If Joshua was going to lead the people into the Promised Land, he needed to know his boundaries. Where did the land that God wanted for them to go to possess begin and end?
God was very specific in giving the answer to this question. The map can be found in Joshua 1:4-5:
Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our second lesson on The Book of Joshua!
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KNOWING YOUR TERRITORY
Joshua needed to know the territory of the land that God was giving to the people.
Have you ever considered that God has also picked out a territory specifically designed for you to be serving Him and carrying out your purpose for The Kingdom of God?
This is something that we all should be praying about daily.
We need to be securing all of the places where God is at work in our days. He has a place and a job for each of us. It is time to be finding these places and fulfilling His will in those spots on the map of the world.
This can be true both spiritually and physically. In my own life I am carefully considering the pros and cons of where God is wanting me to spend the remainder of my days in retirement. Will it be our family home or will He command us to move to another place?
Do you have answers like these that you are considering?
SEEKING ANSWERS IN PRAYER
I am still seeking my own answers. Do you have these types of questions going on in your own life?
The best answers will only come to us from a deep and devoted prayer life.
I’m sure that is the way that God spoke His will into the life of Joshua. God confirmed his instructions for him very specifically.
He will do the same for us.
JOSHUA’S MAP FROM GOD
Joshua wanted to be sure he knew where he was going. He got down on his knees and asked God to map it out. God gave him a very specific and strategic map.
Do you understand that God will do the same for you?
When is the last time you prayed for God to show you your purpose and destiny for His Kingdom?
Making a grocery list and asking God to fill it isn’t how a Christian should be praying. Asking God to show you his will and to lead you in the next step will get much better results.
GOD WILL BE VERY SPECIFIC IF THE TIME IS RIGHT
God began to map out His places concerning the promises by showing Joshua a territory that started “from the desert to Lebanon.”
Let’s consider a few of the details in this new map from God. It is very detailed. The map that God gave Joshua can be used in a spiritual way for Christians of today.
Deserts are dry and barren places. Yet; God says we might be starting this journey into His promises from a dry and barren place that is similar to a desert.
Perhaps many of us haven’t felt God’s Presence in a long time.
This is comparable to taking a journey through the desert without finding any water.
We might pray and pray and yet still feel as if we get no answers.
Some of us may look around at where we live right now and think that we are living in a very barren place of no blessings. All we can see at this point is growing older in lots of strife and work and toil day- in-and-day-out and nothing seems to be changing.
From this view; our future can look very bleak.
The bleak viewpoint is always what the world will show you. God will not be like that though. He has a very different perspective from where he sits on the outside of time as we know it.
GETTING GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OF THE MAP
At first glance, things probably looked bleak to Joshua too, but this is where Joshua began his learning of the boundaries of the promises.
Never forget it.
Most of our own journeys begin from a desert full of troubles.
We all start out by becoming hungry and thirsty for God.
It feels that we will never find Him, or never hear his voice, but we don’t give up and we keep on seeking.
Sometimes we feel our prayers are never going to be answered because our blessings seem to be daily evaporating into thin air.
Though many of us have planned for a bright and exciting future, things that others have done (through God’s enemy) have interfered with our careful planning and ruined our hopes for the life we once were seeking.
It is time for us to get God’s perspective on life.
HIS PLAN NOT OURS
Somewhere along the way we seem to have forgotten that this is God’s plan; not our own.
Because of our wrong thinking, we find ourselves facing life from a viewpoint of lack instead of expecting the abundance of God’s promises.
We come out of the desert feeling lost and afraid.
Our hope is just about to disappear when suddenly we notice that God has given us a different way.
GOD’S BEST WAYS
We have already lost all; so it is very easy here in this desert of suffering to put our complete trust and faith in God. There seems to be nothing else left.
When we finally turn in obedience to follow His ways, just like He did for Joshua in the days of old; He shows us the next boundary. That new boundary is the land from Lebanon to the Great River; the Euphrates.
What a difference. These boundaries are such a blessing!
In Lebanon we come to a land full of natural resources and beauty.
We notice that the trees here are so strong and beautiful that they are often mentioned as being used in the millennial Kingdom of God which is to come to reign on earth for 1000 years in the future of God’s people. That is an amazing honor for mere trees.
Then the splendor of the snow-capped mountains and the luxurious trees of Lebanon are followed by the boundary of the mighty Euphrates River.
WATERS OF HOPE
Finally; we hear God speaking instructions which clearly lead to good and plentiful water for our bodies and our souls.
Our hope begins to increase here at the waters of this great river.
But; just as we are feeling a little more comfortable we realize something. Along with the Great River of refreshing waters comes the knowledge that it is a place where we must start to face our enemies.
We have come to Hittite country!
THE TIMES OF FACING GIANTS
The boundary here goes westward all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. That is a huge territory to have to dwell in while we learn how to face our enemies and fight battle after battle for God’s Kingdom.
This is a time of learning how to face giants.
We have much to overcome.
God has instructed that His people always be overcomers. Here is where we will learn the strength of our prayers and how to let God lead us into every battle.
This is the place where The Word of God is put into daily actions that will bring many victories forth.
HABITATIONS HAVE BEEN PREPARED
Only a short while ago, when we were spending all of those days in the wilderness of our past; we learned there that the victory belongs to The Lord. We must put all of our trust in Him, be obedient to His Word and keep on moving toward the habitations that He has prepared for us.
Many enemies will be slayed along the way to these prepared dwelling places.
Crossing the Hittite country and facing the giants of our fears in that place will be a lot like going through the times of Passover. On that first Passover, it was God’s seal over us that allowed us to survive the vengeance of our enemies.
GOD’S SEAL BRINGS MIRACLES
Once we began to face our fears with God’s Word as a sword, we will begin to experience miracle after miracle. It isn’t a mistake that we have been asked to travel through these hard places. In them we will find our faith only growing stronger.
The journey will only have begun by the time we come to the boundary of the Mediterranean Sea. Here are many mysteries of God for us to explore and know. These are like a treasure chest that He opens before us. The Creator, God designed this sea and He shows us all of its wonder and glory as we approach it.
TREASURES OF THE SEA
Tired and weary from our battles and our long journey so far, we stand on the shores of this sea and are suddenly reminded that though we are but a remnant now; God has promised the descendants of Abraham (both physical and spiritual descendants) will be as vast as the sands of the seashore.
The sea is a constant reminder that nothing will be able to stop God’s will.
We look up at the night sky as we wait to move forward again. Our thoughts are of the promise that we will be as many as the stars of the heavens.
The place of this boundary carries great significance to us. We stop here for a bit and rest. Sabbaths are so good! Our hearts soak it all in before looking to God for the next steps that we need to take to fill the land with His people and His ways.
He reassures us in this place.
“I will never leave you or forsake you.”
THE PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING
Basking in those words of comfort, we find ourselves constantly thinking of Pentecost.
God has taken us straight up the mountain of our faith. He has provided comfort to our spirits that is uncomprehendable to others of the earth.
Within the boundaries of His promises we have found a peace that passes all understanding.
LIVING IN THE PROMISES
This was true of the Israelites on their journeys, but the same messages are even more true for the followers of Jesus today.
As God led Joshua forward; so too are we led by Our Lord; Jesus Christ.
Faith and obedience are all that we need to keep moving.
Promises after promises are still being revealed as we soak in the adventures of The People of God.