We will be looking at Joshua chapter one. This chapter outlines something I will call "Joshua's fool-proof plan."
Like Timothy, Joshua had some fears of leadership. Those he was leading were known for being hard headed. When I read these verses and pay close attention, I can sees that Joshua had some insecurities about leadership. Joshua's mentor, Moses, had just died and thus the responsibility for leadership fell on Joshua. Moses was full of life and strength, yet died before his natural time because of his disobedience and his failure to trust God. Joshua didn't want to make the same mistake. As a leader, he wanted to follow the good things he had seen his Moses do, but he did not want to fall in the same trap of not taking care of problems or leading as he should have. Therefore, Joshua was very careful about his decisions. He was almost afraid to take authority because he didn't want to come across as an overbearing person, yet he didn't want to be viewed as weak. This made his role in leadership quite a challenge. However, God stepped in to help silence Joshua's fears. We read that in Joshua 1:5, which says this: "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." God used these words to let Joshua know the God would always be there.
Many people think that apart from Christ, Moses was the greatest leader Israel ever had. I'm under the persuasion that this is not accurate. Although Moses led people out of Egypt, Joshua led them into the promised land. Moses led the people into the wilderness, and Joshua led them out. Where Moses failed to properly lead because of his disobedience and disbelief, Joshua was able to lead the people and throughout the bible, not one negative thing is said about Joshua. However, we turn to Moses and we see a number of personal failures. Moses married an Ethiopian. He was shaky in his own self. Moses had a temper, which as a young man led him to be a murderer. We find more evidence of that temper even later in life, when Moses became angry and disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it. Please don't get the impression that I'm trying to bash Moses. There were many great things about the man. He was able to intervene on Israel's behalf and change the mind of God concerning the people, but the temper of Moses is always seen. There was a time when Moses wanted to reverse God's new plan and tried to bring it back to the table, saying "let's wipe these people off the face of the earth because they don't deserve you or what you're going to give them."
Moses still had his temper all the way through his Christian life. He always struggled with it, whereas Joshua constantly had to be affirmed to be of good courage. "Be of good courage, be not afraid, be strong and very courageous." The Scriptures shows us God repeated those words at least at least three times in the first chapter of Joshua, and later in the same chapter the people also said it, and later on we see it yet again. That Joshua had to be reminded several times to be strong and be of good courage means that Joshua had some insecurities about himself and his role as leader. God then gives instructions for Joshua. When God gave these instructions, it was as if he said "Joshua, here's a fool-proof plan. If you listen to this and live by these instructions, you will succeed as a leader."
I want to share this fool-proof plan with you. Some people may never be a leader in the way we commonly think of them. Some of us may never become a pastor, a deacon, a Sunday school teacher, or junior church leader. Some people will never become a parent or be a supervisor at their job site, but we are Christians and this leadership plan applies just because of that. The written word of God is not written to us, but for us. All scripture is given by the inspiration of God is profitable.
Number one: In order to have a fool-proof plan, you need to rely on God's principles. Every Sunday and Wednesday night, for over a year now, I have challenged the people of Victory Baptist Church with different off the wall questions. It may have been about smoking, drinking, birth control, or dress codes. The challenge was to prove the answer to me from the Bible. I did this because I want people to act on the principles of God. Look at Joshua 1:7-8. 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 withersoever thou goest. 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."What is the good success that is spoken of here? It is not wealth. It is not possessions. It is not popularity, and neither is it the number of people in church attendance. He was talking about living on God's principles. Second Timothy 2:2 says "and the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." We can also read that we are supposed to study to show ourselves approved, we're supposed to be continually in the word or meditating on the word of God. The more we study and the more knowledge we gain, the more we will have these scriptures imbedded in our minds. In Bible college there's a term that says "catch all that you can," because you can never get everything. They said don't worry about getting everything, just catch what you can. In a different message I discussed how sometimes we have things come to mind that we hadn't realized were memorized or hadn't thought of in quite a while. When we read about the word of God and memorize it, this is what happens. God's principles come alive and we will be able to respond to situations based on God's principles.
