JOSHUA LESSON 1


     Joshua is The beginning of the history of the nation of Israel in
their inhertited promised land. Joshua is the first of the twelve
historical books. The book was, probably, penned by Joshua, himself.
It really does not matter who penned it, God is the author. We learned
in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy that, he was one of the twelve
original spies who searched out the promised land.  Just he and Caleb
believed they could take the land at that time.  Thirty-eight years
have passed since that occasion, and they are, now again, ready to
enter the promised land. Moses has died, and God has put Joshua in the
stead of Moses. "Joshua" means Jehovah is salvation.  Joshua is the
son of Nun, the son of Elishama, prince of the tribe of Ephraim. The
Greek form of "Joshua" is Jesus.  The main lessons that we can get
from this book are that God keeps His promises, and that life is a
battle which we must enter and win.

     We will begin the verse by verse study now in Joshua 1:1 "Now
after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that
the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,"

     Until the time of Moses' death, God spoke to Moses. Now, He
speaks to Joshua in the same manner He spoke to Moses. Notice, he is
called Moses' minister. He had been an understudy of Moses for the
entire 40 year journey. On some occasions, he had actually helped
Moses with his ministry. The main attribute that caused God to choose
him to succeed Moses, was his great faith.

     Joshua 1:2 "Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go
over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do
give to them, [even] to the children of Israel."

     Joshua had some very big shoes to fill. Moses had been a prophet
who was in close contact with God at all times. We see the first
directive God gave to Joshua. They were to cross the Jordan into their
land of promise.

     Joshua 1:3 "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread
upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses."

     We remember from Deuteronomy that, God had shown Moses the land
of promise. It was everything west of the Jordan, all the way to the
Mediterranean Sea. It went as far as Lebanon in one direction, and as
far as the beyond the Dead Sea the other. Wherever they set their feet
in this area was theirs.

     Joshua 1:4 "From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the
great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and
unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your
coast."

     The going down of the sun meant as far west as they could go. The
Mediterranean Sea was their stopping place to the west. The desert of
Arabia on the south, and Lebanon on the north were their boundries.

     Joshua 1:5 "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee
all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with
thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

     This is a reassurance from God, that He would be with them in
battle. He would go before them and devour their enemies. They must
have faith. God never left them for the 40 years, and He will be with
them now. He did not leave, when Moses died. These are God's people,
and He will protect them. The promise made to Abraham, Moses, Joshua,
and us is the same. Hebrews 13:5 "[Let your] conversation [be] without
covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he
hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

     Joshua 1:6 "Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people
shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto
their fathers to give them."

     Moses had been a meek man. He was quiet and mild mannered. It
would take a strong Joshua to lead them into battle. We know he was
courageous, because he wanted to go into the promised land the first
time they spied it out. He was confident they could take it, even if
there were giants in the land. Joshua's confidence was not in his own
ability, but in God's ability. The verse above, is reassuring Joshua
that he would win the battle, and indeed, divide the land.

     Joshua 1:7 "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant
commanded thee: turn not from it [to] the right hand or [to] the left,
that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."

     The law Moses gave them from God was a blessing, if it was kept.
It brought terrible curses, if it was not kept. The law is not to be
adjusted to the right or the left, to fit their convenience. The law
was absolute. They must have great faith, and act upon the commands of
God. I Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you
like men, be strong." Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong
in the Lord, and in the power of his might."

     Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

     Their entire lives were to be guided by the law of God. They were
to hide the Words of the law in their hearts so they would never
forget it. They were to think on the reason for them, as well as the
demand of keeping them. The law had to become part of their very
beings. They will prosper and have great success, if they keep this
law of God.

     Joshua 1:9 "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good
courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God
[is] with thee whithersoever thou goest."

     Joshua believed God. His courage came from his faith in God.

     Joshua 1:10  "Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people,
saying,"

     There was order in their army. God had set Joshua over all of
them in civil matters. Joshua passed the word down to the officers,
who, in turn, gave instructions to the people they were over.

