Joshua 1:1,2 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
Notice any particular word repeated in the above passage? I put it in bold to help those visually-challenged among us. It appears terribly important to the author to make sure we identify the two people in these verses correctly. They were servants. Moses is called the LORD’s servant, then Joshua is called Moses’. But his faithful service to Moses puts him in the God-favored position to become the next leader of Israel, because he is ultimately serving the LORD. This repetition stands out to me because I am forced to conclude that nothing else matters about these people besides them being servants of the LORD. Joshua could have opened his book with a recap of his accomplishments, an overview of his abilities and talents. But, no. He wants us to know that serving God is his top priority.
And it should be mine. Oh, sure, I admire people like Mary, mother of Jesus, when she said, “I am the Lord’s servant,” and have even considered painting ‘handmaiden of the Lord’ over my kitchen sink. But if I am really honest, I have such a ways to go before I am anything like Moses, Joshua, or Mary.
Servanthood doesn’t just do the job willingly, it does the job without ever complaining during, drawing attention to self while doing, or tacking on conditions about doing it over and over again. To really serve my husband and my children, I must have no self-serving motive- and boy, is that difficult to do. But we read here in Joshua that this is the kind of person who is pleasing to God- the pure, humble servant.
If He would render Himself as a guilt offering,
He will see His offspring,
He will prolong His days,
And the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.
As a result of the anguish of His soul,
He will see it and be satisfied;
By His knowledge the Righteous One,
My Servant, will justify the many,
As He will bear their iniquities. Isaiah 53:10-11