In general, most Americans that are baby boomers and older may not be Christians, but even so they have strong principles. This is because those principles were instilled into them by their parents. They have often kept themselves away from sin and have morals, even being unbelievers. This is because the Judeo-Christian ethic of practical principles and how to live our lives were still being passed down. I was talking to someone this past week who I believe has strong morals. This person doesn't attend church and I don't know the condition of this person's eternal soul, but the principles being applied are obvious. This person has morals and guidelines. In the book of Joshua you see God saying we need to rely on God's principles. While many things may seem right in your own eyes, they aren't always right. I was at Linway Baptist church this afternoon and Pastor Carpenter was down there preaching and he said this: "The right thing to do may not always be God's thing to do." I though "huh?" I sat there and thought about that, that the right thing to do may not always be God's thing to do. Pastor Carpenter talked about Jacob. Jacob was going to Egypt to be with his son after 23 years of separation and when he was leaving he was praying and asked "Lord, should I be going down to Egypt? Is this your will? Is this what you want me to do? The pastor said that in his personal opinion, this was a chance for Jacob to be with his family after 23 years and he wouldn't have thought anything about it because it seriously seemed like the right thing to do. But even though it seemed right, Jacob stopped and asked the Lord "Is this what I should do?" That really got me thinking! It's a really good thought. I was impressed and it actually got me thinking about this topic. Yes, we should rely on God's principles, such as the concept of turning to God and relying on Him. These are principles from the Word. The more we turn to the Word of God and read the principles and dwell on the Scriptures, the more richly the things of God will dwell in us. These principles will make themselves known through our lives and we'll find that more and more, we'll make sound decisions based on God's words.
When I was working in the juvenile prison I had to study a manual, and I hate those types of manuals! For a week straight I had to just sit down and study this manual. It was about 600 pages long and every little detail was numbered 601.3-2, 607.2-4 and the like. I had to go through this facility operator's manual and learn all these different rules. The supervisors had me do this for a reason. When I learned all these different rules and was put on the floor where a problem arose, I could identify what the rule was, the infraction of the rule, and then fix the infraction properly, according to the rule. That's what we have to do with our manual. "Thy Word have I hid in my heart." Why? Why should I hide God's word in my heart? "That I might not sin against Thee." The more we study God's principles, the more we realize that God's word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. This is how we learn. To quote Psalms, "The entrance of thy word giveth light." We ought to rely on God's principles.
Number two for Joshua from the Lord: not only do I want you to rely on God's principles but I want you to rely on God's promises. Joshua, I know you're preparing to lead a stubborn, hard-headed people. Joshua, you knew their parents, and the people you're leading are at least 60 years old and younger. Nobody there is under 60. Joshua, you're getting ready to go in there, you're about to take over these people and lead them out of the wilderness. Joshua, I just want to let you know what kind of people you're dealing with. They're hard headed. These people do not want to listen. They're set in their ways. They murmur, complain, and gripe. They forget who I am. Joshua, I want to let you know something that Moses found out the hard way. The people are stubborn and I'm trying to give you principles Joshua, but the principles will not be enough. There will be times when you're going to be weary. There are going to be times when you will become frustrated and Joshua, my second part of the fool proof plan is this: I want you to remember God's promises. I want you to remember my promises. Look at Joshua 1: 2-5. [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.[3] Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.[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.[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.God said " I'm giving these promises Joshua, I'm giving them to you and if you apply these principles and these promises, you will do well." Joshua 1: 7-8[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.[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.
He is told "you'll have good results, you'll have success. Not by worldy standards Joshua, but by my standards. Joshua, if you want to be successful by my standards, if you want to be prosperous, obey my principles. Obey my principles, and obey my promises.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.
God continues to instruct Joshua. " Joshua, it doesn't matter if you go to the North Pole or the South Pole, Joshua it doesn't matter. I'm with you. `And this is a promise, I'm with you. You will feel like you're going through it all alone. You will feel as if you are going through the valley of the shadow of death, but Joshua, I want to let you know you have my principles and have been given my promises.
Hebrews 13:5 says "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.":Deut. 33:27 teaches us "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them."
