

A. Joshua's unwavering faith after 39 years mirrors his confidence in Numbers 14

1. Circumstances looked dire both times; his trust in God did not change

B. The people's pledge — "all that you have commanded we will do, and wherever you send us we will go" — is the model response for believers toward Christ

1. Failure to follow Joshua meant death; ultimate failure to follow Christ means eternal death
2. Romans 16:20 — as Joshua led Israel to crush enemies, Christ crushes Satan and calls the church to participate in that victory

C. Joshua 24 carries this theme to its conclusion

1. Joshua speaks as God's representative: "Thus says the Lord"
2. He calls the people to covenant renewal and faithful service
3. His personal declaration: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"

D. Application: We live between the decisive victory (the cross) and the final consummation

1. The war is won, but there are battles and casualties ahead — as in the conquest
2. Like this generation of Israelites, we are called to look at God's promises rather than our circumstances
3. God is merciful and patient, but opportunities to obey are not always repeated — the previous generation died in the wilderness