Text: Joshua 1:10-18

Theme: We need people who are willing to lead, and others who will get behind leadership.

Intro:

1. Several weeks back we looked at the first 9 verses of this chapter under the message title, “Go Forward for God.” We noted that after Moses death Joshua was appointed by God to lead the children on Israel forward and that God promised to be with him. Israel’s leader had changed, but their God had not.
2. Today, we will pick up where we left off in verse 10, as we look at Israel’s response to new leadership.

I. The Leaders Preparations (Vs 10-11)

1. The Lord had commanded Joshua to take charge of the people. (Joshua 1:2)
   a. Joshua had all the authority he needed for taking on this momentous task, because he had the authority of God in the matter.
   b. This is something that we need to bear in mind as well. When we are faithfully preaching the gospel, we have every right and authority to do so, because God has commanded us to preach the gospel to every creature.
2. Joshua took charge as God had commanded him.
   a. According to the book of Numbers, approximately 601,730 men aged 20 and older entered the Promised Land, representing the new generation that replaced those who died during the 40 years in the wilderness. This number does not include women, children, or the Levite tribe, and implies a total population of around 2 to 3 million people who crossed the Jordan River.
   b. Joshua might have been tempted to put this job straight in the “too hard” basket.
3. Afterall, Joshua had been with Moses through the wilderness wanderings and had seen first-hand how the Israelites complained about everything, and were fickle in their devotion to God, and could even suddenly turn on their leaders and want to kill them.
   a. But Joshua followed God’s command and took on the role of leading an entire nation.
   b. With the authority God had given him Joshua began to command the people.
4. Joshua became organiser the army (Vs 11)
   a. It is a tried and tested fact that people respond well when they see their leader getting going first. If the leader is the sort of person who tells others to get on with the work while he sits back and does nothing it only breeds resentment.
   b. They were to prepare victuals. Victuals refers to food, and more specifically, preserved foods.
   c. Notice that Joshua exercised foresight in his leadership. He not only saw a potential problem, spoiled food, but he also saw the need to give early notice of the need to prepare.
   d. They were going to pass over the river and begin to possess the land that God had promised them.

II. The Leaders Instructions (Vs 12-15)

1. The Instructions of Moses
   a. The tribes of Ruben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had been given land on the east side of the Jordan river, which is where Israel was currently pitched.
   Since they were already in their land and their wives and children were settling in already, they might have been tempted to drop out of the army.
2. Joshua reminds them of the agreement that they made with Moses. (Vs 13-15)
   a. These tribes had agreed with Moses that their wives and their children would remain in the east side of the river, but their men would go and fight with their brethren in the rest of the land.
   b. We need to help those with whom we hold fellowship. It has been said that fellowship means two fellows in one ship. That means to have to work together to keep the boat afloat.

III. The Followers Loyalty (Vs 16-18)

1. The response of the people was to get on board with the program.
   a. Whatever you need us to do, we’ll do it. (Vs 16a)
   – What you don’t see here is a bunch of people sitting around gripping and complaining about the work ahead, or the path that Joshua has laid out before them.
   – They simply let Joshua lead the way, and they get behind him and put their hands to the work.
   b. Wherever you need us to go, we’ll go. (Vs 16b)
   – The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy, but they were willing to follow their leader anyway. In fact, the way that Joshua was leading them meant they would have to cross the Jordan river, which would require a miracle, and yet they followed their leader.
   c. When you speak, we’ll listen. (Vs 17a)
   – When Joshua gave a command, these men would listen and follow through with it. They weren’t going to stand around arguing among themselves over whether or not they felt like Joshua was making the right decisions.
2. What about us?
   a. When God is leading in a particular direction, will you get on board with the move even if the road ahead looks hard or even impossible?
   b. When the Lord speaks to you through his Word or through the preaching do you listen and obey, or do you go home and argue your way out of obeying?
3. They encouraged Joshua (Vs 17b-18)
   a. Some people do one or the other, they either get stuck into the work and forget to encourage others, or they spend all their time encouraging others and never get down to work.
   b. If it is evident that a leader is doing his or her own thing, and isn’t following the will of God, then that leader has no God given basis for expecting you to follow them.
   c. However, if it is evident that the leader is following God and God is with them, then you are obligated to follow that leader as they, in turn, follow God.