Our text for this study is Joshua chapter one verses one through nine. The books of Deuteronomy and Joshua are inextricably linked by the death of Moses. Deuteronomy ends with Moses ascending Mount Nebo and viewing the land that God has promised Israel. He dies. Israel Mourns him and Joshua takes up Moses' mantle of leadership. The book of Joshua then opens with God speaking these words to Joshua, “Moses, my servant is dead” (Josh. 1:2)

The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one wedge-shaped tool which was labeled “Not for sale.” Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, “I can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man’s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.” (ency. 7700 illustrations)

We have in the first nine verses of Joshua one, God's answer to discouragement. He is encouraging His new servant, Joshua. He knew that at this place, this time and in these circumstances. Joshua was susceptible to the devil's most useful implement... discouragement. We see in this text, not only God's answers to discouragement, but also we learn something about the sources of discouragement. We realized, of course, that Satan is the root source of it, but we see also that he often uses it in certain places, at certain times and under certain circumstances.

Sources of Discouragement

Often discouragement comes at a time of death or a time when we think we are alone or have been abandoned. This was just such a time for Joshua. Moses is dead. The one whom he'd served and looked up to for the last forty years is gone. Aaron is dead, Miriam is dead, the last vestiges of the exodus are gone, save he and Caleb. The prophet Elijah fell prey to this very thing. We read of his in 1 Kings 19:10, “So he (Elijah) said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

Sometimes people can bring on discouragement. It might be intentional or unintentional. Consider an event in Joshua's past, the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea. In Deuteronomy 1:28, Moses recalls the people saying “Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” Here were discouraging words. This so discouraged the children of Israel that they refused to follow God in faith and as such were punished with 40 years of wandering. All of this, because of discouragement!

Often the size of a Job or seemingly insurmountable obstacles can tempt us to be discouraged. Joshua certainly had a big job ahead of him. God describes his task this way in verse four of our text, “From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.” Keep in mind that this territory was not vacant. They would have conquer and drive out the inhabitants of Canaan. I remember last month, when Nick and I were hiking in the mountains of western North Carolina. You've heard the phrase “don't look down”? Well for me, it was more appropriate to say “don't look up.” Sometimes it seemed as if we'd never reach the summit. Looking up could be very discouraging.”

Effects of Discouagement

Why is discouragement so detrimental to our spiritual health, both individually and as a group? Perhaps it because it most often results in paralysis. When we're discouraged we tend to just throw up our hands and sit down and quit. Nothing makes Satan happier! It has often been said that for evil to succeed, all you need is for good men to do nothing. So it is. If Satan wants us to do nothing, what will he use? Discouragement! God has an answer for it. Our text teaches us that we are able to overcome discouragement through God's PROMISES, His PRESENCE and His POWER.

Overcoming discouragement through...

Let's look now into the text and learn how GOD'S PROMISES help us to overcome discouragment. In particular let's examine verses 3 and 6. In verse three God says “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” In verse six He says, “Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.” Joshua had nothing to worry about, nothing to be discouraged about. Why? Because God had made a promise. Beloved, when God makes a promise, He delivers.

What wonderful promises they were. Let's go back to the book of Deuteronomy and look at how God describes the land that He is giving them. First in chapter 8 verses 7-9, “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.” In chapter 11 verses 9-12 we read, “and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord swore to give your fathers, to them and their descendants, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the very end of the year.” What promises! No more carrying water in buckets to their crops, no more toil upon toil upon toil. Here was a land wherein they would be under the watchful eye and care of God and wherein He would continually give them all they needed to live and flourish. If Joshua was, because of discouragement, ever tempted to sit down and quit, here were promises that would get him up and moving again in a hurry.

Do we not have wonderful promises as well? Just take a look at this small sampling of promises out of the New Testament. First, in 2 Timothy 4 vv. 6-8 we read “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” How often could Paul have succumbed to discouragement, thrown up his hands and quit? Why didn't he? The wonderful promises of God! Read now in James 1:12, “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Why does the man in temptation not quit? Promises! James here describes it as a crown of life. Consider Peter's description of these promises in 2 Peter 1:3-4, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Listen, this isn't getting a lollipop if we're real brave and don't cry when get a shot at the doctor's office. Look at this again, “exceeding great and precious promises”! Finally, let's look at one last description of what God has promised, or rather, a non-description of it. “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) Beloved, in truth, we can't even imagine the things God has in store us.

It is also important for us to remember, in connection with God's Promises, that God's makes it clear to Joshua where he is to go, to be reminded of these promises an the condition under which God offers them. Note verses 7-8 in our text. “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” God made sure that Moses wrote down all the things Joshua and succeeding generations would need. It is likely that Joshua had in his possession all five books of the Law, that is, Genesis to Deuteronomy.

It was important for Joshua to keep his “nose in the book” for a couple of reasons. First, he would be reminded of the promises of God and second, so that he and Israel with him, would keep the conditions of those promises. Notice God says there are things to keep and that Joshua must not turn from the right or the left. He must stay the course. We would say, the “strait and narrow”.

