A Promise at the Water's Edge: Part 2 - Joshua 1:16-18

Good morning. It's so good to be here. This is something that Renee and I look forward to every week being with our church family and For those

Liberty kids who are in our midst that are giving us a try for the first time Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of your worship this morning

We always like to be in the company of visitors Now if you brought your

Bibles with you today, let's go ahead and turn to the book of Joshua As many of you know, yeah, many of you know, we've just been starting in this book

It's been quite profound even at its beginning This morning.

We're gonna be ending wrapping up chapter 1 where we're gonna find ourselves in verses 16 through 20

And the title of this message is as it was last week and that is a promise at the water's edge

Now if you recall in our previous study at the beginning of Joshua chapter 1 We found Joshua and the nation of Israel now facing a period of historic transition after the death of Moses This of course posed some spiritual challenges to Joshua as he was faced with leading an entire nation of people into the promised land

Thus in many ways the scene here is a familiar one for the Israelites And once again they found themselves standing at the brink of entering

Canaan haunted by the the past failures of a previous generation and They're confronted with this challenge of inheriting a land that God had promised them so long ago

So once again, we will wind up revisiting some history in the life and times of Joshua here

And once again, we will find some very good lessons for us to learn as well Cotton Mather He was a

Puritan minister and author in colonial New England he lived from 1663 to 1728

He wrote extensively on theological historical and scientific subjects and he was oftentimes referred to as the very first American Evangelical After being educated at the

Harvard College, he would go on to preach the rest of his life And as it related to the promised land

He would use the following biblical imagery to really explain its relevance in the present time where he said this

He said wilderness is but a temporary condition through which we are passing to the promised land

So once again now we find the biblical history of old does have a place in the

Christian life of today And while Joshua and the nation of Israel would once again find themselves here with a promise at the water's edge

They would be looking forward to what God would have them to do Another thing that we clearly see in Joshua chapter 1 is

God's sovereign faithfulness to his covenant along with how God unilaterally initiates and sustains his people

Let us now continue now in Joshua chapter 1 where we find a challenge to obedient faith

Which we will see in our passage this morning, so let's begin reading We're gonna look at Joshua chapter 1 verses 16 through 18 and the writer has this to say to us

So they answered Joshua saying all that you command us we will do and wherever you send us we will go

Just as we heeded Moses in all things. So too will we heed you

Only the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses Whoever rebels against your commands and does not heed your words and all that you commanded to him

Shall be put to death Only be strong and of good courage

So now if you recall in our previous message we've addressed the need to prepare for God's promise as well as Prioritizing his covenant and we will now address the rest of this passage in this message this morning

Where we're gonna be talking about yet a promise at the water's edge like we did last week But we're gonna be looking at it from the vantage vantage point of faithful obedience

We're gonna address this passage in the following three points that we're gonna be dealing with this morning

The first point that I would like to discuss with you is a generational contrast This is going to be seen in Joshua chapter 1 verse 16

This will bring us to a second point where we will see a reflection on the past This will be seen in Joshua chapter 1 verse 17

And then we will wrap up this message this morning with our third and our final point Which is entitled a lesson learned which is going to be seen in verse 18 the very last verse in Joshua chapter 1

And we need to consider where we're at at this point in history We're set at the brink of the

Jordan River and this passage really Captures the responses of the Reubenites and the

Gadites and and half the tribe of Manasseh here They're responding to Joshua's leadership

We see this in Joshua chapter 1 verses 10 through 15, which we covered last week

And as we already know this whole scenario is following the death of Moses where where God had sovereignly

Appointed Joshua now as the leader to fulfill his covenant promises of land and rest

Now the passage we just read oftentimes calls us back to the history that's found in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy and once again, we will find the necessity now of looking back on a generational contrast

You know as we consider the opening point of our message this morning We see this central theme of a faithful obedience emerged from the closing verses here in Joshua chapter 1

And with that considered we now find what a generation the difference that a generation can make

Let us not forget That just as the spiritual foundations of a nation are but one generation away from crumbling

So too do we find that we're just one revival away from a nation's renewal as they move forward towards God's sovereign plan

So for us to really understand the significance here of this promise at the water's edge

We need to revisit the history of a previous generation That had rejected

God's promise This brings us to a preliminary point of a contrast in generational obedience

You know when we look back on Israel's condition in chapters 4 13 and 14 specifically found in the book of Numbers we find a very disobedient generation at K' Barnea and Likewise in this opening verse here in Joshua chapter 1 we see this very stark generational contrast under Joshua's leadership

So what we find here in Joshua chapter 1 verses 16 through 18 is a generational contrast when it comes to faith

We find a generational contrast when it comes to obedience And yes, we see a generational contrast when it comes to divine judgment

Now, I believe that it is important for us to recognize that this promise at the water's edge It isn't just a prelude to events that are merely historical here

And his commentary on the book of Joshua Martin a wood straw He stressed the importance of the biblical history found in the book of Joshua Where he offered three components here for us to keep in mind moving forward

He said this He said the biblical exegesis consists of the following three major components the grammatical and the literary the historical and the theological

And it should be the biblical interpreters aim to understand the literature at hand with the objective of Comprehending the mind of the spirit who speaks in and through the scriptures

So with that said I would submit that Joshua's account. He really offers us some theological illustrations of God's sovereignty and salvation and we also find the necessity of a faithful obedience in our lives the importance of persevering faith the distinction between a nominal covenantal membership and and true regeneration and as reformed

Baptists we oftentimes view these things through the lens of covenant theology and the doctrines of grace and as such we view this generational obedience as Exemplifying how

God a faithfully preserves his elect amid human failure all the while unbelief

Could lead us to the exclusion of promised blessings And all these things here will ultimately point us to the superior rest that we have in Christ We see this in Hebrews chapter 3 in chapter 4

Now another contrast that we see in this passage is a contrast in generational obedience

As we look more closely at Joshua chapter 1 verse 16 It becomes readily apparent that there's a real difference in generational experience between these two generations

For example at Kadesh Barnea, we find the Exodus generation. I mean this generation they bore witness to how

God Miraculously delivered them from the Egyptian bondage. We they witnessed firsthand the parting of the

Red Sea These were the guys that received the law of Moses on Mount Sinai They experienced

God's providence from manna from the heavens and from water from a rock So their generational experience here was quite profound

But the response to this experience would be mixed at best For they had seen

God's power firsthand But they would succumb to grumbling and complaining and rebellion which we see in Exodus chapter 32

As well as in Numbers chapter 11 And by the time they reached Kadesh Barnea, which was two years after they had left

Egypt We find them at the same place where Joshua is at now With a promise at the water's edge

They would ultimately send spies Who except for Joshua and Caleb would bring back a faithless report?

It would be a report that diminished God's sovereign power It would be a report that really rejected

God's promise all because they feared the inhabitants of the land at the time So their generational experience would ultimately become a tragic one and they would never again be in a position to redeem

God's promise ultimately they were left in the wilderness to die off so that a new generation could rise up in their place

And the second generation would rise Born in wilderness wanderings with the exception of Caleb and Joshua this exodus generation would vanish over the next 40 years as a judgment of their unbelief now this new generation

They had not directly experienced the exodus miracles but they did grow up in the shadow of their parents failures and they had learned their obedience through hardship and they understood quite well the generational significance of fulfilling

God's promise and as we consider these things from a generational context here

There's much to apply to our lives as well You know as christians we have the unique blessing of reading this generational history found in god's word

And drawing critical lessons from it and because we share in that blessing. We really need to heed those lessons on our walk with christ

Let us always be mindful to point the ensuing generation to christ so that they will be prepared to assume leadership

