GOD’S PREPARATION HAS A PURPOSE
What Joshua’s Journey Teaches Us About God’s Preparation
Main Text: Joshua 1:1–9
Supporting Scriptures: Exodus 17:8–14; Exodus 24:12–13; Exodus 33:11; Numbers 13–14; Numbers 27:18–23
Key Scripture — Joshua 1:2 (KJV)
“Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them…”
Central Thought
God never wastes a season of preparation. What Joshua experienced yesterday was preparing him for the purpose God would reveal tomorrow.
INTRODUCTION — WHAT IS GOD PREPARING YOU FOR?
Have you ever looked back over your life and suddenly understood why God allowed you to go through certain experiences?
While you were going through them, they didn't make sense.
You asked:
“Lord, why am I here?”
“Why am I having to deal with this?”
“Why is this taking so long?”
“Why do I have to serve in this position?”
“Why am I fighting this battle?”
But years later you looked back and said:
“Now I understand.”
That experience taught me something.
That person taught me something.
That disappointment matured me.
That waiting developed patience.
That battle strengthened my faith.
That small assignment taught me responsibility.
Sometimes we don't understand preparation because we are looking at the experience while God is looking at the purpose.
Joshua is a perfect example.
When Joshua fought Amalek, he probably didn't fully understand how that battle was preparing him.
When he served Moses, he didn't know exactly when leadership would become his responsibility.
When he waited near the mountain, God was preparing him.
When he stood against the ten unbelieving spies, God was preparing him.
When he wandered through the wilderness, God was preparing him.
And when Moses laid his hands upon him, God was preparing him.
Then one day Moses died, and God said:
“Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan.”
Suddenly all those years of preparation made sense.
GOD'S PREPARATION HAD A PURPOSE!
And church, what if some of the things you're experiencing right now are preparing you for something you haven't seen yet?
1. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA THROUGH BATTLES
Long before Joshua led Israel into Canaan, God allowed him to lead Israel into battle against Amalek.
Exodus 17:9 (KJV)
“And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek…”
Think about what Joshua had to learn.
He had to choose people.
He had to organize them.
He had to lead them.
He had to make decisions under pressure.
He had to keep fighting when he was tired.
God was developing leadership skills in Joshua before Joshua knew the full purpose.
But Joshua also learned something else.
While he fought in the valley, Moses stood on the mountain with his hands raised.
When Moses' hands were lifted, Israel prevailed.
Joshua learned:
My ability isn't enough.
I need God.
Application
Some battles aren't designed to destroy you.
God can use them to develop you.
You learned how to pray because of a battle.
You learned patience because of a battle.
You discovered who your real friends were because of a battle.
You discovered strength you didn't know you had because of a battle.
“Don't waste your battle. There may be a lesson in this battle that you're going to need for your purpose.”
2. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA THROUGH SERVICE
Exodus 24:13 (KJV)
“And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.”
Joshua was called Moses' minister, meaning his servant or assistant.
Before Joshua commanded others, he learned how to serve someone else.
That's preparation.
We live in a generation that often wants the position before the preparation.
We want titles.
Platforms.
Recognition.
Authority.
But God often starts us with:
“Serve.”
David served sheep.
Elisha served Elijah.
Timothy learned under Paul.
The disciples served alongside Jesus.
Joshua served Moses.
“God may be watching how you handle somebody else's assignment before He entrusts you with your own.”
3. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA THROUGH HIS PRESENCE
Exodus 33:11 (KJV)
“…but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.”
This tells us something about Joshua.
He had an appetite for God's presence.
Moses left.
Joshua remained.
Joshua wasn't only learning leadership techniques from Moses.
Joshua was developing his own relationship with God.
This is essential.
You cannot live forever on somebody else's relationship with God.
Children need their own relationship.
Ministers need their own relationship.
Leaders need their own prayer life.
Preaching Line
“God wasn't merely preparing Joshua to take Moses' position; He was preparing Joshua to know Moses' God.”
4. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA THROUGH WAITING
Joshua accompanied Moses toward Mount Sinai.
Exodus 24:13
“And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.”
Moses spent forty days and nights on the mountain.
Joshua learned to wait.
Waiting is one of God's great classrooms.
We don't like it.
We want everything immediately.
But sometimes God says:
“Not yet.”
Not because He has forgotten you.
Not necessarily because you're doing something wrong.
Sometimes you're simply still being prepared.
Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…”
Illustration
You can pull fruit from a tree before it ripens, but taking it early doesn't make it ready.
Sometimes God loves us enough not to give us something before we're prepared to handle it.
5. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA BY TESTING HIS FAITH
Numbers 13 changed everything.
Twelve spies went into Canaan.
They all saw giants.
They all saw fortified cities.
They all saw the same obstacles.
But Joshua and Caleb saw something the others forgot:
GOD'S PROMISE.
Numbers 14:8–9 (KJV)
“If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us… Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land…”
Ten men saw giants and said:
“We can't.”
Joshua saw giants and essentially said:
“God can.”
Why was that important?
Because one day Joshua would have to lead Israel into that very land.
God was revealing Joshua's faith before revealing Joshua's leadership.
“Joshua could lead people into the promise because he believed the promise before he was ever put in charge.”
6. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA THROUGH DISAPPOINTMENT
Joshua and Caleb were ready to enter Canaan.
But because the nation refused to believe God, Joshua had to spend decades in the wilderness with them.
Imagine that frustration.
“I'm ready, but the people aren't.”
Joshua had faith.
Yet he still had to wait.
Sometimes your delay isn't because you lack faith.
There are circumstances beyond your control.
But Joshua didn't become bitter.
He remained faithful.
Application
Be careful that waiting doesn't turn into bitterness.
Don't let somebody else's mistake destroy your character.
Don't let disappointment make you abandon your purpose.
“Joshua survived a season he didn't create because God had a future he couldn't afford to miss.”
7. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA THROUGH MENTORSHIP
Joshua spent years observing Moses.
He saw Moses:
Pray.
Intercede.
Lead.
Deal with criticism.
Handle rebellious people.
Make difficult decisions.
Experience victories.
And make mistakes.
Joshua's education didn't come only from books.
He learned by walking with somebody who had already been walking with God.
Proverbs 13:20 (KJV)
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise…”
Application
Everybody needs somebody they can learn from.
And wise preparation doesn't merely learn from somebody's successes.
Learn from their mistakes too.
8. GOD PREPARED JOSHUA BEFORE MOSES WAS GONE
Numbers 27:18 (KJV)
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;”
This is important.
God didn't wait until Moses died to start thinking:
“Who can replace Moses?”
God had already prepared Joshua.
That's how God works.
God knows tomorrow before tomorrow gets here.
Before Israel knew they needed Joshua...
God was preparing Joshua.
Before Moses died...
God was preparing
