Instructions To The Leaders

Joshua 1:10-15 (from the NET Bible)

1:10 Joshua instructed the leaders of the people: 1:11 “Go through the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to you.’”

1:12 Joshua told the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh: 1:13 “Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you. The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you. 1:14Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers. You must help them 1:15 until the Lord gives your brothers a place like yours to settle and they conquer the land the Lord your God is ready to hand over to them. Then you may go back to your allotted land and occupy the land Moses the Lord’s servant assigned you east of the Jordan.”

Time for implementation of God’s plan. So I ask my three questions of this passage:

1. What happened in the text?
2. What do I learn about God?
3. What should I do about it?

1. What happened in the text?
   • Joshua instructed the leaders
   • He tells them what to say to the people
   • He gives them the timeframe, the action, and God’s involvement
   • Joshua himself tells the eastern tribes they must help conquer the west
   • Joshua reminds them of Moses’ instructions and promise
   • Those tribes’ women, children, and cattle may stay in the east
   • Those tribes’ warriors must go help the other tribes before returning
   • But they may then return to their assigned land
2. What do I learn about God?
   • God appoints leaders
   • God allows planning & communication in leadership
   • God determines the conquest
   • God assigns the land
   • God expects promises to be kept
   • God remembers the plan
   • God wants his people to help each other
3. What should I do about it?
   • Delegate (maybe I can find someone to delegate for me)
   • Communicate the plan when it’s time
   • Rely on God to provide the land & the victory
   • Trust God to provide what is needed
   • Keep my word
   • Remember what God has said: what is expected & what is promised
   • Help my brothers and sisters

My dear fellow leader Tom is facing more cancer. He’s among the most amazing people I know, and I’m disturbed by this development.

But God provides what is needed, according to what I’ve read here. There aren’t any promises to Tom in this passage, but there’s evidence of God’s character here. And God has promised to hold Tom’s hand, and mine.

Pretty good passage for where I am today. Thanks for knowing what I would need, and providing it, Dad.