     Joshua 1:11 "Pass through the host, and command the people,
saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over
this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God
giveth you to possess it."

     The "victuals", here, are speaking of meat from hunting. They
were to prepare themselves food for their battle, and for the time it
would take to enter the land. They really would prepare all types of
food for the trip. They will not be fed with manna in the promised
land. At the end of 3 more days, they will pass over the Jordan River,
and be in their promised land.

     Joshua 1:12  "And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to
half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,"

     These are those who had already received their land on the east
side of the Jordan. Joshua will remind them of the promise they had
made to God, to go and help the other tribes take their land.

     Joshua 1:13 "Remember the word which Moses the servant of the
LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and
hath given you this land."

     They wanted the grazing land on the east side of Jordan, and God
let them have it, with the promise they would fight with the other
tribes to take their land.

     Joshua 1:14 "Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall
remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye
shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour,
and help them;"

     Moses had inquired of God and had given them this land they
loved. He, also, gave them time to build houses for their families to
live in. The wives and the children would stay behind and care for
their cattle and sheep, while the men went to war. They had not chosen
this land, because they were afraid. They had chosen it, because it
was good grazing land for their herds.

     Joshua 1:15 "Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as [he
hath given] you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD
your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your
possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on
this side Jordan toward the sunrising."

     Toward the sunrising means it was located on the east of Jordan.
The men of these tribes will go with the other tribes, until they are
settled in their land, then they will go home to their families. The
people are great that will be fought, and God wanted all 12 tribes to
stand together in these battles for the land.

     Joshua 1:16  "And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou
commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will
go."

     They have had ample time to prepare their families to survive,
until they return. They are eager to keep their word to God. They will
go into battle, wherever Joshua sends them. They were so happy with
their promised land, they were eager to do God's will.

     Joshua 1:17 "According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things,
so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as
he was with Moses."

     Moses had made it very clear, before his death, that Joshua was
God's choice to receive his anointing. Everyone had agreed they would
follow Joshua, as they had Moses. The older Israelites {their fathers}
had not hearkened unto Moses. They died in the wilderness. The new
generation had listened to Moses. They promise to follow Joshua, too.
It was almost like a prayer for Joshua when they said, "Only the LORD
thy God be with thee".

     Joshua 1:18 "Whosoever [he be] that doth rebel against thy
commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou
commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good
courage."

     Disobeying the commandments of God was certain death. To rebel
against the commandments, is rebelling against God. They must have
faith, not fear. Faith pleases God.

















                        Joshua 1 Questions


1.  Josua is the beginning of the ___________ of the nation of Israel
    in their promised land.
2.  How many historical books are there?
3.  Who, probably, penned this book?
4.  Why was God sure of Joshua's faith?
5.  How many years have passed, since they searched out the promised
    land the first time?
6.  Who was the only believer in the twelve spies, besides Joshua?
7.  The Greek form of "Joshua" is _________.
8.  What are the main lessons we can learn in this book?
9.  Why is Joshua called Moses' minister?
10. What one thing caused God to choose Joshua?
11. What was the first directive God gave Joshua?
12. What land was the promised land?
13. What was the great river in verse 4?
14. Quote Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5.
15. Describe Moses.
16. Where did Joshua's confidence lie?
17. The law was ____________.
18. Quote Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10.
19. Their entire lives were to be guided by the _____ ____ ______.
20. Joshua's courage came from his __________ in God.
21. Joshua gave the orders to the __________, who gave them to the
    people.
22. "Victuals", in verse 11, means what?
23. Who had received land on the east side of Jordan?
24. Why did they want that particular land?
25. Who shall stay behind, and care for their land?
26. How long would the men be gone?
27. They were so ________ with their promised land, they were eager to
    obey God's will.
28. Why did the people accept Joshua as their leader?
29. What sounds like a prayer for Joshua in verse 17?
30. What will happen to them, if they rebel against the commandments?