The Successor - Joshua #1
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God
Commissions Joshua
After the death of Moses...the Lord
said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2 “Moses my
servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this
people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Joshua
1:1–2 (ESV)
Now after the death of
Moses—Joshua, having been already appointed and designated leader of Israel
(Nu 27:18–23), in all probability assumed the reins of government immediately “after the death of Moses.”
The servant of the Lord—This
was the official title of Moses as invested with a special mission to make
known the will of God; and it conferred great honor and authority.
The Lord spoke to Joshua—probably
during the period of public mourning, and either by a direct revelation to
Joshua. This first communication gave a pledge that the divine instructions
which, according to the provisions of the Lord.
Joshua—The original
name, Hoshea, (Nu 13:8), which had been, according to Eastern usage, changed
like those of Abram and Sarai (Ge 17:5–15) into Jehoshua or Joshua (that is,
“God’s salvation”) was significant of the services he was to render, and
typified those of a greater Saviour consider Hebrews
4:8 (NKJV) For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have
spoken of another day.
Joshua 1:3 (ESV) Every place that the
sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to
Moses.
Every place that the sole
of your foot shall tread upon that have I given you—meaning, of course, not
universal dominion, but only the territory comprised within the boundaries here
specified (see on De 19:8).
All the land of the
Hittites—These occupied the southern extremities and were the dominant
tribe of Canaan. Their superior power and the extent of their dominions are
attested by the mention of them under the name of Khita, on the Assyrian
inscriptions, and still more frequently on the Egyptian inscriptions of the
eighteenth and nineteenth Dynasties. What life and encouragement must have been
imparted to Joshua by the assurance that his people, who had been overwhelmed
with fear of that gigantic race, were to possess “all the land of the
Hittites”!
No man shall be able to stand before you—Canaan was
theirs by a divine grant; and the renewed confirmation of that grant to Joshua
when about to lead the people into it, intimated not only a certain but an easy
conquest. It is remarkable, however, that his courage and hope of victory were
made to depend (see on De 17:18) on his firm and inflexible adherence to the
law of God, not only that regarding the extirpation of the Canaanites, but the
whole divine code.
Joshua 1:8–9 (ESV) 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 good success. 9 Have I not
commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua was again commanded
to be strong and very courageous, being careful to obey all the Law of
Moses. This command is based on God’s
power through His Word. This is a stronger exhortation, indicating that greater
strength of character would be required to obey God’s Word faithfully and fully
than to win military battles! The emphasis in these verses is clearly on a
written body of truth. Many critics argue that the Scriptures did not appear in
written form until several centuries later but here is a clear reference to an
authoritative Book of the Law.
To enjoy prosperity and
be … successful in the Conquest of
Canaan Joshua was to do three things with regard to the Scriptures: (a) The Law
was not to depart from his mouth; he was to talk about it (cf.
Deut. 6:7); (b) He was to meditate on it
day and night, to think about it (cf. Ps. 1:2; 119:97); (c) He was to do everything written in it, to obey
its commands fully and to act by it (cf. Ezra 7:10; James 1:22-25).
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be
frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go.”
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