This series is based on the book, *Jordan River Rules* by Robert J. Morgan.
**1. God Leads His people in stages.**
Joshua 1:1 (NASB), “... the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; so now arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.”
• Moses is dead.
• Now what?
• Moses was their leader for 40 years.
• Moses wrote down God’s Words in their wanderings in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
• These first 5 books of the Bible are called the Torah.
• But, we see in the first 9 verses of Joshua, that God is still speaking... speaking to Joshua.
• God was still their leader, but now through Joshua. Joshua, in the Jewish Bible, is listed as a prophetic book.
• Joshua begins and ends with God speaking and leading His people through His Word into new stages and circumstances.
• Charles Spurgeon, “If the flood gathers, and the Jordan overflows its banks, still the divine watchword, “Forward!” shall speed us on…. God help you to go forward, and unto him be praise for ever and ever."
• God leads His people in stages, and in each stage we need His Word to move forward.
**The Stages in Joshua's Life**
1. Moses’ servant. (Josh 1:1)
2. Raised in Egypt.
3. Trained in Pharaoh’s army.
4. Crossed the Red Sea. (age 40)
5. Led the fight against the Amalekites.
6. Climbed Mt. Sinai with Moses.
7. Spied out the Promised Land.
8. Wandered in the wilderness 40 years.
9. Commissioned by God.
10. Crossed the Jordan River. (age 80)
**2. God Leads His people in steps.
**
Joshua 1:3, “Every place on which the sole of your foot steps, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.”
• Life unfolds in stages, but we take it in steps.
• Robert Morgan, “The only way to move forward is to put your foot down – making sure it lands on a promise.”
• God gives Israel the boundaries (the N, S, E, and W of the Promised Land).
But, none of the Promised Land theirs until they put their feet on it.
Notice the tension here between God’s Sovereignty and their responsibility.
• “I [God] have given it to you” (1:3) That’s God’s promise.
• “You shall give this people possession” (1:6) That’s Joshua duty. Israel’s duty.
**• God says, "The promise is yours, but you have to fight for it."**
• How can we know God’s will? We keep moving within the boundaries of God’s revealed will, and God will lead us forward one step at a time.
**3. God Leads His people in person. **
Joshua 1:5, “No one will be able to oppose you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not desert you nor abandon you.”
• This verse is quoted in the NT, and applied to us today.
• In Hebrews 13:5, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER ABANDON YOU.’”
• There is nothing better than the presence of God.
• The presence of God frees us from false loves and false fears.
• There is a double and triple grace in these words.
• In the Greek, the word “desert” is preceded by a double negative: “Never, never will I desert you.” The word “abandon” is preceded by three negatives: “Never, never, never will I abandon you.”
Hymn. "How Firm a FOundation" verse 4:
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
CONCLUSION
Rule #1 - Realize God Means for You to Move Forward
• God leads in stages; in steps; and He leads us in person with His presence.
• Israel had been going in circles for 40 years! It’s time for them to move forward.
• How about you?
• Have been going in circles?
• Are you entering a new stage in life?
• Are you worried about how or what to do?
• Do not be afraid. God is with you.
