Why We Can Obey
Joshua 1:10–18
📖 Scripture
10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’
14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them
15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”
16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.
18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
💡 Scripture Summary
Joshua orders the officers to tell the people to prepare to cross the Jordan in three days. He reminds the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh of their promise to help the other tribes until the land is secured. They affirm their loyalty to Joshua, promising obedience and encouraging him to be strong and courageous as he leads.
📜 Memory Verse
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
– Joshua 1:9
🔎 Reflection
Work and Rest (1:10–15)
Joshua commands the leaders under him to prepare what is needed before the people cross the Jordan, reminding them that the land they are crossing into is given to them by God. This command conveys both a sense of urgency to accomplish the mission God has given and a sense of rest in the assurance of God’s promise. As we live in accordance with God’s Word, we too should carry a sense of eagerness to do all that God desires us to do. We also find rest as we obey God because He Himself empowers us to do what He commands. Let us lean on the empowering presence of Christ: In Him we will find the strength to do what God commands.
What command from God have you found difficult to obey recently? Be honest with Christ about it and ask Him to help you find rest in Him so that you may gain the courage to obey.
Submission and Encouragement (1:16–18)
Joshua gives a command to the leaders of the tribes that will settle beyond the Jordan: Their troops are to fight alongside the rest of the nation. Then, they may return to their land. The leaders promise to obey, responding with submission, allegiance, and words of encouragement. As Christians today, we are to display submission toward our leaders and even toward our peers. In the epistles, we are commanded to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Eph. 5:21). We are also commanded to speak encouragement to one another (Eph. 5:19). In our relationships—with our parents, pastors, employers, or friends—let us seek to serve others and encourage them to faithfulness.
Is there someone around you who could use help or encouragement? Think of a way you can use your gifts to support them.
🙏 Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, You are the place of my rest, whether the day brings joy and excitement or stress and fatigue. As I rest in You, fuel my soul with willingness and perseverance to obey Your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.
🖋 Essay
The Essence of Leadership
Colin Powell was a highly decorated US Army officer who rose to the rank of a four-star general and became the first African American US Secretary of State. At a speaking event, he was asked to define the key characteristics of effective leadership. Without a pause, he answered, “Trust.”
He then shared a story from when he was a young officer. A sergeant said to him, “You’ll know you’re a good leader when people follow you, if only out of curiosity.” Powell understood what the sergeant was communicating: the importance of building trust as a leader, which requires a clear mission and selfless service. Powell said, “People look to you and they trust you because you’re serving selflessly as the leader, not self-serving. . . . You prepare the followers. You train them. You give them what they need to get the job done. Don’t give them a job if you’re not going to give them the resources, and [be] prepared to take the risks with them.”
These words were spoken in a military context, but the building blocks of trust are the same in our personal relationships. Our positions of leadership or influence are just as many opportunities to practice selflessness and build trust as we relate to one another: between husbands and wives, between parents and children, between friends. This is how Jesus Christ led during His earthly ministry. And even today, He leads His bride, the church, by caring for her, purifying her, and providing for her. Let us therefore trust Him and follow His example.
Written by John Pai
💬 Today’s Inspiration
“Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives.”
– Bill and Gloria Gaither