You see, God's promises to Israel were NOT unconditional. While we don't have time to read it now, I would encourage you to Deut. 30:11-20. It is here that God places before Israel a blessing and a curse. They would be blessed by Him if they would obey Him faithfully. They would enjoy all of His promises. If they did not, they were under a curse and forfeited the promises. So it is for you and me today. We have great promises, but we must keep our “nose in the book” so that we remain faithful to Him. His promises are not unconditional. Discouragement is powerful, but we have a greater power to overcome it in Gods Promises.

From our text, we learn that God also answers discouragement through HIS PRESENCE. Look now at verse 5. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.” Memory can be a powerful tool in this. Think of what God has just said. “As” God had been with Moses, He would now be with Joshua. All Joshua had to do was take a stroll down memory lane and remember all the times God had been with Moses. Not once, I mean, not one time did God ever forsake Moses and let him down. Now, God is telling Joshua, “Just as I was always with Moses and never let him down, so I will be with you and never let you down.” The phrase “I will not fail thee” is interesting. It means literally “I will not drop you.” I remember helping my kids learn how to ride a bike. You know dad always has to reassure his child that he's not going to drop them. Brethren, God will never drop us!

I heard a story once about a little boy who'd had a nightmare and ran into his parent's room to climb in bed with them. The boy is between mom and dad with his back to his dad. As he's about to drift off to sleep he says “daddy”, “yes son” “are you looking at me?” “yes son, I'm looking at you.” At this, the little boy drifted off into quiet slumber. His father was watching him and that was all he needed to know. Beloved, our Father in Heaven watching over us. We have the same promise of His presence that Joshua had.

Let's take a look at a couple of verse in the NT that assure us of God's presence. The first is in Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Here is the same language God used with Joshua, affirmed for you and me “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Joshua had a big job ahead of him and God would be with him every step of the way. So it is for us. We have a big job as well. We have a great commission to conquer, not physical territory, but spiritual, the hearts and minds of lost men. In this, Jesus has said in Matthew 28:20, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

There certainly will be times of difficulty. The apostle Paul fought the spiritual battles for men's hearts. In so doing, he suffered greatly, but listen to his confidence. At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Tim. 4:16-17). Paul was not discouraged because he had a keen awareness of the Lord's presence. What would you do for God if you had a real sense of his presence with you? Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psa. 23:4). Think about this quote from William Carey who is considered the father of modern missions and whose Bible translation work in India still goes on today. He was known for living by this motto. “Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God.” This will be no problem when we have a real sense of His divine presence in our lives.

Finally, GOD'S POWER is able to overcome our discouragement. Let us look at verse 9 in our text. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” You may be wondering, “where is there any mention of God's power in this verse?” We must understand that inherent in God's command is God's power to fulfill it. Joshua was to face warfare for years to come, yet God assured him of victory because he was fulfilling God's purpose. This is vividly portrayed at Jericho. You recall that Joshua went to spy the city and encountered the Angel of the Lord. That was enough. Not that he, ever doubted, but certainly he now is even more impressed with the power of the Lord. Of course Jericho was a complete victory.

Remember the little story I shared with you about Satan's tools? Keep in mind that God has His tools as well. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

From a human perspective, these may not be impressive, but just reflect on some things that God has used and what He has accomplished with them. In Exodus 4:2 God asks Moses what he is holding in his hand. Pharaoh is dumbfounded, Egypt is plagued and the Red Sea is parted all with the simple shepherd's rod of Moses. In Judges 7 Gideon and his rag-tag band of 300 put tens of thousands to flight with some clay jars, torches and trumpets. In Judges 15 Samson kills a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey! Imagine! In I Sam. 17 we read of a young man, a leather sling and a little rock toppling a giant of over 9 feet and put the fierce Philistine army to flight. Can a man feed over 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fishes (John 6:9). He can if he's the Son of Almighty God. What can God do with an old rugged cross? “but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:23-24). God's tools may not be that impressive from a human perspective, but tools is not the important thing. The important thing is who wields it!

Are you unimpressed with yourself? Do you think you don't have the impressive things the world offers? It matters not that we are “unimpressive” from a worldly perspective! What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Rom. 8:31-32). How can we be discouraged with these assurances of the power of God?

Conclusion

In conclusion, we will always have times when we struggle with discouragement. Satan is going to keep using it because it is so effective in creating spiritual paralysis. BUT God has an answer for it. Just as he assured Joshua of His POMISES, PRESENCE and POWER, so he assures us. What mighty weapons these are. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,” (2 Cor. 10:4). When we are discouraged let us remember that God has PROMISED us a rich and wonderful inheritance. Let us remember that He is ever PRESENT with us and will never leave or forsake us. Let us remember that His POWER works in a through us to accomplish His will and purpose.

God's helps for overcoming discouragement are available to those who are willing to Him in faith. He has extended His grace and mercy to us, all he asks of us is that we come to him in faith. Will you not throw off the power Satan wields over you by submitting yourself to the Lord and coming to Him by confessing your faith in Him, repenting of your sins and being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ?