More thoughts from Joshua

Again more notes from the conference via Reg Cox:

More about Joshua
-aid to Moses
-military leader -- a good one
-had a special connection to God's Word (Ex 17:14)
-first person whose faith is shaped by the written word
-He is our direct faith ancestor


Joshua 1-3

God desires a presence in our lives

The conquest of the promised land presents a faith problem
- God made a promise 600 years earlier to Abraham, the land was theirs but it would require effort on their part

The question is bound to be asked, why the 600 years between the promise and the fulfillment?

3 faith tests
-foundation for faith legacy begins in our hearts and we see this in the story of Joshua and the Israelites in three faith tests

1.courage
2. cunning
3. crossing

1. God leads Joshua to a private test of spiritual trust
"Moses my servant is dead" -- God's power doesn't die with his leaders
-the private test : "Are you ready to trust my leadership and my word Joshua?"
-Will you step out into the risk even if it costs you?
-Johsua 1:3 -- "I will give you every place where your foot touches"
-the word give requires risk, action, and radical trust

2. God leads Joshua to a public test of spiritual trust
-Joshua 2:1 -- Back in "Shittim" - Nu. 25 Israelites men had sex with Moabite women and bowed down to their gods
-Now in Johsua 2:1 God brings them back to a place of former failure and Joshua sends two spies and they go to a prostitutes house and everyone in Jericho knows where the spies went
-the spies stay gone for three days (Joshua was told in three days they were leaving)
-the spies show up in the last minute

3. God leads Joshua and the people to a test of faith
-Joshua 3 -- 600 years of hope in an unseen promise hangs on the faith of one trusting man
-Application: Circumstances may appear overwhelming, but despite what it looks like, God wants us to trust Him and what He says
-On one side of the Jordan, the people were bricklaying boot kissers -- one step in the river transforms the people, this moment literally transforms the nation