“The Promised Land”

Series: A Journey through the Old Testament [on screen]

Rev. Matthew C. McCraw, EdD

First Baptist Church, Bartow, Florida

July 4, 2021

Introductory Comments:

We are continuing our series called “A Journey Through the Old Testament.” We’ve covered the major events in the Old Testament from Creation to the giving of the Law. Today, we’re going to learn about the Promised Land. [on screen]

We’ll be spending the bulk of our time in the Old Testament book of Joshua, which is the sixth book in the Bible. 

We’re going to look at the major elements from this story, the major truths we learn, and how the Gospel speaks to us through the story of the Promised Land. 

Before we do, let’s pray together and ask God to speak to us. 

(prayer)

We’re not going to cover every aspect of this story but we can first look at the . . .

I. Major elements[on screen]

1. As the people of Israel left Egypt, they were without a home. [on screen]

They were wanderers. In fact, they wandered in the desert for 40 years, mostly due to their hard-heartedness and unfaithfulness to God. 

The people didn’t fully trust God’s promises and they didn’t obey His law, so they wandered without a home for 40 years. That’s a long time! In fact, every grown man who was there when they left Egypt would pass away and not be permitted into the Promised Land, except two men: Joshua and Caleb. 

Numbers 14:22-23 tells us about this: 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tested me these ten times and did not obey me, 23 will ever see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have despised me will see it. [on screen]

However, God did have a home prepared for the people. That takes us to our second major element:

2. God promised a future land and home to His people (Joshua 1:1-5). [on screen]

God had promised this land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At the time Joshua was leading the Israelites, God’s promise still stood for Israel. 

Read Joshua 1:1-5. (Read in paper Bible)

The land that God promised was roughly from the Nile River all the way up to the Euphrates River, extending from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. So, this is how the modern-day area looks on a map, [show first picture on screen] And this is roughly the area that was the Promised Land. [show second picture on screen]

Next, remember that . . .

3. Moses and Aaron were not permitted to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:1-12). [on screen]

As I’ve already mentioned, all the men who were alive at the time of the Exodus from Egypt were not permitted to go, not even Moses and Aaron. 

Not only were the people of Israel hard-hearted and unfaithful at times, but Moses and Aaron were too, at times. 

Church, all of us are hard-hearted and unfaithful at times, aren’t we? God continues to show His grace to us time again as He did with Moses and Aaron. Yet, sometimes there are consequences to our unfaithfulness, as there were with Moses and Aaron. 

So, the people have a new leader (he’s my favorite Old Testament character, by the way). The new leader is Joshua!

4. Joshua led the people into the Promised Land (Joshua 1-12). [on screen]

Joshua was the assistant of Moses, even spending some time with Moses on Mt. Sinai. 

Joshua is now God’s man to lead the people. 

Read Joshua 1:1-2, 6-7 (Read in paper Bible)

Entering the land was not easy. 

The people had to cross rivers, fend off attacking armies, deal with unfaithfulness in their midst, and more. 

They also sent spies into the land and those spies were in danger. The spies were protected by a prostitute named Rahab. Rahab would later be remembered for her faithfulness to God’s people and her help towards God’s people. 

Over and over, God told Joshua and Joshua told the people, “Be strong and courageous.” They needed to remember to be strong and courageous. They knew t