Joshua 4:2 (5/31/23)

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Joshua 4:2 (5/31/23)

The Qualification For Leadership

May 31, 2023 • Benham Brothers • Joshua 4:2

Leadership isn’t for everyone.

Only those who are willing to carry the stone!

Backstory - the Israelites had just crossed the Jordan in miraculous fashion.

Now they began a new chapter of their lives.

They were now in the Promised Land.

But before they took over, God wanted them to erect a memorial to serve as a reminder for future generations.

So Joshua chose 12 leaders to help w/this project.

Vs 2-7 - “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

Get the picture:

Their camp was an 8 mile trip from the Jordan.

Joshua asked them each to go and pick up a boulder (probably 50-75 lbs) and put it on their shoulder.

Then walk the 8-mile trek to camp.

Leadership isn’t for everyone - it’s only for those willing to carry the stone!

It’s hard work, and you will get wore out - but it’s valuable work.

Look what these stones represented:

“"To an unbeliever, the heap of twelve stones was simply another stone pile; but to a believing Israelite, it was a constant reminder that Jehovah was his or her God, working His wonders on behalf of His people." (Wiersbe)

That's what leaders are supposed to do - remind people that Jehovah is God!

How about you - are you willing to carry the stone and point people to God?

Joshua 1 (4/16/14)

April 16, 2014 • Benham Brothers

God commanded Joshua to cross the Jordan but He didn't tell him how. Joshua didn't wait for a plan - he moved toward obedience before he knew how. Joshua's focus was on the God of plans and not the plan of God. Luke 17:14-15 - Ten lepers were cleansed in their "going." Joshua 3:4 - He didn't know the plan, but he did know that God must go first! God gave him the plan only after he moved toward obedience. The Jordan River was at flood stage right now - the odds were stacked against them crossing it. Joshua could have gone first and got his men to start building rafts to get the people across. When the soles of the priests feet touched the Jordan the waters stopped several miles away in a town called Adam.

Joshua 1:7-9 (3/31/16)

March 31, 2016 • Benham Brothers

• Moses was dead - Joshua took over. • The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. • God encouraged Joshua and the people with a very specific command: • Be Courageous, Hold to God's Word, Be Courageous. • He sandwiched His Word between the command to be courageous. • Like a PBJ in between two slices of bread. • God's Word apart from courage wasn't going to take the land, and being courageous apart from God's Word wouldn't do it either. • If we want to enter the land of promise for us it will take courage and God's Word. • God's Word apart from Courage makes a teacher. • God's Word with Courage makes a father (1 Corinthians 4:15)! • We need fathers today like Joshua. • Father’s speak it, think it, do it.

Joshua 2 (4/4/13)

April 4, 2013 • Benham Brothers

Rahab feared God more than Man If your lie is based on fear of God then it's ok, but no situation like that exists If Mercy wasn't owed to them then Truth wasn't either