Introduction:

Joshua 5:10-15 (NASB)

¹⁰ While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.

¹¹ On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.

¹² The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

¹³ Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?”

¹⁴ He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?”

¹⁵ The captain of the Lord’s host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Review:

Theme: Three proper responses to the LORD’s faithfulness so you will please Him in all you do.

1. Observe the LORD’s command v. 10
2. Enjoy the LORD’s provision vv. 11-12
3. Receive the LORD’s instruction vv. 13-15

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Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Three applications to Christians drawn from the Jewish rite of circumcision, so you will better understand who you are in Christ.

Background: Response of the kings v. 1

Circumcising the Next Generation

The Priority of Circumcision vv. 2-3

The People of Circumcision vv. 4-7

Revisiting Abraham Genesis 17:11-14

1. Circumcision was a matter for the descendants of Abraham 17:9-11

2. Circumcision was a matter of obedience to God’s explicit command 17:12

3. Circumcision was a matter of identity with God’s covenant people 17:13

4. Circumcision was a matter of survival for every individual 17:14

A tale of two Israelite generations

1. The generation that came out of Egypt vv. 4-5a, 6

2. The generation that came out of the wilderness vv. 5b, 7

Recovery from circumcision v. 8

Removal of reproach  v.9

Three applications to Christians:

1. The priority of obedience to Christ – Matthew 28:19-20

2. The privilege of identity with Christ – Galatians 2:20

3. The placement in the body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:13

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Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Four immediate results of Israel crossing the Jordan river so you will be more in awe of the LORD and worship Him.

I. Result #1 – A memorial is established for future generations of Israelites vv. 1-9

1. The instructions to establish a memorial to the crossing vv. 1-5
2. The purpose of the memorial established vv. 6-7
3. The two memorials established vv. 8-9

1. The memorial of verse 8 anticipates verse 20
2. The memorial of verse 9 stands alone

II. Result #2 – Joshua is exalted in the sight of Israel vv. 10-23

1. The crossing is completed vv. 10-13
2. Joshua is exalted v. 14
3. The Jordan returns to its place vv. 15-18
4. The camp is set up at Gilgal vv. 19-23

1. Camp set up at Gilgal v. 19
2. Result #1 restated vv. 20-23

III. Result #3 – All peoples of the earth might know that the LORD is mighty v. 24a

IV. Result #4 – The Israelites will fear the LORD forever v. 24b

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Introduction:

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”
So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the
priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Review:

Theme: Two crucial factors in Israel crossing the Jordan river so you will gain a greater appreciation for the presence of God with His people.

Background vv. 1-4

Breaking camp at Shittim

Bringing out the ark of the Covenant of the Lord

1. The holy actions related to Israel crossing the Jordan vv.5-7
   1. The need for the people to consecrate themselves to the LORD v.5
   2. The need for the priests to fulfill their duties with the ark v.6
   3. The need for Joshua to be exalted as the leader in the eyes of the people v.7
2. The holy presence of the LORD with Israel crossing the Jordan vv.8-17
   1. His presence declared among them vv. 8-13
   2. His presence demonstrated among them vv.14-16

Conclusion v.17

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Joshua 1:10-18 (NASB) The Charge to the Officers

¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

¹¹ “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”

¹² And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

¹³ “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land,’

¹⁴ “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them,

¹⁵ until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your god is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward sunrise,”

¹⁶ And they answered Joshua saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

¹⁷ “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.

¹⁸ “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Review:

Three Principles for Christians from the LORD’s charge to Joshua

1. He is with you v. 5
2. You must be strong and courageous v. 6
3. You must obey God’s Word v. 7

Theme: Two aspects of Joshua’s command to the officers of Israel so you will recognize their application to the local church today

I. Joshua’s command must be communicated vv. 10-15

Two characteristics of the command

1. The command is clear

1. The plan recalled vv. 10-11a
2. The purpose restated v. 11b
3. The personnel are recognized v. 12

2. The command is consistent

1. The command of Moses is remembered V13
2. The concern of Moses reiterated vv. 14-15

– Concern for their households v. 14a
– Concern for their brothers vv. 14b-15

Principle: God’s people must fulfill God’s purpose – Romans 8:28

II. Joshua’s command must be obeyed vv. 16-18

Two right responses to the command

1. The commitment to carry out the plan v.16
2. The commitment to Joshua’s leadership vv.17-18

Principle: God’s people must follow God’s leader Hebrews 13:17

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Joshua 1:10-18 (NASB) The Charge to the Officers

¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

¹¹ “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”

¹² And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

¹³ “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land,’

¹⁴ “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them,

¹⁵ until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your god is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward sunrise,”

¹⁶ And they answered Joshua saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

¹⁷ “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.

¹⁸ “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Review:

Three Principles for Christians from the LORD’s charge to Joshua

1. He is with you v. 5
2. You must be strong and courageous v. 6
3. You must obey God’s Word v. 7

Theme: Two aspects of Joshua’s command to the officers of Israel so you will recognize their application to the local church today

I. Joshua’s command must be communicated vv. 10-15

Two characteristics of the command

1. The command is clear

1. The plan recalled vv. 10-11a
2. The purpose restated v. 11b
3. The personnel are recognized v. 12

2. The command is consistent

1. The command of Moses is remembered V13
2. The concern of Moses reiterated vv. 14-15

– Concern for their households v. 14a
– Concern for their brothers vv. 14b-15

Principle: God’s people must fulfill God’s purpose – Romans 8:28

II. Joshua’s command must be obeyed vv. 16-18

To be continued next week

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Joshua 1:1-9 (NASB) God’s Charge to Joshua
¹ Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,

² “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.

³ Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.

⁴ From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.

⁵ No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.

⁶ Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

⁷ Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.

⁸ This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Theme: The two most relevant lessons to grasp from the LORD’s charge to Joshua so you will maximize the benefits for your Christian life.

The Setting:

I. The LORD Speaks to Joshua vv.2-9

Six Directives:

1. The command to Obey v. 2
2. The promise to Claim vv. 3-4
3. The assurance of Victory v. 5
4. The exhortation to be Strong and Courageous vv. 6-7a
5. The key to Success vv.7b-8
6. The Exhortation restated and reinforced v. 9

II. The LORD Speaks to _____ through His command to Joshua

1. He is with you v. 5
2. You must be strong and courageous vv. 6-7, 9
3. You must obey God’s Word v.7

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