CSSA 1-2-06 - THE NEW LEADER

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31. THE NEW LEADER

"Be strong and of good courage -as I was with Moses so I will be with thee"

Aim

To show how Moses' work was now finished, and another wise and faithful man, Joshua, was chosen to carry on and lead the people of Israel into the Promised Land.

Synopsis

The wanderings of the children of Israel in the wilderness were over and they would soon enter the land of Canaan. Knowing what was in store for them, God provided a leader who had just the right qualities to take the place of Moses.

Numbers 27:15-23; Joshua 1:1-11

THE NEW LEADER: Numbers 27:15-23

Not long before he died, Moses was told by God that Joshua was the man appointed to lead Israel into the Promised Land. He brought Joshua before Eleazar the High Priest and all the people and told him that he must lead the children of Israel as God commanded. He was the one to bring them into the Promised Land (Num. 27:18,19; Deut. 31:23).

Joshua had been Moses' servant for many years (Exod. 33:11). He had the right qualities for the leader of God's people. He was a man of great €

€ Courage He had led Israel into battle against the Amalekites (Exod. 17:10-13).

€ Faith He had been one of the two faithful spies who had brought a good report of the Land (Num. 14:6-9) (see Lesson 2).

€ Wisdom This had been given him by God (Deut. 34:9). God told him to read His Law daily and think upon it (Josh. 1:8).

€ Experience He had learned from Moses how to lead the people. He had been Moses' helper at Sinai and during the whole of the wilderness wanderings.

JOSHUA STRENGTHENED BY GOD: Joshua 1:1 9

Joshua's task was a difficult one but God encouraged him for the work: "Be strong and of a good courage, be not afraid" (vv.6,9).

Israel were God's children. As their leader, Joshua was to teach them to obey God and love Him. When they crossed over Jordan they were God's army, invading the land and driving out its inhabitants. So Joshua must be a clever general as well. Like Moses, he was meek. He knew that the task was too big for him, unless he had God's help. God promised to help and strengthen him as long as he trusted in Him. Faithful Joshua was reminded to think on the book of the Law day and night and do all that was written in it. If he did this he could not fail. "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee, I will not fail thee nor forsake thee: Be strong and of a good courage, for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I sware unto their fathers to give them" (vv. 5,6).

ISRAEL PREPARES: Joshua 1:10-11

The people were camped at Shittim, east of the River Jordan, opposite Jericho. Joshua told them to prepare food, for in three days' time they would pass over Jordan "to go in to possess the Land".

LESSON FOR US

Joshua was commanded by God - "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein, for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success" (Josh. 1:8). This must also be the rule of our lives. We must never let a day slip by without reading our Bible and thinking carefully about God's words to us.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

David knew and loved God's law; he meditated upon it and found guidance there for his daily life: "Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:1, 104, 105). In these days, when it is so easy to be led into the wrong ways of the world around us, we will find great strength and help in God's Word, if we allow it to guide us. More than this, God's Word is "able to make us wise unto salvation* through faith which is in Christ Jesus", as Paul told Timothy (2 Tim. 3:15). 'Faith' means 'believing'. Joshua had faith that God would bring them into the Promised Land. He believed that God would help them drive out the wicked inhabitants. This is why he was such a great man.

QUESTIONS

Short Answers

A new leader was chosen after God had said Moses would not go into the Promised Land with the people. Who was the new leader?
What was Joshua commanded to read every day?
Where were the Israelites camped before crossing into the Promised Land?
How many days were Israel commanded to prepare themselves before crossing into the Promised Land?

Detailed Answers

What qualities did Joshua have that made him the right man to lead Israel? (Four are mentioned in the lesson)
God encouraged Joshua for the work.
1. What did God say to encourage him?
2. What did God say he must do every day?
3. How is Joshua an example for us in this?