On a personal basis I've always enjoyed reading the book of Joshua.  Joshua, the man, exemplified so many wonderful characterisitics, one of which was courage in the face of seemingly insurmountabe odds.  What's the example for us today?

1)  BACKGROUND
     a. His faith in God was exhibited early and always. - Num 14: 6-9
         1.  Trust in Jehovah would be a hallmark of his life.
         2.  To Joshua the Lord was first in his life - Joshua 8:30ff
              a.  no matter what he was doing - Joshua 9:1ff
         3.  as we would say today, he was "true to the Book."  - Joshua 11: 10-15
              Joshua 1: 12ff;  8:30
     b.  Prayer was essential in his life  -  Joshua 7:6ff; 10:9 
     c.  He humbled himself before Jehovah - up until now he was Moses' assistant Ex 24: 13; 33:11 
         1.  He didn't have a change of attitude when he led! 
              a.  Although he was magnified by God - Joshua 3:7; 4: 14
              b.  He never got the "big head" 5: 13ff   

2)  COURAGE AND ACTION
    a.  Becoming a new leader - 1: 1-9  God was very clear on this.  Moses was dead and Joshua was
         to take immediate command.
    b.  Facing a seemingly unfordable river - 3 - 4
         1. 3: 1 - 4  He took them to the river - even before the plan was presented
         2. 3: 5 -13 The people consecrated themselves - there could be no defiling sin that would hinder
             them
         3. 3: 14 - 17 They completed the crossing
         4. 4: 1 - 24  They remembered Who helped them across the river
   c.  They listened to Jehovah at Jericho - Chapter 6 - they followed His plan
         1.  Which included consecration again before the conquest - Chapter 5

3)  LESSONS LEARNED
    a.  Sometimes we face things that seem insurmountable, no way of "overcoming"
         1. With faith we need to go to "the river's edge" - Jesus said He is there for us - Mt 11: 28-30
         2. We need to make a self-examination - sometimes we want God's help and don't see the way we 
             are when we come to Him.  The correction has to be a permanent one, not just temporary
             to "fit the occasion." -2 Cor 13:5
         3. We then need to "cross the river"!  Take action!  Ph 2: 12-13; 1 Pet 3: 10-12 - we must
             work out our own salvation while God helps us - Mt 6:33
         4. We need to remember Who helped us across - Ph 2:13 
    b.  There are more wonderful examples of this man of faith, Joshua, in the book named after him.

Some other time, Lord willing, we'll look at other examples in the life of this man of courage and great faith, Joshua!

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