TGV Evening Devotion
(An “Inspirational Nugget” corresponding with today’s “Bible Reading Plan:” Joshua 1)

Bible Study Guide
6-BSG-1T (Joshua 1)

JOSHUA THE SPIRIT-FILLED LEADER
Key Text: Num. 27:12-23

[1] Who was Joshua?

JOSHUA (Heb. yĕhôšuaʿ) (also JESHUA)

“The son of Nun; “young apprentice” and successor to Moses. In the book of Joshua, he functions as military commander in the “conquest” of Canaan and as administrator of the allotment of that land to the tribes. According to Num. 13:16 Moses renamed Hoshea (Heb. hôšēaʿ, “salvation”) Joshua (“Yahweh saves”). He is described as a mĕšārēm, “assistant” (Exod. 24:13; Josh. 1:1), and as a naʿar, “youth” (Exod. 33:11).”

“Apparently, Joshua had an important tribal leadership role apart from his special relationship with Moses. His selection as Ephraim’s representative among the 12 spies sent into the land of Canaan (Num. 13:8) seems to support this. Among the spies, only Joshua and Caleb believed that Israel could conquer the land, and only these two would later enter Canaan.
Joshua is first introduced as a warrior leading the Israelites to victory over the Amalekites in their first military encounter after the Exodus (Exod. 17:8–13).”

“God assures Joshua that he will be with him as he was with Moses (Josh. 1:5; 3:7; cf. 4:14). Joshua sends out spies as Moses did (Josh. 2). The crossing of the Jordan is clearly pictured in terms similar to the crossing of the Red Sea (Josh. 4:23). Joshua leads the people in rituals (circumcision and Passover) as did Moses (Josh. 5:1–12). The theophany of the commander of the Lord’s army (Josh. 5:13–6:5) coincides with the theophany at the burning bush. Joshua defeats the Canaanite enemies of Israel through the Lord’s miracles (Josh. 10–11), just as Moses defeated the Egyptian enemies of Israel through the Lord’s miracle at the Red Sea. Josh. 12 juxtaposes a summary of Moses’ Transjordanian military victories with Joshua’s Cisjordanian victories. Joshua’s assignment of the inheritances for the nine and one-half tribes west of the Jordan is paralleled to the similar work by Moses for the two and one-half Transjordanian tribes (Josh. 14:1–19:51; 13:8–33). As Moses made provisions for cities of refuge (Num. 35:6–34) and levitical towns (vv. 1–5), so did Joshua (Josh. 20–21). Joshua functions as a covenant mediator at Shechem (Josh. 8:30–35; 24:1–28) just as Moses did at Sinai (Exod. 20–24).” [K. Lawson Jr Younger, Eerdmans dictionary of the Bible, 2000, 737–738.]

[2] Summarize the events leading to God’s command for Moses to appoint a successor.

At Meribah, Moses failed to glorify God, the Lord was angry with him, and disqualify him of the privilege of leading His people Israel into Canaan. “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed (trusted) Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, you therefore shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Num. 20:12).

“12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go up to this mountain (Nebo) [in the] Abarim [range] and look at the land I have given to the sons of Israel. 13 When you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people [in death], just as Aaron your brother was gathered; 14 because in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to treat me as holy [by following My instruction] before their eyes at the water.” (These are the waters of Meribah in Kadesh in the Wilderness of Zin.)” (Numbers 27:12-14)

[3] What distinguishing characteristic qualified Joshua to be Moses’ successor? He was “a man in whom is the Spirit” (Num. 27:18)

[4] List other Bible worthies who were distinguished by this same quality.
(a) Joseph: “Can we find a man like this [a man equal to Joseph], in whom is the divine spirit [of God]?” (Gen. 41:38)

(b) Gideon: “So the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon [and empowered him]” (Judges 6:34)

(c) David: “Do not cast me away from Your presence; And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” (Ps. 51:11)

(d) Virgin Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a cloud]; for that reason the holy (pure, sinless) Child shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)

(e) Elizabeth: “and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him.” (Luke 1:41b)

(f) Apostles at Pentecost: “they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].” (Acts 2:4)

[5] How essential is the Holy Spirit for effective spiritual leadership today? How may we be sure of His presence?

(a) Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV) — 6 So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

(b) John 14:12–18 (NKJV) — 12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

(c) John 16:5–15 (NKJV) — 5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit brings with Him all of heaven’s wealth and assets. But we cannot receive these resources if we are not willing to invite Him into our hearts. He will not force Himself upon anyone who does not welcome Him. (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 419.)