GETTING STARTED
Joshua had big shoes to fill. He had a name among the people, sure, but a guy named Moses had been leading the Israelites for the last forty years. Boys became grandfathers under the leadership of Moses. He saw the Israelites through slavery, the Red Sea, the miracles in the Desert, the times of doubt. He brought them the Law, down from the mountains of Sinai. God spoke to Moses face-to-face. But now Moses is gone, and Joshua has to take up the reigns of a nation. Will he command their respect?
- Consider any leaders throughout your life whom you have respected. What are their common characteristics?
READ THE WORD: JOSHUA 4:10b-18 (ESV)
The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.
English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
DIGGING DEEPER
- Describe the various groups who make up this passage. What were they doing, and what purpose were they serving?
- How did the people respond to Joshua?
- What miracle did God provide here, and why is it significant in regard to the changing of leadership and the obedience of the people?
- Each person played their role in this passage. Joshua provided leadership, the people obeyed, the priests carried the ark, and God parted the water. What part are you called to play in the working out of God’s work in your community?
RESPOND TO GOD
Moses parted the Red Sea. Right? It’s easy to leave God out of the picture when we recount our history together, and we naturally place emphasis on the heroics of people. Moses was a great leader, no doubt. But he led on behalf of God. The truth is that God parted the Red Sea, just as he parts the Jordan River in this scene. The leader, whether Moses or Joshua, is secondary to the truth that God is in control of Israel’s destiny. The people of Israel see that even though Moses is gone, and Joshua has taken his place, God’s status as their true leader has not changed. Who’s leading you?
- Pray for God’s leadership in your life, and the courage to obey and play your part.