When God Shows Up – chuckhilltoday.com

When God Shows Up
Joshua 1:1-9

Today, many people will get excited about football, and I’ll admit, I love football. But I want to encourage you this morning to get just as excited about God’s Word! There’s something much greater that deserves our passion and attention.

Look with me again this morning at Joshua chapter 1. As I noted last week, you can think of this book as a direct continuation of the story told in Deuteronomy 34.

Israel is encamped along the plains of Moab, somewhat adjacent to the Jordan River. Moses has recently died—after leading the people for many years. God’s presence and glory had been with him in powerful, dynamic ways. Many miracles had taken place—none so memorable as the parting of the Red Sea and the deliverance from the Egyptian army. But now, those days were behind them. An entire generation of Israelites had died, and a new day was dawning!

With that being said, look with me again at your Bible. Joshua chapter 1.

1 “After the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” Joshua 1:1-3 (NKJV)

In the wake of Moses’ passing—God speaks!

In fact, the most important and dynamic part of this first chapter is that God’s voice was heard!

Let’s continue reading in verse 4. It says,

4 “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:4-9 (NKJV)

Last week, we noted that Joshua received just what he needed in this time of crisis—not some secret advice or insider information, but rather…encouragement!

What he received from God was TOTAL REASSURANCE.

1. God Encouraged Joshua Through His Call (vv. 1–2).

It’s important to recognize that it was God who had chosen Joshua, and everybody in Israel knew that he was their new leader.

As Deuteronomy ended, it did so with God speaking to Moses about appointing Joshua as his successor. And then, Moses publicly acknowledged God’s choice by anointing him for service. And as he laid his hands upon him (a sign of God’s blessing), the Bible tells us that the Spirit of Wisdom came to rest upon him.

So, he was chosen by God…

…appointed by Moses…

…anointed by the Spirit…

…and accepted by the people!

But, just in case that wasn’t enough, in the opening of the book that bears his name, Joshua hears God’s voice declare his CALL again! The scriptures leave no doubt that God was working in Joshua’s life. And the outcome of their partnership would be the most life-changing experience any nation had ever known. But it all came back to the CALL OF GOD!

Joshua 1:1 tells the story. It says,

“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua…” Joshua 1:1 (NKJV)

Folks, don’t overlook the significance of these words. Up until now, God had always spoken to Moses—but now, God is speaking with Joshua. And with HIS WORD came a call. This was more than a wake-up call for Joshua…it was a life-giving, hope-inspiring moment where God seized Joshua’s attention. And in this moment, everything came into perspective!

Let me ask you, have you ever visited your childhood home, or park, or field you used to play at? And upon arrival, your first impression is, “This place cannot be the same place. It’s too small to be what I remember!”

I remember a time after I had married Lori and moved away from home. Some years later, my mom and dad had moved out of the house I grew up in…and I just wanted to see it again. So, on a visit to Florida, Lori and I drove by my childhood home. And to my surprise, it looked like it had gotten smaller. Everything looked smaller. The house, the yard, the community, the distance from my house to where I used to play down the street. Everything just seemed smaller.

QUESTION: Had it really gotten smaller—and reduced in size? NO…by my perspective had shifted.

You see, as you get older, your perspective becomes more accurate. As a child, life seems bigger than it really is. But as you get older, your perspective becomes much more accurate. The proportion seems to become clearer.

As a young man, small things seemed HUGE. Problems seemed huge. Mistakes seemed huge. My enemies seemed huge. The steps that God dared me to take seemed huge.

Now, what is true in the natural—is also true in the spiritual! Because, the older I get (or the longer I walk with Jesus), the more clearly I see things for how they really are—especially in comparison to the SIZE of my God and His ability to overcome—and His authority within me to fulfill His call on my life!

And it is the same for you! The longer you walk with Jesus, the more you’re able to trust Him. And what may have knocked you on your back as a new believer, or those things that may have shaken your faith at the beginning of your spiritual journey, today are just another opportunity for you to trust in Jesus!

Unfortunately for Joshua, even at the age of 80 (as he took over the leadership of Israel), his perspective may have still been a bit inaccurate. But, what he was about to discover was that God and him together would be a majority. And so, on that day, when God spoke to Joshua, He commissioned him to greatness. In fact, God commissioned Joshua to achieve three things:

To lead the people into the land,
To overcome the enemy, and
To take claim of the inheritance.

What Joshua quickly learned was that AS LONG AS HE WALKED WITH GOD, then they (together) could lead the people of Israel, defeat the enemy, and possess the land!

Now, it’s been noted by many that God could have just sent an angel to do this—but instead, He chose to use a man, and in choosing him, He also empowered him in just the right way to get the job done.

You’ve heard it said: Those whom God calls—He also equips! And He does. That’s why Paul wrote to Timothy (his young protege) and said,

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

In our lives, in our ministries—we must recognize God’s call on our lives. We don’t just operate alone in what we do, but as Paul said, we are to do everything as unto the Lord. When we do, we operate in His power and by His Spirit within us. Through faith and salvation, we have been set apart—made holy unto the Lord—and are now useful tools in the hands of God.

Never underestimate what God can do through you—when you fully submit to His call and give of yourself for His ministry.