That will one day rest on them The apostle paul He addressed this generational

Promise in his letter to the ephesians where we see this in ephesians chapter 6 verses 1 through 4

The apostle paul put it quite plainly where he said He said children obey your parents in the lord for this is right

Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with promise That it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth

And you fathers do not provoke your children to wrath But bring them up and then nurture and the admonition of the lord

So for those of us that are in this current generation Let us understand the spiritual imperative that's at hand and let us discharge our duty with a christ -like

Intentionality because our children are depending on us Recently our men's fellowship completed a study

On family worship where we spoke of this generational imperative any of the men in our midst who have participated in that will support that statement

You know Rene and I are empty nesters now But we're still engaged in the lives of our children and our grandchildren.

Our family worship is More organic spontaneous oftentimes marked by an ongoing conversation carrying with it a fluid of intentional consistency

A while back renee and I were talking about how we really should not fear what our children's generation will have to face and Bear in mind.

I am very much aware that that is much easier said than done Because just as we see in this generation

That joshua would lead Our children were created and called for the time in which they live

And of course they are called on the journey that they will ultimately take So as parents let us walk in a manner that is worthy of this calling let us

Understand this generational imperative that each of us have and let us not forget That our participation in god's sovereign plan is not a coincidence or an accident

Let us raise this new generation in the nurture and the admonition of the lord so that they will know from where their power comes from as children of god

Let us raise this Generation and train them up in the authority of his word teaching them to walk in faith knowing that it is god that is in control

Let us empower our children Empowering them to know that they too play a role in building god's kingdom instilling within their hearts

The hope that comes from god that empowers them to act on their belief Let us not forget

That every person in all of history Has been placed in a time in which they live by god's sovereign act

And as such we should find peace in god's plans and purposes Let us not forget

He ordained That moses would lead the children out of egypt

He ordained that joshua would one day lead the generation the new generation into the promised land

He ordained that the prophet isaiah would serve him even though he was a man of unclean lips

He would raise up every king whether good or evil to accomplish his divine purpose he would for ordain that peter would

Really? He would deny christ three times but ultimately die a martyr's death He would for ordain that paul would be raised up and spread the gospel over four missionary journeys

And he knows your children He knows your children that with god's help will be able to handle whatever challenge comes their way

During the course of their life. And why do we know this? It's because he created them for the time in which they would live

And he placed them in your stewardship as parents for a divine reason for as I said earlier

What a difference a generation can make The prophet isaiah was a man that communed with god despite his fear and inadequacy

And at the moment that he feared that god Would have him to do something that was over his abilities that challenged him beyond what he could do

God would speak to him and give him this assurance We see this in isaiah chapter 41 verse 10

For god would tell isaiah. He would say fear not for I am with you Be not dismayed for I am your god.

I will strengthen you. Yes. Yes. I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand

Just as joshua the nation of israel Would not allow fear to steal the greatness that god had called on them to fulfill

Each one of us from the oldest saint To the newborn child was created for such a time as this

Let us never forget Obedience is not a meritorious event in our life, but it is a response to god's prior grace in redemption

We see this in exodus chapter 19 verse 8 and we also see this in deuteronomy chapter 5 verse 27 true obedience flows from regeneration

Demonstrating the doctrines of grace and how total depravity is subdued by irresistible grace

And this is what leads us in perseverance So let our generation become known as a generation of our obedience

For our dependence on his presence for our mutual encouragement to one another in the faith

And let us impart these truths into the hearts of those in our ensuing generation the children that we are now charged with keeping

Let us understand that this ensuing generation represented by our children Is one day going to rise in faithful obedience exhibiting the fruits of sovereign grace

So as parents Our charge is a great one indeed So now that we've considered this generational contrast here and have pondered the faithful obedience of joshua in the nation of israel

Let us now learn those lessons that are found in a reflection of the past You know as we approach joshua chapter 1 verse 17, we readily see god's continued continuity and his