Looking through the Bible, I find promise after promise. Certainly we could sit here and claim promise after promise after promise of God, but one promise I can claim that is of God is found in two passages. I can go back and claim two for promises for my life and ministry. Revelation 22:20 says "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." That keeps me going because not only is Jesus never going to leave me or forsake me, He is coming back to get me! He will not leave me here burdened with this world, Christ will come back and when He does, He will take me out to be with Him. The other part of this promise is found in John chapter 14. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." Does it say he might come again. No! Jesus Christ says I will come again. He will. He tells Joshua "You're going through a lot of trials now but you've got my principles." Joshua listens to those principles. They're profitable for instruction. They're profitable for reproof and rebuke and exhortation. They're profitable for doctrine and profitable for righteousness. God says "Joshua, the principles will help you but I also want you to remember my promises, because you will need them to carry you on. When you face hardship, you must remember these promises. When you face a brick wall and feel like I'm just not there anymore, you will remember my principles and my promises."
"Number three Joshua, I want to let you know that you are going to go through these situations and trials and there will be temptations, but you can rest on God's protection. You need to do this. You see Joshua, there will be people out there who don't want you in their land. These people will try to overthrow you, try to kick you out, but remember the promise I made to you. I am with you and I will drive them out. Joshua, know that nobody is going to be able to stand against you. Nobody will be able to harm my people as long as they follow my principles, and as long as they are listening to me and following my principles. Joshua, I will give you protection. Don't forget that. I will give you protection."
I love what the Bible says in Romans 8:35-39
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There's nothing that's taken us that isn't common to man, but God is able to bring us out of it. The Bible says in Joshua 11:6 "And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire." With a size almost five times greater than Israel, Caanan was going to be going up Joshua and his people. They outnumbered Israel by far, and Joshua was fearful about going through this battle. God told Joshua "Listen, I'm protecting you. You need to rest on my protection." This concept is reiterated in Deuteronomy 33:27 where we read "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them." God will take care of our enemies. God's protection is there. We can rest in God's protection. There is nothing that God puts on us that has not been ordained. We are only put through what God allows. Do you remember Job? He had the worst things happen to him. His health was taken. His wealth was taken. His family was taken. His wife turned against him and his friends turned against him. Although he was all alone and vexed in his soul, Job looked up to God and he said "though He slay me, yet will I trust Him". That was honest trusting. He had an understanding of God's principles and promises and he rested in God's protection. He said his thoughts were that even if God slayed him, he would trust him. Believe that we can rest in God's protection!
So God told him "Joshua, I'm going to give you a fool proof plan. Number one, rely on God's principles. Number two, remember God's promises. Number three, rest on God's protection. Joshua, I know you will be scared but I want you to just rest in God's protection." Remember in the Garden of Gethsemane the soldiers came to take Christ away and arrest him? Peter took out his sword and swung it and cut off Malchis' ear, but Jesus reached down and picked it up, telling Peter "Put your sword away. We don't need your sword. Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.". And Jesus yet protected them. I love the part about Jesus and the disciples on the sea and as they're crossing the sea, Jesus is sleeping in the back of the boat. There in the midst of a fierce storm, he's taking a nap. The disciples become frantic with fear and wake Him up. With fear in their voices, they call out "Jesus! Don't you know the storm is raging? Don't you know we're about to perish? Don't you care that we're about to die?" Then Jesus wakes up and what does He say? "Oh you of little faith! Then he comes up to the deck and speaks to the storm. "Waves, peace, be still. Wind and waves, stop. Peace, be still." And they stopped immediately at his beckoning call. Jesus brings protection. Rest on God's protection. There's nothing that's befallen us that's not common to man. We may not be able but God is able, so we need to rest on God's protection.
Let's review before we move onto number four. 1. Rest on God's principles. 2. Remember God's promises. 3. Rest in God's protection.
Number four is to recognize God's provision. Joshua recognized God's provision. There are many things in the first chapter of Joshua, but there are three that really stand out. One is that we find God's provision in providing a manual. The Bible is truly a gift. Aren't you glad we have God's word right here, readily available? Think of what our lives would be like without it. If that happened, I might relate to you what God told me in a different way than it was said. You might relate what God tells you in a different way than it was said. That would make anyone lose faith! I am so glad that no scripture is of private interpretation, but instead is wrotten in the volume of Truth. I am thankful for the word of God that allow us to go to it and ask "What did God say?" Yea, God hath said. I'm thankful for the tool we have with the Bible. Do you know it tells us we can resist the devil and he will flee from us? We know this is true because the Bible is true! and we know this because the bible is true. God gave Joshua a manual, and I thank God that we have a manual today.