2. God Encouraged Joshua Through His Word (vv. 7–8).

7 “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

It’s one thing to say to a leader, “Be strong! Be very courageous!” and quite something else to enable him to do it. God didn’t just offer Joshua plaititudes or positive thinking. God called Him to action and promised to empower Him as He had his predecessor, Moses. For Joshua, his strength and courage would come through his meditating on the Word of God, believing its promises, and obeying its precepts. This was the counsel Moses had given to all the people (Deut. 11:1–9), and now God was applying it specifically to Joshua.

During the years of his leadership, Moses kept a written record of God’s words and acts and committed this record to the care of the priests (Deut. 31:9). He wrote in it a reminder to Joshua to wipe out the Amalekites (Ex. 17:14). Among other things, the “Book of the Law” included “the Book of the Covenant” (24:4, 7), a record of the journeys of the people from Egypt to Canaan (Num. 33:2), special regulations dealing with inheritance (36:13), and the song that Moses taught the people (Deut. 31:19).

Moses kept adding material to this record until it included everything God wanted in it (v. 24). We have reason to believe the entire five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) comprised “the Book of the Law,” the greatest legacy Moses could leave to his successor. But it wasn’t enough for the priests to carry and guard this precious book; Joshua had to take time to read it daily and make it a part of his inner person by meditating on it (Ps. 1:2; 119:97; see Deut. 17:18–20).

The Hebrew word translated “meditate” means “to mutter.” It was the practice of the Jews to read Scripture aloud (Acts 8:26–40) and talk about it to themselves and to one another (Deut. 6:6–9). This explains why God warned Joshua that the Book of the Law was not to depart out of his mouth (Josh. 1:8).

One Bible teacher I read recently noted:

“If you don’t talk to your Bible, your Bible isn’t likely to talk to you!”

In the life of the Christian believer, our prosperity and success aren’t to be measured by the standards of the world. Rather, these blessings are to be recognized as the by-products of a life devoted to God and His Word.

Study His Word…Believe His Word…and Obey His Word!

3. God Encouraged Joshua Through His Commands (v. 9).

The Lord’s promises to Joshua did not mean that he and the people were without responsibility.

In verse 7, the Lord strongly cautioned Joshua to “observe to do according to all the law.”

He was not to deviate from it in any way (v. 7), but rather was to keep it in his mouth and on his mind (v. 8). Furthermore, he was to do “all” that was written in the law (v. 8). He was not to be satisfied with partial obedience!

God clearly tied Joshua’s obedience to his success (v. 8b). In verse 9, God speaks again, reminding Joshua of His commands. Listen again to God’s Words of encouragement. He says,

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The God who had promised to give the Israelites the land would not do so apart from their obedience.

The experience of their fathers forty years earlier gave grim testimony to the importance of obedience.

There can be no doubt that Joshua was driven by a passion to fully obey the commands of the Lord. Immediately after the Lord finished speaking to him, Joshua shared God’s command with those under him. As if to testify to his commitment to EVERYTHING GOD COMMANDED!

Listen, God’s commands are never to be taken lightly! We must obey if we’re going to experience His power in our lives. Commands are to be trusted and followed!

It is true, God will do the impossible…but He’s chosen to do it through us as we TRUST and OBEY!

APPLICATION:

As we reflect on Joshua 1, we can apply the same principles to our lives today. Joshua was at a critical juncture—he had big shoes to fill, leading a nation into the promised land after Moses’ death. But God didn’t just give him instructions or an outline for success—He gave Joshua reassurance through His call, His Word, and His commands.

God’s Call: Just as God called Joshua, He calls each of us into His service. You may feel inadequate or unprepared, but remember, God has chosen you. And those He calls — He also equips. His promise is to strengthen and empower you through His Holy Spirit. Whether it’s in your personal life, your work, or in some form of ministry, God is calling you to take the next step in faith. If you’re unsure about your purpose, take a moment to ask God to clarify His call in your life. He is ready to speak to you and guide you, just as He did to Joshua.
God’s Word: God encouraged Joshua to meditate on His Word day and night. This isn’t just about reading the Bible but about making it a constant part of your life. Meditation is implies the act of savoring a thought. So, meditate on it, dwell on it, speak of it, and live it out. In today’s world, it’s easy to be distracted by everything else—news, social media, and even the busyness of life. But God’s Word should be our guiding light. It’s not just a book to read; it’s a manual for life transformation. Take time to reflect on God’s promises, and allow them to shape your actions.
God’s Commands: God gave Joshua clear commands that he was to obey. Likewise, God directs us in life (through His Word). In like manner, God expects us to obey. Obedience isn’t always easy, and sometimes it requires true sacrifice, but it’s through obedience that we experience God’s greatest blessings and the work of His power in our lives. If there are areas where you’ve been hesitant to obey — or clearly disobedient, now is the time to change your ways and obey.

Conclusion:

Some of you may have been sitting on the banks of your spiritual Jordan River for too long. It’s time to step in, trust God, and take a spiritual risk. When God shows up, incredible things happen! His presence empowers us to move forward in faith, knowing that the best is yet to come.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word today. Thank You for calling us, guiding us, and promising to be with us every step of the way. Help us to hear Your voice clearly, trust Your Word, and obey Your commands. Give us courage to move forward in faith, knowing that You are with us and that our best days are ahead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.