Chapter 8: The Standard of the Land of Zion | Part 1: Joshua’s Standard

Dear Family and Friends, We read in the Book of Mormon of how a remnant of Joseph (of Egypt) will build a new Jerusalem on Joseph’s land. What will this city stand for and what or who will guide its construction and regulation? Will this remnant have a standard by which to build it, and if so what will be their standard? Chapter 8 of Why Look to “the Stick of Joseph” as a Standard, which is titled The Standard of the Land of Zion, presents a study into these and related questions. The first part of this chapter, introduced below, begins this study by considering the standard of Joshua, Moses’ successor. The following parts to this chapter discuss how and why the Lord has raised the Stick of Joseph as a standard for the establishment of this city, and what this means to us and to the world. This is a work in progress and I plan to release subsequent parts of Chapter 8 as the Lord permits. For now, here is the beginning of the first part of Chapter 8, titled Joshua’s Standard. Due to its length, the complete post is linked here: https://hisworkmanship.net/why-look-to-the-stick-of-joseph-as-a-standard-chapter-8-part-1/ And here is the link to the pdf (printable) version: https://hisworkmanship.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WhyTheStickOfJoseph-Ch08-Part-1.pdf _______________________________________________ Part 1: Joshua’s Standard As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. With these words, Joshua raised his standard one last time for all Israel to consider. He had pitched by this, his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house as the Lord had instructed each man to do when leading the whole house of Israel out of bondage and to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Numbers 2:1-2,34 – And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch. … And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers. Jacob’s (Israel’s) household had traveled forty years through the wilderness by the standards of their family groups in keeping with the Lord’s instructions recorded in Numbers 2. Once they arrived at the border of the promised land, God commanded Moses to appoint Joshua to lead the tribes of Israel in settling into their respective lands of inheritance within Abraham’s covenant land. Joshua’s declaration of his loyalty to God at the end of his work among the children of Israel showed he had remained true to the standard by which he had traveled during their long journey together. His standard stood out for several notable reasons. First, the Lord had chosen Joshua to lead the children of Israel after Moses’ departure. They thus looked to him for guidance and for an example. Next, the standard Joshua raised agreed with the good report he and Caleb brought back after scouting out the promised land with rulers of the other tribes. Both his report and standard honored God and His covenant promises to Israel’s family. Joshua was therefore welcomed by the Lord into the land along with the rising generation to lead them in their devotion and faithful service to God. Third, being a ruler of the tribe of Ephraim, Joshua represented the tribe which held the birthright of Jacob’s household. As such, his standard, joined with his father’s ensign, was representative of his lawful right and duty to settle the children of Israel in their respective lands of inheritance. Appropriately, then, his standard represented a standard for all Israel, not just his family or tribe. Joshua’s name is also significant. … As always, if you have any questions, requests, or comments regarding this or my other studies, feel free to contact me via my email. God’s richest blessings in Jesus Christ, Dwight Burford