Foundations Week 12, Day 4

Scripture Read:  Joshua 1 - 2
Title: Joshua is commissioned as the new leader of Israel
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H.E.A.R. Entry
(H) Highlight verse:  "Moses my servant is dead.  Now, therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.'"  Joshua 1:2

(E) Explain:  Moses, has died at the ripe ole age of 120 years and it is now time for his successor, Joshua to step up to the plate.  From the time of his commissioning by God to his death, Joshua faced and overcame many seemingly impossible odds in his life. 
To begin with Joshua as he was commissioned to take over as leader of the people of Israel after the death of their iconic leader.  This was a big task.  Moses was highly respected and revered by the people of Israel and surrounding nations.  Filling the shoes of a great leader is always a challenging task and is one that is not always done successfully.  However, he not only had big shoes to fill but he was commissioned to complete what Moses had begun.  In some ways Joshua is charged to do greater things than his mentor, he was to lead the nomadic people wandering in the desert into enter and to settle into the land God promised Moses 40 years earlier.  He is tasked with the overwhelming responsibility of strategically planning military tactics so that Israel could overcome the cities that 40 years prior they would not face because they were paralyzed with fear.  

(A) Application:   God commissions Joshua as Moses’ successor and He promises victory and protection as they fearlessly and boldly go to the land of promise.  God confirms and affirms Joshua’s leadership and He repeatedly (three times) says, “Be strong and resolute (courageous)”.  We need to cling to these words.  When God commissions or calls us to go forward and follow his calling,  we must be faithful in responding and trusting that God will be with us through it al.

(R) Respond: I will trust God's calling on my life, and I will go when he says to go and stay when he says to say.  I must be faithful to Him and Him alone.