A New Leader Commissioned

GOLDEN TEXT: “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” —Joshua 1:9

NUMBERS 27:18-20

JOSHUA was one of the faithful spies who, forty years prior to the events related in today’s lesson, brought back a favorable report from Canaan, expressing assurance that with the Lord’s help the children of Israel could enter and possess the Promised Land. Now he was chosen by the Lord to succeed Moses as leader of the people into Canaan. He was well qualified for this undertaking.

Moses’ faithfulness to Israel continued to the end of his life. When the Lord Jehovah announced to him that he was about to die, Moses said to him, “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, … that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.”—Num. 27:16,17

It was in response to this request by Moses that the Lord said to him, “Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.”—vss. 18-20

The word “some” in the statement, “some of thine honor,” is in italics, indicating that it has been added by the translators. Moses was to put his honor, or authority, upon Joshua without qualification, so that the children of Israel would realize that he was their leader by divine appointment and that they were under obligation to obey him.

JOSHUA 1:1-9

THROUGH Moses the Lord had indicated to Joshua that he was to be the successor of the great law-giver, and now that Moses had died the Lord appeared to Joshua and confirmed this appointment. Joshua was at once to take command and lead the Israelites across the river Jordan into the Promised Land. It was not to be an easy task, but the Lord assured the new leader that he would be with him, and give him wisdom and success. He said to him, “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”—vs. 3

The Lord further said to Joshua, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life.” (vs. 5) Soon after Joshua and the Israelites entered the land he was given visible evidence that this promise would be fulfilled. Almost immediately after crossing the Jordan they were confronted with the powerfully walled and garrisoned city of Jericho. Joshua was looking over the situation, apparently pondering just how he would proceed to conquer this city when suddenly a “man” appeared before him and announced that he was the “captain of the host of the Lord.” (ch. 5:13-15) Through this “captain” of his “host” the Lord gave Joshua instructions how to proceed with the capturing of Jericho.

It would seem that the Lord had sent angelic hosts to fight for the Israelites. It could have been these who destroyed the walls of the city, enabling the Israelites, who had confused the people within the walls with the blowing of their trumpets and shouting, to march in and conquer.

But seldom are the Lord’s promises unconditional, and they were not in this case. The Lord said to Joshua, “Be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.” (ch. 1, vs. 7) The clear implication is that if Joshua did not observe the Law, he would not “prosper”—or, as the marginal translation suggests, “do wisely.”

Verse 8 makes this point even more specific. Here Joshua is told that by observing and meditating upon the Law he would make his way prosperous. But, as our Golden Text states, the new leader would need to “be strong and of good courage.” It requires strength and courage to serve the Lord acceptably, for there are evil influences on every hand with which to contend. This is particularly true at the present time. In Joshua’s case the Lord gave him visible evidences of his favor and blessing. This is not necessarily so today. Frequently the Lord’s people have to depend on the invisible evidences of his favor, which can be seen only by the eye of faith.

QUESTIONS

Who was Joshua, and by whom was he appointed to lead Israel?

What was the first great task which confronted Joshua?

How did the Lord help Joshua in capturing Jericho?

What conditions were attached to the promises of God made to Joshua?

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