Joshua 1:10-11 – Developing a spiritual replenishment strategy

Assured that the Lord would be with him, Joshua acted immediately. This is a good example to emulate, once we are clear and sure that God had spoken to us, we should not hesitate but act immediately. Any delay to follow the clear direction can cause us to become reluctant to attend to God’s instruction and become disobedient. We must strike while the iron is hot. The truth is this: the longer we procrastinate in obeying God, the more we will be unconcerned about His plan and glory. Notice Joshua did not postulate how difficult the task would be. Neither did he show any trepidation for what was ahead. Because faith is an act, he made no excuse but promptly obeyed and acted on God’s Word.    

Like any important task, preparation is important. So here we see Joshua instructing the people to prepare for the journey into the promised land. He envisaged that it would take three days for them to cross the Jordan into Canaan. He did not ask for any consensus from the people. It was not a rule by the majority. No option was given. He just rightly exercised his authority as a leader and took command. The principle in leadership is this: A leader must lead and followers must follow. If anyone refuses to lead or follow, he should get out of the way and not be a hindrance.

A word that stands out is the word “command.” It tells us that Joshua took command just as God had commanded him. We can see that chains of command are needed in the fulfillment of God’s plan. God commanded Joshua, and he, in turn, commanded the officers who then commanded the people. If success is to be experienced, the divine chain of command must not be broken. If we are to be effective in the work, there is a necessity to take authority when we are given authority. God requires that leader should take the lead and followers be found obedient. Discipline must be a clear feature in the family of God.

Anticipating the campaign to possess the promised land to be rigorous, Joshua told them to prepare provision. Physically, they needed the strength for the journey. The parallel truth about spiritual life is this: to sustain our spiritual journey with God and attain our goal, we will need to be nourished with spiritual food. All of us need to find a spiritual replenishment strategy. Our daily devotion, our regular study of God’s Word and prayer are indispensable exercises to help us sustain our spiritual life. It is difficult to sustain our spiritual life just on one sermon a Sunday.

There wasn’t a bridge or a viaduct where they could walk across the Jordan. The more obvious need for them to get across the Jordan into the promised land would be boats and not food. Yet Joshua didn’t say “prepare boats” but “prepare provision.” He didn’t deem it necessary to prepare vessels to ferry them across. He must have remembered how they had crossed the Red Sea on a dry path opened up by God while the army of Egypt was pursuing them. How could he forget a miracle of God of such magnitude? We take heart and learn from God’s past deliverances. He will always make a way when we are at our wit's end.  

Another significant truth in verse 11 is the mention of “three days.” Remember the Lord Jesus rose from death on the third day. We all crossed from our old life into the new by the bridge of the cross of Calvary. If we are to fully experience the victory Christ had secured for us we must be prepared to exercise the resurrected power of Christ. This is what Ephesians 1:18-21 tell us. Paul prayed, “…that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know… the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe… in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion….”  We must prepare ourselves and cultivate a spiritual replenishment strategy, and as we do, learn to live and find victory in the power of our resurrected Lord.