Hebrews 11:30-31 ³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

Joshua Demonstrated…

I.  A heart of Godliness – Character

è He had Mountaintop Experiences with God… (witnessing God’s deliverance from Egypt)

Exodus 24:9-13,17 ⁹ Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up ¹⁰ and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. ¹¹ But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. ¹² The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction." ¹³ Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God… ¹⁷ To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain.

·         There is something about being in the presence of God (40 days & nights)

è He made Personal Choices that pleased God…

Exodus 33:7-11 ⁷ Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. ⁸ And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. ¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent.

¹¹ The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

CHOICE Sign… which way do I turn… there are many choices in life with consequences

·         Do all in your power to turn your heart toward seeking God, His holiness

·         “Every little action of the common day makes or unmakes character.”

·         Your reputation is what men think you are… Your character is what God knows you to be.

·         Reputation is made in a moment; Character is built in a lifetime.

Philippians 2:14-15 ¹⁴ Do everything without complaining or arguing, ¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

II.  An Ability to Perform Successfully – Competence

God prepares us for the assignment He has for us

Exodus 17:9-13 ⁹ Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." ¹⁰ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. ¹¹ As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. ¹² When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up--one on one side, one on the other--so that his hands remained steady till sunset. ¹³ So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

·         This is the first mention of Joshua… now about 45 years old

·         Chosen by Moses, young General Joshua led the Israelite army against the Amalekites

·         Moses lifted his arms (sign of prevailing prayer v16) from a hilltop… battle was won…

·         Joshua exhibited a patience and a willingness to grow & learn from his mentor Moses

Joshua 11:15 As the LORD commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.

·         No record of Joshua resisting Moses’ leadership or resenting his instruction.

·         Whatever Joshua did, he did it well – no complaining, whining, arguing… but faithful

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

III.  A Congruent (similar, harmonious) Profile with People – Compatibility

è Represented his tribe as a spy in Canaan (Num 13:8)

Numbers 13:1-3 ¹ The LORD said to Moses, ² "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders." ³ So at the LORD's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

·         Chosen as his tribe representative… he got along with people… he was liked by peers

·         He was a leader who people looked up to and followed (13:1-21)

·         He was one of 12 spies sent to spy out the land of Canaan… for 40 days

·         The promise land offered huge grape clusters, land flowing with milk & honey… BUT…

·         It was inhabited by powerful people with fortified cities… giants versus us insects!

è In the minority, Joshua & Caleb stood strong… remained faithful

·         With bad report agitating the people, fear struck… we’re better off to stay in Egypt…

·         The ten spies walked by sight and not by faith… only Joshua & Caleb stood strong

·         Now look what Joshua faced… Joshua and Caleb said…

Numbers 14:8-10 ⁸ If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. ⁹ Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the LORD appeared at the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.

·         Standing on the brink of the Promise land, the people were ready to stone them…

·         God shows up in a big way ready to strike down His people… Moses stood in the gap

·         God hears & forgives but the consequence is 40 years wandering in the wilderness

·         Everyone 20 and over will die in the desert except – Joshua & Caleb

è Wandered 40 years for their unfaithfulness (Num 14:33)

è Called by God, Joshua succeeded Moses as Leader of Israel

Numbers 27:18-19 ¹⁸ So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. ¹⁹ Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence.

·         Joshua proved faithful in the little things now he’s God’s pick to lead His people

Philippians 2:1-2 ¹ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

Joshua demonstrated Character, Compatibility…

IV.  A Perseverance in Adversity – Commitment 

è Pressures were mounting…

·         Mighty Moses died on Mt Nebo at the age of 120yrs – Deut 34:5

·         Joshua now the leader responsibility for 2 million people

Joshua 1:1-2 ¹ After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: ² "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites.

Joshua 2:1-2 ¹ Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. ² The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land."

o   Josh 2 Joshua sends out two spies… Rahab the harlot (a pagan gentile prostitute was David’s great grandmother, called righteous in Jam 2:25 & she’s even listed in the genealogy of Christ in Mt 1:5) …  protected the spies… scarlet cord hung

·         Crossing Jordan River at flood stage  into enemy territory

Joshua 3:17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

·         His fighting men are circumcised (we’re told there were 40,000 fighting men 4:13)

Joshua 5:8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

·         They celebrated the Passover, manna from heaven stops

Joshua 5:10,12 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover… ¹² The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan.

o   This was a personal experience for Joshua… pressures were great…

o   His mentor, friend Moses died, Joshua finds himself in a newly appointed position, many women, children & animals, 40 years of manna stops, encamped in enemy territory with fortified cities, no escape route to the rear, men hurting from circumcision, vulnerable to attack they were singing praises to the Lord rather than preparing for battle…

o   Joshua must have felt all alone, weak, helpless, apprehensive, fearful…  

·         The Lord steps in to encourage Joshua (now about 85 yrs old) (Josh 5:13-6:5)

Joshua 5:13-15 ¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" ¹⁴ "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" ¹⁵ The commander of the LORD's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Joshua 6:1-2 ¹ Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. ² Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

o   With a drawn sword, the Commander of the Lord’s army will fight for you…

o   Joshua, you don’t need to carry this heavy burden…

o   As their leader, Joshua experiences a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus… 

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

What your level of commitment in adversity?  Encounter the Living Lord!

·         The Lord laid out the plans of attack… even though it didn’t make sense!

·         Joshua was encouraged and faithfully obeyed the Lord…

·         March around the city once for six days, on the seventh day march around seven times…

·         Last time around blow the trumpets… and shout a war cry…

Joshua 6:15-17, 20, 25, 27 ¹⁵ On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. ¹⁶ The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city! ¹⁷ The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent… Joshua 6:20 When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city…  Joshua 6:25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho--and she lives among the Israelites to this day… Joshua 6:27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

Joshua, God’s Hero of Faith… (Joshua 1:6-9)