Topic: CANAAN LAND IS JUST IN SIGHT
Text: Joshua 1:1-9
Intro To Part Two: The book of Joshua is a book about transitions. It is a book about battles. It is a book about victory. It is a book about the people of God getting their hands on everything the Lord has for them. It speaks to us because it is a book about moving passed the problems of yesterday into the peace and blessings of today.
As the book opens, we are introduced to a new leader in Israel. Moses, the man of God is dead, and God calls Joshua to lead the nation into the Promised Land. The first 9 verses of chapter 1 concern God’s call of Joshua and of His reassurances to the new leader of Israel that God Himself will be with Joshua to lead him, use him and bless him.
Q1: From our text, mention some of the promises God gave to Joshua, which we can claim today.
Now the focus turns from Joshua to the nation as a whole. God is speaking to a people who are ready to receive the land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years earlier. Forty years earlier God had delivered the previous generation from bondage in Egypt. God brought them out through a series of miracles and other great demonstrations of His power and glory. It took that generation two years to come to a place called Kadesh-Barnea. They could have made the journey in 11 days, but God lead them through the wilderness so they would not have to face the enemy nations of Canaan too soon.
Q2: According to Num 13:1&2 and Deut 1:20-23, who initiated the decision to send spies into the land?
When Israel arrived at the Jordan River in Kadesh-Barnea, they were commanded to enter the Promised Land. Instead, they begged God to allow them to send spies into Canaan to see what the land was like. God granted their request.
Q3: Can you name another example in scripture of choosing God’s permissive will over His perfect will?
So, 12 spies spent 40 days looking over the land. 10 of those spies came back with a negative report, Num. 13:26-29. They told of the glories of Canaan, but their report was based in fear, not faith. They were afraid of the giants who inhabited the land, Num. 13:31-33. Caleb and Joshua, the other two spies, came back with a report based in faith. They spoke of the spies, but they also knew that God was able to give the land to Israel in spite of the obstacles they would face, Num. 13:30. Caleb and Joshua challenged the people to go forward and to claim the land they had been given by the Lord. In chapter 14 the people refused to go forward. They wanted to return to Egypt instead. Because of their refusal to follow Him by faith, God condemned them to wander in the wilderness for 38 more years, until that faithless generation died off.
Q4: According to Deut 1:32, Num 14:22&23, what was the fundamental problem of the children of Israel and why did God judge them so severely?
The generation that came out of Egypt was like many who are living in our day. They became “sanctified obstructionists” who tried to stand in the way of everything God was doing. They are like the Deacon in a certain church who that was against his church’s plans to build a new educational building. In a fit of anger he said, “That building will be built over my dead body,” then he stormed out. Three days later he died of a massive heart attack. The church went ahead with the building. It is a dangerous thing to stand in the way of God’s plan and purpose.
Q5: Who were the two spies who believed God and what was their reward? Num 14:24, 37&38
Now that the old generation is dead, God is about to lead the new generation into the Promised Land. The only remaining members of the previous generation, Caleb and Joshua are set to lead the people into their inheritance. Before Joshua leads Israel into Canaan, he addresses Israel to challenge them in some very important areas.
What Joshua says to Israel and how they respond to His words have some truths to teach us today. Like Israel, we have been promised victory and blessing, Eph. 1:3. Like Israel, we must be properly prepared before we can claim the victory that is ours.
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