Joshua 1:1-6 - A New Land

Not only did the nation of Israel get a new leader but they were given a new land! The is land is often called their inheritance because it was a land promised to their forefathers!  This is a great picture of the fact that as believers we have a new inheritance in Christ. Our Christian experience on earth should be by faith claiming the reality of our inheritance in Christ and living in victory every day!   In Ephesians 1:11-14, Paul talked about our inheritance: “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”   The word "land" is found eighty-seven times in the Book of Joshua because this book is the record of Israel's entering, conquering, and claiming the Promised Land. God promised to give the land to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-7; 13:15-17; 15:7,18; 17:8; 24:7), and He reaffirmed the promise to Isaac (26:1-5), Jacob (28:4, 13, 15; 35:12), and their descendants (50:24). The Exodus narrative gives many reaffirmations of the promise (Exodus 3:8,17; 6:4, 8; 12:25; 13:5,11;16:35; 23:20-33; 33:1-3; 34:10-16), and these are repeated in Leviticus (14:34; 18:3; 19:23; 20:22-24; 23:10; 25:2, 38) and Numbers (11:12; 15:2, 18; 16:13-14; 20:12, 24; 27:12; 33:53; 34:2, 12).   In Moses' "farewell speech" in the Book of Deuteronomy, he frequently mentioned the land and the nation's responsibility to possess it. The word "land" is found nearly 200 times in Deuteronomy and the word "possess" over 50 times. Israel owned the land because of God's gracious covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1-5), but their enjoyment of the land depended on their faithful obedience to God. (See Lev. 26 and Deut. 28-30.) As long as the Jews obeyed God's law, He blessed them, and they prospered in the land.   God called the Promised Land "a good land" (Deut. 8:7-10) and contrasted it with the monotony and barrenness of Egypt (Deut. 11:8-14). It was to be Israel's place of rest, her inheritance, and the dwelling place of God (Deut. 12:9,11). After enduring slavery in Egypt and misery in the wilderness, the Jews would finally find rest in their Promised Land (Josh. 1:13, 15; 11:23; 21:44; 22:4; 23:1). This concept of "rest" will show up again in Psalm 95:11 and Hebrews 4 as an illustration of the victory Christians can have if they give their all to the Lord.   We have a promised inheritance in Christ which is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit in us. Today, are you enjoying and experiencing rest and victory in Jesus?   God bless!