Joshua 1:10 - 18

 

 

Joshua Assumes Command

And Joshua commanded the officers of the people,   “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,   “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’   Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.   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!   Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

Any leader would be blessed to have this response to his orders, no one is asking, how are we going to get across the Jordan, and most were not alive when God parted the Red Sea, so they could walk across on dry land.  What about the Reubenites and Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, look at the spirit they had of obeying Joshua as they did Moses.  Listen to their words, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.   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!   Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

I believe God and heaven get excited when they see a people with this spirit!  Do you recall the apostle Paul tells us to follow him as he followed Jesus?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice