JOSHUA PROMISED (PART 2) God’s blessing. Exodus-numbers

When the Lord led His children out of Egypt and the Red Sea, Moses sang. The children of Israel joined him. The Revelation speaks of a great crowd around the throne, that no man could number. What a mighty liberation.

‘I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider He has thrown into the sea. They continued, ‘the Lord is my Strength and Song. He is become my Salvation.’ (Exodus 15:1,2). ‘Joshua, do you remember the music of that hour?’ Redeemed people should always be a singing people.

The whole congregation ( 2 ½ million ) murmured against the Lord., longing for the fleshpots of Egypt. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My way or not.’ On the sixth day they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.’ (Exod, 16:4) . God had a protein for them as well, ‘at evening (v13) the quails came up in the camp, and in the morning the dew (with manna )lay all around.’ ‘Joshua, I constantly provided manna and quail for 40 years. As I was with Moses, so I shall be with you.’

In Rephidim, there was no water, and the people, contended with Moses, ‘Give us water that we may drink’. (Ex 17:2) In desperation, Moses cried out to the Lord, ‘What shall I do?’ they are almost ready to stone me. The Lord replied, ‘Take in your hand your rod, with which you struck the river.’ God reminded Moses of past wonders. Joshua was reminded of the mighty hand of God as Moses stood firm

The Lord continued,’ Behold, I (your Omnipotent God) will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink. Moses did so. (Ex 17:6) Paul explains that the Rock that followed them was Christ, an exciting truth. The minimum need for desert people is 4 litres or one gallon of water daily. Estimate the volume for this nation over 40 years. Christ’s adequacy to meet the deepest need of every person is fluently shown. .

Joshua had been alongside his superior Moses when this mighty flow commenced.

After this amazing watershed, an enemy in Amalek, meaning fierce, warlike, as the flesh, assaulted God’s peoiple. Expect such thrusts. ‘Moses said to Joshua,’ Choose some men. Go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of god in my hand.'’ 'When Moses held up his hand ( supported by Aaron and Hur ) Israel prevailed. When he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. (v11). ‘So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.’ Joshua learned to always look to his God in prayer, who said, ’I was with Moses.’

Joshua remembered that in the third month out of Egypt, the Lord called Moses to Him from Mount Sinai. ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.’(Ex 19:4) Then God gave Moses an amazing preview of what He planned to do with the redeemed people when he said,’ If you will obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people’. ‘You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation’. Amazing words, paralleled with Peter’s in 1Peter 2:9, 1600 years later. Joshua would have treasured these promises, heard from the lips of his dear mentor.

We too must highly regard the glorious assurances God’s Word has given.

Joshua well remembered the 40 days Moses spent on Mt. Sinai , receiving the illuminating Ten Commandments, the charter for blessed personal. Family and national life (Exod 20). ‘all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpets, and the mountain smoking, while the people trembled and stood afar off’. (v18) ‘Moses comforted the people, saying, ’Fear not ( how often did our risen Lord Jesus greet His disciples with such words ), For God has come to test you, that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’ (v20)

The recall of God’s Presence would be indelibly written on Joshua’s mind.

Joshua would relive God’s calling Moses to come into the mount with Him. (Exod 24). ‘Moses wrote all the words of the Lord’, showing the supreme importance of God’s written Word. Moses took the blood of the animals for burnt and peace offerings, half of which he sprinkled on the altar and the other half on the people.’

God grafted these lessons on Joshua's memory, especially when God called Moses with ‘his minister, Joshua’, and Moses went up alone into the mount of God, and a cloud covered the mount.’ (v15) The glory of the Lord rested on Mt. Sinai. The sight of the Glory of the Lord was a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. Moses was on the mountain 40 days and nights.’(v18) That was the period when the Lord countered and defeated His archenemy Satan in the desert God reminisced with Joshua, ‘As I was with Moses, so I will be with you’.

Joshua understood the holy God’s hatred of idols when the children of Israel corrupted themselves. ‘All the people broke off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. (Exod 32:3) He fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a moulded calf. Then the blasphemous claim, ‘This is your god, Oh, Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.’ ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play’. The Lord said to Moses, ‘ This people is a stiff-necked people.’ ‘Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands, and broke them at the foot of the mountain. ‘Moses took the calf, burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, and scattered the colloidal gold on the water.’ (v20) ‘Three thousand men died that day’. Unforgettable for a potential leader!

Moses had enjoyed intimate fellowship with the eternal God. (Exodus 33), ‘The pillar of cloud descended (as God’s glory covered them) and the Lord talked with Moses’. (v9). A privileged leader. Indeed, the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with a Friend.’ He assured him ‘ that His Presence would go with him, and He would give him peace’. Moses enjoyed this sweet walk with his God. (v14)

When Moses asked ‘Show me your glory’, the Lord replied, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the Lord to you’. So God would reveal His character in His Name. (v19) Further He said, ‘You shall stand on a rock’, type of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Rock of ages. Hence ‘When My glory passes by, I will put you (protectively) in a split of the rock, and I will cover you with My hand’. Only with God’s protection could Moses enjoy such safekeeping. (v22) Joshua had been there, and had heard Moses recount these familiar times with the eternal One. As I was with Moses ‘ burned in Joshua’s recollection of these mighty moments. ‘I will be with you’ strengthened him and us for coming days.