Deuteronomy 31:14

The LORD said to Moses, "Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the Tent of Meeting, where I will commission him." So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the Tent of Meeting

Joshua- commanded to lead the people after the death of Moses

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Joshua was the aide of Moses from a very young age. Moses gave “Hoshea” son of Nun the name Joshua. He was one of the twelve leaders chosen from each tribe of ancient Israel to spy out the Promised Land. Only he and Caleb came back with the report, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us.” The other ten leaders reported a certain failure if they tried to take the land.

Because of Joshua’s faith, the spirit of God was in him, and he later became Moses’ successor. Joshua was chosen to bring the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua had proven his courage and ability to lead. He fought many battles and led the nation into victory each time.

It was Joshua who led the people across the river Jordan on dry land, just as Moses had done at the Red Sea. He fought the battle in Jericho where the people marched around the city and blew trumpet blasts causing the walls to crumble. He also was the one who prayed for the sun to stand still (Josh 10:12) in the Valley of Aijalon.

Joshua 11:23, “So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.”

Joshua 24:31, “Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel.”

Judges 2:8, “Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten”

If there ever was a man in the Bible to use as an example of leadership, Joshua is among the most prominent. As he lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, his name became renown among the nations who lived in the lands. People began to fear the nation of Israel when they heard how they were undefeated. Nations banded together to fight Israel.

“Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)- they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel” ((Josh 9:1-2).

“However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse”. It is here in the amazing and victorious story of Joshua we see our great leader make one mistake. They were tricked by the leaders of Gibeon and in Joshua 9:14-15, we see the words that would have a lasting effect on the nation of Israel-

“The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.”

The mistake- they did not inquire of the Lord. The decision that the mighty leader Joshua made was "without" the wisdom of God. Joshua relied only on the evidence in front of him and the words of his men. Because of this, Joshua made a promise to the men from Gibeon that he would not war with them.  God takes it seriously when we make an oath.  Even though Joshua had not sought God in this decision, God still expected Joshua to uphold the promise he made to the people of Gibeon.

It is remarkable how seriously God takes it when a leader makes an oath. The pact between Gibeon and Israel still stands today. The Falashas of Ethiopia are the decendants of the Gibeonites. At various times over the last fifty years, Israel has opened their doors to this Hamatic people of Ethiopia, allowing them refuge in times of distress.

In 2005, according to an article in the San Diego tribune, "by the end of 2007, Israel intends to bring to the Promised Land the last known 20,000 Ethiopians claiming to be Falashas with strong ties to Judaism dateing back more than 2000 years".

God expected Israel to keep their oath to the people of Gibeon. That promise still stands today. How does this story of the great leader Joshua have an effect on us today, 2000 years later?

When our leaders make oaths God has the expectation that they will keep their word. Making promises and breaking promises is something God takes seriously.

God also takes his oaths to us seriously!

All throughout the Bible we see God making promises to different people at various times. If God expected Israel to uphold an oath with a people, even though they had gone against God's command, how much more do you think God takes seriously his promises to you?

NOAH

Genesis 6:18

But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.

Genesis 9:16

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

ABRAHAM

Genesis 12:3

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

Genesis 13:15

All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.

Genesis 17:7

I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

MOSES

Exodus 34:10

Then the LORD said: "I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you.

Deuteronomy 4:31

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

A Foreshadow for us today

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Our Covenant with God

Matthew 26:28

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 3:25

And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'

Hebrews 9:15

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant

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We stand here today in the presence of God and his holy angels to witness the covenant that God has made with the people of the earth. If you choose to partake in the covenant you will recieve the promises. For God is not a liar and will not go back on his word. He takes his oaths seriously. And as a partaker of the covenant, you are the heir to the promises.

May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.