1. Get ready. Remember that they thought this was God’s will for them. So this passage says to us – get ready for God’s will for us.
JOS 1:10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, `Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’ “
How does this apply to us? Well get ready for what is next. But what is that? Whatever God has next for us. That means getting ready is a process. You never really achieve it. Getting ready for God’s will is always present. Does matter how old or young you are God is still preparing you for something. The amazing thing is that God is preparing each of us differently.
2. Special people have to do special jobs. JOS 1:12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: `Throughout the book of Joshua special attention is given to “the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh” (4:12-13; 13:8-32; 22:1-34). Although their territory was included in the larger boundaries promised to
These guys had to help out. Just look at their response.
3. Follow the leaders. Here the response is obedience not just to God but to His appointed leaders. These leaders were God’s chosen representatives.
JOS 1:16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
This is a tricky one for a pastor to talk about.
And I suppose there is some cultural differences here to.
The Jews at that stage were very much a corporate identity. Individuality was not a prominent thing. You did everything for the group. You helped each other. The priority was to the whole group of people. Our culture is much more about being individual, and doing what is best for us personally rather than doing what is best for the collective. Decisions where made for the whole – personal pleasure or ideology was not really considered. So the leadership structure is based on effective leadership of a group.
Today’s church leadership has to interact with individuals who make up a whole but want to maintain their own individuality. So Leadership is different that is why democracy is a valid form of government in this age. We all want a say. Are the principles the same about being obedient to leaders? In many ways yes, It is the leaders decision making process that is different. Alongside that is how we participate in decision making. We have a format for decision making that is to be adhered to, if we try to implant decisions outside of that system – we then no longer allow for right church governance. We are blessed to have a form of church governance that is both legal and acceptable under NSW government law but also biblical. The place for decision on issues is mostly at those meetings and by the congregation. Sure there are some things that are logistic and trivial or time restrained and need to be decided quicker, that is where we have to trust our leadership that they will respond to the Holy Spirits leading and guidance. It is this leadership we trust to lead, guide set direction that we listen to and under God’s leading add to.
I remember at a previous church I was at that a decision was made and after the meeting a heap of people came to my office and complained about the decision. When I asked why they didn’t speak up with their concerns they said that they didn’t want the church to be divided. People got upset on both sides of the decision. The deacons read some scripture and prayed. We called a special meeting and gave people the opportunity to be honest and there was no hard feelings, people understood where each other was coming from.
In that case the issue was not disobeying the leadership but not following due process put in place by the leadership in previous generation. But here in Joshua these guys make a promise to support the cause.
The guys in Joshua’s discussion gave their word to do what the leadership thought best. But notice how they did it. Look half way through verse 17 they gave a blessing.- Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.
Not only a promise to follow orders but saying we want you to be successful at being our leader.
It is kind of pastoral care for the leader. Not just support of Joshua but a statement of trust in his decision making process. I have to thank you for your trust and you really don’t even know me yet.
Now, I am not going to kill you if you go against what I say, and I feel a bit funny about speaking about these verses but it is next in the verses and I am just following them through.
How do we apply this to us as a church?
Well I looked at some commentaries and what is inferred here is that fully obeying is a verb. What I mean by that is that these guys went into action on the command of their leaders. They participated in the leaders work. This was really an eye opener for me. The Jewish concept of leadership was not do as I say but come on lets do this together. Joshua did stand back and let the guys fight, He fought with them. Leadership is about doing stuff together. My work is not for you but with you. We minister to Yeoval together. I have certain jobs, you have certain jobs.
So leading is doing with and demonstrating and being involved. Following is doing and demonstrating and being involved.
The Israelites had to fight together – we have to work together.
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