Joshua : Strong & Courageous // Foundations

Exodus 17:8-9 NIV 

8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” 

1. Learn to See Opposition as Opportunity 

Exodus 17:13 NIV 

13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 

Exodus 17:14 NIV 

14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.” 

2. Learn to Treasure the Training 

Exodus 24:13 NIV 

Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 

Hebrews 12:5b-7 NIV 

5 “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. 

3. Learn the Differences in Denial and Discernment Denial: The action of declaring something to be untrue Discernment: the ability to judge well. 

Exodus 32:2-6 NIV 

2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the Lord.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. 

Exodus 32:15-19 NIV 

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.” 18 Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” 19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 

4. Learn to Cultivate Your Craving 

Exodus 33:11 NIV 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. 

Questions: 

1. Have you ever experienced a season in your life where you felt a disconnect from God? How would you describe it? Can you identify what makes you feel connected to the Lord? 

2. How have you navigated opposition in your life? What have been some of those outcomes? 

3. Like Joshua, training is often required to reach goals. How has the process of preparation looked for you and how has it changed you?