How dependence on him will compel us to really reflect on those past lessons? And when those past lessons we find this amazing record of god's consistent faithfulness

What we see here in this new generation of israel is that they will reflect on the past whether good or bad

And they would allow such reflection to strengthen their resolve encourage and in obedience

So as we consider these things here now, let us first examine the historical lesson of obedience

In joshua chapter 1 verse 17 We find an example here of how lessons needed in the present time can often be drawn from from the times and the truth in the past This is clearly seen in the proclamation of the officers of the people here where they would proclaim that just as we heeded moses

In all things so will we heed you? Only the lord your god be with you as he was with moses

So we see the officers of the people here drawing on from these reflections in the past The officers of the people here they would reflect back on their past obedience to moses

They would bring that forward here and they would acknowledge joshua's role As their leader as their god appointed leader

This is a lesson of course for all of us as christians to follow We see here god's unchanging sovereignty and his redemptive history

We can stand on that and we can anchor our faith in that And this is a lesson for us to really follow as well

We see this continuity in his covenant faithfulness going all the way back to the promises made to abraham

And so we also see too the importance of human responsibility and a faith -driven obedience

We too have a biblical history that we can reflect on And we need to understand god's sovereignty in pointing our leaders, which is seen in romans chapter 13 verse 1

We need to also clearly see The covenantal continuity from moses to joshua pointing us forward to christ and his fulfillment of the law and the prophets

So there was a history to reflect on by these officers of the people However, there's also a reflection on the past which would also generate this unwavering obedience to god's leader

You know as it relates to our obedience here it points us to christ's ultimate fulfillment in his covenants

And of course our call to faithful service to him now In the church today

We find that this is the vehicle by which that we collectively are obedient to what christ's call is on our life

As well as moving forward and building god's kingdom In many of his works on faithful obedience john cotton.

He offers us the following perspective here where he said this He said the faithful obedience to god's commands is the true evidence of a heart renewed by grace

So just as we see this unwavering obedience on the part of this new generation to joshua

So too do we see that it includes really a charge for us to submit to god's authority

We see this clearly illustrated in hebrews chapter 13 verse 17 And just as gosh just as joshua represents god's word in verse 17 here in this first chapter of joshua

We find that also too that we it really foreshadows christ's ultimate leadership in our lives as the greater joshua

Which is seen in hebrews chapter 4 verses 8 through 11 And in these things

We as believers can enter this eternal rest through sola rashia, which is grace alone

Also at this point in the passage we find that the tribes of israel they would affirm a total submission

To joshua's leadership where they would unequivocally proclaim That all that I that you have commanded us we will do and wherever you send us we will go

And while this initially appears to be just kind of like a straightforward commitment I'm here to tell you that it echoes an earlier pledge that they had made long ago to moses

We see this in deuteronomy chapter 5 verse 27 For this generation under joshua

They remembered their history And they also remembered that the commitments made to god were intergenerational commitments

And that god's expectations would be transferable from moses to joshua showing this continuity and god's redemptive plan now

In his letter to rome The apostle paul would reiterate this truth in romans chapter 5 verse 19 where he would say this

He would say for as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners So also by one man's obedience

Many will be made righteous So the faithful obedience to god's appointed leaders

Challenges us too as christians to obey christ our covenant head who perfectly fulfilled the law

So reflection on the past Is an important endeavor

And it's also an important endeavor as we really seek this to make this a matter of life practice as well

You know as christians we oftentimes find ourselves Reflecting on the past as we walk forward in christ

However in that journey, we need to remember that true obedience It flows from a regenerating grace that existed from the beginning of time to the present day church

The prophet ezekiel also made this point where he challenged us to an obedience that was not just mere duty, but Rather a heartfelt response to god's electing love where he said this in ezekiel chapter 36 verses 26 and 27

God told this to the prophet He said I will give you a new heart and I will put a new spirit within you

I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit

Within you and cause you to walk in my statutes And you will keep my judgments and you will do them