The second part that really stands out to me is God's provision in giving Joshua the message. In verse number three of this chapter, it says "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses." It was a done deal. God said "I've given it unto you. Does it say "that I might give unto you?" No, look again at verse three. That's past tense. It's a done deal. Where else can you find that type of security? Look at the popular game shows on television. You can win a grand prize, even a brand new car, but is it a done deal when they say you have won it? No, it isn't. The winner must go to a dealership. They will have to sign paperwork, sign the title, register the vehicle, pay sales tax, and take care of anything else involved in the process of taking possession of that prize. Can I tell you something? When God gives something away, it is signed, sealed, and delivered. It is signed, sealed, delivered, and it is ours. It's a done deal. God's provision is giving us the manual contained in the messages of the Bible. I'm thankful that the message God gives us has been and continues to be tested through time and time again. Moses was a generation before Joshua, yet God gave the same message again. I find this message methodical and I also find the message being given for us to each and every generation. It is given, it is preserved, and it is passed down.
The third thing that jumps out from Joshua's first chapter is that we should recognize God's provision. We have a great example of this in the story of Israel being given manna in the wilderness. God rained bread from heaven to fulfill the needs of the Israelites. What I find here is that God gave His children manna not just in the form of bread wafers but for other daily needs as well. In the wilderness they had shoes that did not wear out. Praise the Lord! I don't know about you, but I'm about due for some new shoes and not just the padding, I feel the shoe grid under my feet, so it's with a new appreciation that I can look at this part of the Bible and be amazed that the children of Israel's shoes never wore out. God gave them that daily need. Their clothing never tattered. God provided all that they needed. But there came a time, even with the manna, that they crossed into Caanan and partook of maturity. They didn't need these things anymore. It was time to grow up. There comes a time when we all have to do that. I remember when I took my first job and I started paying car insurance At first I didn't have a car, but as soon as I had a job I started paying bills. I could no longer rely on my dad to always pay my way. If I need socks, t-shirts, or any other type of clothing, it came out of the money I worked for. Once I received that job, I could no longer depend on my parents. I helped pay for electricity. I had to help pay for car insurance even though I didn't have my own car. I gave my tithes and offerings and gave to missions, then my dad starting giving me bills and I realized I was growing up! We see that with the Israeliter. The manna ceased and it was as if God was saying "Here, it's time to grow up." And once they partook of that corn, once they ate of Caanan, the manna and provision for their previous needs ceased. So God's provision was the message, the manual, and the manna.
So now we have 1. Rest on God's principles. 2. Remember God's promises. 3. Rest in God's protection. 4. Recognize God's provision.
Number five was given when, as part of this fool-proof plan. Joshua was told "I want you to reverence God's person. I want you to be in reverence of who I am. You can rely on God's principles Joshua, and you can rely on God's promises and you can rest in God's protection and you can recognize God's protection, but if you never reverence God's presence, you will have missed the whole picture." I want you to remember this: reverence who God is. I was driving through Corinth today and looking at the teenagers walking up and down the street. Many were dressed in what is known today as Goth style, with dark clothing and fingernails painted black. To me, they looked like they had no hope. None of them were committing a crime that I knew of at that time, in a sense they had morals per se, but in just looking at their dress and at their attitudes as they walked, it became apparent that they are missing something in their lives. In churches we can see people who come in and they respect who God is. Don't get me wrong, we need to respect who God is, but that in itself is not enough. We must reverence Him. We must worship Him for who He is. In the book of Joshua I see a pattern that strikes me as interesting. In chapter one, verse five, it's God of Moses. In verse six, he was the God of Israel's fathers. In verse eleven, he was the God of his people. In chapter two, verse eleven, he was now Rahab's God. Even though Joshua described God and described his might and power, it is not until chapter 5, verses 13-15, that Joshua is recorded as having worshipped, or actually reverenced, God. I'm not saying he never did before, I just found that interesting. Let's read Joshua 5: 13-15. 13. And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unti him, Art thou for me or for our adversaries? 12. And he said, Nay: but as captin of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? 15. And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off they foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so. The person Joshua met was the Lord. The captain of the Lord of Hosts is Christ. How do I know this is true? I know because Christ is coming back with ten thousand of his angels. Joshua finally met up with Christ. I'm not going to say that he didn't before, but I see a progression happening in his life and that Joshua had a different attitude towards God from here on out.
