10/7/08
Advice from Joshua to Trailblazers
Joshua 1:1-10 (NLT)
1) Walk v. 3 – “Wherever you set foot you will be on land I have given you.”
- you can’t possess land you are not willing to walk out.
2) Lead v. 6 “be strong and courageous for you are the one who will lead these pople to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give then.”
- you are leading generations into a new normal
3) Trust v. 9 – “be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
- you are not on your own no matter how alone you feel
4) Listen v. 10 “Joshua then commanded the officers. Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the land the Lord you God is giving you.”
- change starts w/ a command; don’t go until you get the command from God.
- 40 years later the order comes; three more days
- generations of slavery in Egypt
- 40 years of aimless wandering
- now 3 days to a new future
Chapter 2
5) Count the Cost v.2 “Joshua secretly sent out two spies form the camp to go scout the land on the other side of the Jordan River especially around Jericho.”
- count the cost
- go view the land
- assess the enemy
- prepare
6) Pay Attention To Others v. 2 trailblazers often produce trailblazers
- her encounter w/ the spies produced a chance at a new life for an entire family
7) Remember v. 9 I know the Lord has given you this land “ she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea…”
- God has gone ahead of you
- Psalm 139:5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.
- no matter how big the challenge of how hard the road, no matter the threat of the enemy, no matter the size of the battle; God’s hand has gone ahead of you.
Chapter 5
8) Settle Who You Are v. 7 So Joshua circumcised their sons – those who had grown up to take their father’s places – for they had not been circumcised on the way to the Promised Land.
- they possessed their identity in preparation to possess their promise.
9) Finish - “Today I have rolled away the same of your slavery in Egypt. So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.”
- A Lot Happens in the Last Place Before possession of Promise v. 9 & 10
GILGAL
(gihl' gal) Place name meaning, “circle,” and probably referring to a circle of stones or a circular altar.
- Gigal was their first foothold on Palestinian soil
- it became their first place of worship in this new land.
- set up camp; a temporary home
- they were circumcised; they healed
- they observed Passover
- they spied out Jericho
- set up a military base of operations
- God delivered them from the shame of their past; revealed his plan for their future, and set into motion possession of His promise.
10) Don’t Sell Out In the Endv.11 & 12 the manna stopped
The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.
- there is a time between just enough provision and full ownership of the promise
- don’t sell out your promise for satisfaction; this is the place trust is shaped.
Remember:
You were not destined for slavery;
You were not freed only to wander;
You were not sustained to be defeated;
You will not die in the waiting;
You will not miss his voice;
Because His promises endure and His word will be fulfilled.
Beth's family website (pictures and stuff)