Thus what we find here is we find ourselves each as christians on a path of sanctification

Where the shortcomings from the past may haunt us and where human frailty oftentimes requires accountability in our lives

However, let us be of good courage as we exhort one another to embrace a covenantal obedience prioritizing god's covenant leaning on god's promise advancing god's kingdom over our own personal comfort all the while trusting in god's unchanging promises

For we can clearly see that these blessings When we reflect on the past we can take comfort from them in the present time

Knowing that god's history of faithfulness is true and unchanging Now this brings us to one final point and I appreciate everyone's patience up to this point here

Where we're going to see a lesson learned You know as we approach joshua chapter 1 verse 18, we readily see a resolve now against rebellion and a call to courage

And as we examine this last verse here We find this godly continuity and a dependence that would compel one to reflect on the past where its histories has its least lessons to teach us

This new generation led by joshua was mindful of these things They were determined to to learn from those painful lessons of past disobedience that was left to them by a previous generation

And when you look at your own past acquaintances and friendships and relationships We oftentimes find some who were called to obedience while there may be others people that we have in our lives that have hardened their hearts

And these are difficult things to process at times In his sermon entitled election jc ryle, he emphasized the

He's the foundational truth that is found in scripture where he said this He said let us settle in our minds that whether we like it or not

The sovereignty of god is a doctrine clearly revealed in the bible and a fact that is clearly seen throughout the world upon no other principle

Can we ever explain why some members of a family are converted and others live and die in sin?

Why some quarters of the earth are enlightened by christianity and others remained buried in heathenism

One account can be given of all this all is ordered by the sovereign hand of god

So let us consider some final observations if I may as it relates to these lessons learned

One such observation is found in the imperative to learn In joshua chapter 1 verse 18.

We find that this new generation was very much aware of the past Disobedience and they resolved within their heart to embrace god's promise instead

And the evidence of this is seen throughout this collective warning and the call for courage where they would proclaim that that whoever rebels against your command

And does not heed your words and all that you commanded him shall be put to death Only be strong and of good courage

So what we see here in the leadership's response is a covenantal unity through discipline while bolstering the leadership's resolve

And likewise these lessons ring true for us today And it would be beneficial for us to understand the gravity of sin and the need for church discipline

For each lesson learned should be noted and rooted in god's holiness And allowing doctrinal purity of course to be at the forefront of our efforts

So there's an imperative of those lessons that god teaches us And from those lessons we can draw the value and the blessing from our own pilgrimage as well

And just as joshua and his leadership they would take that lesson learned And they would move forward to fulfilling god's promise

So too should we commit ourselves to the pursuit of knowing god and his truth as revealed in scripture

So the lessons learned in the times of joshua Should challenge us to learn such lessons today

And as we pursue that to this end Let us do so from a theological framework that emphasizes the sovereignty of god the authority of his word and the transformative power of the gospel

This is what should drive our imperative to learn now this brings us to one last observation here, which

Highlights another important aspect of this lesson learned And that is the imperative to discipline

Discipline Again in joshua chapter 1 verse 18. We find That obedience to god's expectation will require discipline and that discipline is an important part of human accountability

This was the lesson learned by joshua and his leadership team Where they understood the seriousness of the sin of the past and the need of discipline within their own ranks

And just as we see the importance of discipline here Being imposed against rebellion in joshua's wartime mission

So too does church covenants guard against division within our midst in the modern day This encouragement here really echoes

God's commands that were seen in joshua chapter 1 verses 6 through 9 which mike had covered a couple of weeks ago

And it shows how we as believers are to edify one another with scripture It shows how we should model congregational accountability under christ's headship

And where courage is drawn from meditating on god's word The psalmist put it quite well in psalm chapter 1 verses 2 and 3

Where he said but his delight Is in the law of the lord And in his law, he meditates day and night

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season

Whose leaf shall not wither and whatever he does shall prosper So a lesson learned