It is not enough to just know about God. We must have a personal encounter and a personal relationship with God. It is vitally important to have that personal relationship with God. Moses had his encounter or, his experience with a personal relationship with God at Sinai. Jacob had his at Penai, where he met and wrestled with God. Paul had his on the road to Damascus. Joshua had his outside of the gates of Jericho.
When have you have had yours? When have you reverenced God for who he is? When have you experienced God?
I was at Bible Baptist Church in Patrick Springs, Virginia for a pastor's jubilee. A group of preachers got together and preached, and it turned into a type of Bible conference. A man named Pastor Franklin got up front and he said "Look, I think we can take the rest of the day, it's just a couple hours, and just go and get into a corner somewhere and use the time to pray." I ended up in an empty teen girls classroom, and it was the hottest room of the church. When I got in there and went to my knees, I started began to pray. It was just your typical, every day type prayer, thanking God for the day and so on and so forth, but then I stopped and I got real with God. And when I got real with God, this is what happened. God got real with me! I was there with God. I was praying and God became ver real to me and I was intensely aware of his presence. I prayed like never before. It cause me to worship God and reverence who God was. It caused me to reverence who God is. If you've lived your entire Christian life and you cannot look back to a time when you've had some form of this personal experience with God, you're missing out on the greatest blessing in life outside of salvation. Some people have this experience at salvation. Some people have it several other times. There have been a few in my life, but that particular one just stuck in my mind like never before. It was as if God just reached down and put His hand upon me. God reached down and touched me personally. It was awesome!
Here in Joshua five, when he met with the Lord of Hosts, is where I believe Joshua had his first encounter of this nature with God, and for Joshua, it was face to face. When Moses met with God, his face glowed. I believe something was different about Joshua. With Joshua, it was on a more personal level. What about you? Have you met with God?
There are some things that help us meet with God. First, when we meet with God we need to have an alter that alters and that idea is found in these verses: Romans 12:1-21. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and pervet will of God. Secondly, we need to sacrifice at that alter. We need to have an alter that changes us. We need to have a conversation that converts us. David says "Be still and know that I am God." When we come to that point and we're still, and not just know but experience, it can happen. The word "know" that David used indicates not just knowledge, but experience. We need that experience. Third, we need to have a relationship that recoils and repels. If it recoils back to God when we fail, it repels sin. That puts sin away. It keeps us from sin and keeps sin out of us. 1 John 1:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Romans 13:11-1411. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. These words show us to walk soberly in the day and in the night. We need to be ready at all time to repel sin.
Now we have five things to do: 1. Rest on God's principles. 2. Remember God's promises. 3. Rest in God's protection. 4. Recognize God's provision. 5. Reverence God's person.
My sixth and final admonition for you is this: You have the responsibility to God's posterity. You are to disciple those who follow you. You must teach them. Joshua 4:5-94. Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:5. And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:6. That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their father's in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7. Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. 8. And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
Let's review this. Joshua looks across the river, picks out 12 guys and says "You guys get some stones and we'll put them in the river when we pass. The reason for this is because when we pass through here, the children of Israel will ask you what these stones mean, and you're going to tell them that this is where God caused a miracle. When this happens, it will be an opportunity to teach those people when they ask you about the stones. Joshua made it known that he was going to serve God and he was going to teach others to serve God. Joshua 24:15 - And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.So not only does Joshua let it be known that he will serve the Lord, he points out that we should teach our children, our posterity, about God and God's ways.
What do you think Joshua will teach his children? I think he will teach them to rely on God's principles. I think he will teach his children to remember God's promises. I think he will teach them how to rest on God's protection and recognize God's provision in order to reverence God's person. I also think he will teach them the responsibility of teaching their posterity these same things.
Do you want success? Then live your life God's way. 1. Rest on God's principles. 2. Remember God's promises. 3. Rest in God's protection. 4. Recognize God's provision. 5. Reverence God's person. 6. Teach your posterity. Do you want success? Learn to know who He is and what He wants from us, and then apply these things to your life on a daily basis.
