Joshua 1:10

Joshua 1:10 says, Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,  Then verse eleven adds, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.  Joshua sent word throughout the people of Israel to get ready, because within three days they were to cross over Jordan to possess the land that God had promised them.  He did not send spies nor did they vote on it.  They were simply told to be ready to go.  When we know what God wants us to do, we simply need to get ready and do it as soon s possible.  Verse twelve states,  And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,  Then verse thirteen continues, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the  LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.  Joshua told the Reubenites, the  Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh the promise to them from God by Moses had not been forgotten.  Joshua was the new leader, but a promise made by God through Moses still applied.  Verse fourteen declares, Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;  Joshua said that as Moses had told them that they would remain on this side of the Jordan, but that their mighty men would go with the rest of the nation to help secure the land on the other side.  Even if we remain where we are when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have a responsibility to do all that we can to help our fellow believers throughout the world.  We cannot just sit in safety and ignore what is going on with other Christians who are suffering for their faith.  Verse fifteen adds, Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.  Joshua said that once the land on the other side of the Jordan was secured, then the men could return to their peace on this side of the Jordan as Moses had commanded.  Joshua did not change the promise of God made through Moses.  We should never attempt to change the promise of God made to others today, but as Christians, must still be united as one people under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse sixteen declares, And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.  These two and a half tribes agreed to do all that Joshua commanded.  They could have said that since Moses was dead that hey would just stay where they were as he had promised, but they were willing to follow Joshua's command.  When one church leader dies today, or even just leaves the position of leadership in a particular church, we as followers of Christ must be willing to follow the next person that God places in that position.  Verse seventeen continues, According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.  They said that they would listen to Joshua as they did to Moses, as long as God was with Joshua as He was with Moses.  The only way to know for sure if God was with Joshua was to follow him and see if God continued to work through him as He did through Moses.  If someone new comes into a position of leadership in a particular church, then they must follow God's teachings and directions if we are to follow them.  We may only know after we start to follow their leadership.  If they begin to teach things that are contrary to God's word, then we should point this out, and if the refuse to change what they are teaching, then we should seek God's will as to the best way to handle the situation.  We should never refuse to accept this new leader simply because we liked the old one better.  Verse eighteen concludes, Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.  They made a strong commitment to Joshua.  Anyone who rebelled against Joshua would be put to death.  We need that same unity and commitment to Christ today.