Point 4 – Joshua’s Submission

1 Peter 5:5 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (NIV) – Joshua knows how to submit to authority. As Leader of the Jewish Nation, he followed Moses’ orders and defeated the Amalekites (Exodus 17:8-16). As Moses’ “Assistant” (Minister) for many years (Exodus 24:13), Joshua stayed with his Master, Moses, and served him faithfully.

God’s pattern for Leadership is summarised in Matthew 25:21 “His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of the Lord.”  Good and Faithful Servanthood still stands today. When the Servant proved himself faithful as the Servant over a few things, then God can make him Ruler over many things. Joshua was able to give orders because he had learned to take orders. Joshua has submitted, with obedient to God, through the authority of Moses until the death of Moses.

• The key verse in Joshua’s life was: “Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go” (Joshua 1:7, NIV).
• This is reinforced with Joshua 11:15 “As the Lord commanded Moses, His servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.”

Point 5 – Joshua’s Warfare Experience

Exodus 17:8-13 “The came Amalek and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, choose us out men, and go out, fight with the Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand. So, Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. and Joshua vanquished Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”  The first official recorded act of Joshua in Scripture is his defeat of the Amalekites when they attacked Israel about two months after Israel’s exodus from Egypt (Exodus 17:8-16). Moses was the Prophet and Legislator (Deuteronomy 34:10), and Joshua was “a General” with exceptional military skills. He was also a man of great courage, who was not afraid to confront the enemy and trust God for victory. Where did Joshua learn to use a sword and to command an Army? Certainly, he was especially gifted by God, but even gifts must be discovered and developed in an earthly setting. Had Joshua in some way been involved with the Egyptian Army and received his early training in its ranks? This is possible, though the Scripture is silent, and we must not read too much into it. Just as Moses refused the high position in Pharaoh’s Palace where he received his education there (Hebrews 11:24-26; Acts 7:22), so Joshua may have turned down Army position that he might identify with his people and serve God, this may just be an assumption with no scriptural proof.

Stay tuned…..to be continued.