Is of no benefit where there is no spiritual discipline to align the mind and the heart with god's will

This is why spiritual discipline is a biblical truth that is so important because it serves the means by which we grow in faith

It serves the means by which we develop discernment and by which we live out our life in a manner that glorifies our lord in heaven

So there is an imperative to learn here, but also i'm here to tell you That it is there's an imperative to discipline as well

Each of these things goes in hand in hand. They work one in another together This is why spiritual discipline is so important Because it is the means by which we take the knowledge that we draw from theology or history or even our own life experience for that matter

And we begin to view such things through the lens of scripture to ensure that it aligns with divine truth

And That's imperative that we also learn but it is also imperative that we have discipline in our lives

These things go hand in hand. We see this here in joshua chapter 1 verse 18 And of course god expects that of each one of us today

For in the end spiritual discipline is what moves us forward in learning towards life practice and accountability

Now this brings us to one final application if I may And that is that as christians each one of us can probably

Point back to a time in our own lives in the past where there was a lesson to be learned And just as this new generation under joshua and his leadership would learn from a previous generation's disobedience

So too should we commit ourselves to the lessons that god would teach us Learning these life lessons, of course will bring about the spiritual maturity that we need to travel our life's journey

It will deepen our ability to sustain through difficult times and For god's part.

He will use these experiences to foster a humility and a dependent on his grace

So let us always be aware of our human limitations and the fallen nature of our heart

And let us pursue true wisdom which comes from having a fear of the lord in the end

And let us be a congregation that understands god's creation and his redemptive plan

Let us be a congregation that emphasizes community sound doctrine mutual accountability within the context of the local church

Let us be a congregation that practices loving discipline in the church as a means to preserve

Unity and encourage one another with god's promises amid trials Let us be a congregation that is create courageous in cultural battles trusting in god's sovereignty with the outcome of such events

Let us be a congregation where the leadership will equip believers to navigate the complex world in which we live

Let us make sure that we navigate this in a manner that is with clarity and conviction

And a steadfast commitment to biblical principles my brothers and sisters

When we commit ourselves to the whole counsel of god We find that this is not a mere academic exercise

But rather it is a spiritual discipline that seeks to align our mind and our heart with the will of god

And keeping this in mind each one of us should look into our own hearts and ask ourselves this question

And that is is our obedience comprehensive or is it just selective in nature? By embracing a commitment to biblical truth

We need to view those lessons learned In a diligent manner We need to understand that whether it be theology or or history or the sciences

We should always be filtering all these things through the lens of scripture to ensure that it is consistent with god's eternal truth now each one of us

Should be seeking god's presence Through the study of his word through prayer

And through a trans fame transforming faith -driven obedience My last challenge

I think to you is this that is let us align ourselves With sola gratia, which is by grace alone

For our success here as christians Is not dependent on our own human effort But on god's faithful presence instead

Let's pray Our heavenly father We look back on the history of your love and grace

And we draw from it lessons to move forward in our relationship with christ Dear lord,

I ask that each one of us always keep an eye on the greater reward Understanding that it's through you that we will accomplish our part in our place in god's sovereign plan

Let us not fear lord as we raise our kids in turbulent times Understanding that you have appointed each one for such a time as this

Let us understand the mission and the purpose that you would have us to do Let us rekindle our resolve to doing what is right in faithful obedience moving forward in our own pilgrimage

Dear lord be with each family here that is in our midst bless them Empower them in their charge in their duty

Of ensuing that the next generation will rise up to be a christ -centered generation One that can sustain in the times ahead

Lord, thank you so much for your word For each person that is here today Lord for the collective worship that we have the privilege and the blessing to engage in And lord,

I just ask that as we go our separate ways that we will bring these thoughts to mind And the way that we deal with people

The what the type of work that we work is glorifies you And lord that we will always be

Striving to be more and more like christ in all that we do For we ask this in your name