If the Bible’s Book of Joshua were a movie, the Lord would be the executive producer, director, screenwriter, and lead actor. Without the Lord, nothing happens.
Again, if this book were a movie, it would be dedicated to the late Moses, who is named 51 times. Joshua’s favorite description of Moses is “servant of the Lord” (10 times from 1:13,15 to 22:4-5).
What’s more, Moses is quoted directly or indirectly in 1:12-15, 8:30-35, 13:8-33, 14:1-13, 22:1-5, and other shorter passages.
This is not surprising since he leaves a number of sacred, inspired scrolls known as “the Book of the Law of Moses” (8:31 and 23:6) or simply as “the Law of Moses” (1:7, 8:32, and 22:5).
The best supporting actor? That would be Joshua (Hebrew for “the Lord saves”), who is named 149 times. As the nation of Israel’s new leader, Joshua has many compelling reasons to be afraid. After all, if he’s the same age as Caleb, Joshua is about 80 years old.
As a good soldier, however, Joshua says “yes!” to the orders of his Commander. We see that in Joshua 1. Then, in the next two chapters, we see other ways God leads and instructs Joshua. Each way conveys truths for us today.
God’s Commands Then and Now
In the opening chapter, the Lord gives specific orders to Joshua. This experience must have been awe-inspiring. Joshua remembers each command for the rest of his life!
Thankfully, the Lord’s commands for Joshua apply equally to you and me today. We know this because each command (and related promise) reverberates through the rest of the Old Testament — and is echoed and exemplified by Jesus (Greek for “the Lord saves”) and by His apostles.
1. Be strong and courageous. Compare Luke 2:40, 1 Corinthians 15:58 and 16:13, Ephesians 6:10, 2 Timothy 2:1, and 1 Peter 5:10. Compare Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:50, Acts 4:13, and 1 Corinthians 16:13.
2. Know God’s Word. Compare Matthew 22:29, Luke 24:27,32,45, John 2:22; 7:38, Acts 8:35; 17:2; 18:28, Romans 1:2; 15:4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:13, 2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Peter 3:15, and 2 Peter 1:20; 3:16. Today, we have ready access to the complete Bible. What a treasure!
3. Obey God’s commands. Compare Matthew 5:19; 28:20, Mark 10:19, Luke 1:6, John 15:10-17, Acts 17:30, Romans 7:12, James 1:22-25, 2 Peter 3:2, and 1 John 2:3-4; 3:22-24; 5:3.
4. Do not be afraid. Compare Matthew 8:26; 10:26; 14:27; 28:10, Mark 6:50, Luke 5:10; 12:4,7,32, John 6:20; 14:27, Acts 9:27; 18:9, Ephesians 6:19-20, Hebrews 13:6, 1 Peter 3:14, and 1 John 4:18.
5. Do not be discouraged. God promises to be with you! Compare Matthew 28:20, John 14:16-17, Philippians 4:9, and Hebrews 13:5.
People sometimes think the Bible primarily focuses on the Lord’s commands, but they’re always subservient to God’s rich promises. Not surprisingly, the word “promise” shows up a dozen more times in the Book of Joshua. How amazing that all came true!
The First Repentance
Joshua secretly sends two trusted spies across the Jordan River. He sends them to one city, and only one, careful not to repeat the disaster that befell the nation 40 years earlier.
Once inside the imposing walled city, the spies soon realize they are the most wanted men in Jericho. Humanly speaking, they are doomed!
Doomed, that is, except for the drumbeat that starts softly in Numbers 13-14, steadily grows in Numbers 21-26, and grows yet louder from Numbers 31:40 to 36:13. That last verse, like eight before it, refers to the Israelites camping by the Jordan “across from Jericho.”
The drumbeat continues unrelentingly throughout the Book of Deuteronomy, especially 1:7 to 3:11, 4:46-49, 7:1-6, 11:30, 20:17-18, 31:3-4, 32:49, and 33:1-6, at this point Moses dies and his mantle falls to Joshua.
Yes, humanly speaking, the two spies are doomed! They are doomed — except for an unexpected and surprising ally. Rahab’s remarkable faith is clearly expressed in verses 9-11.
Do not miss her closing statement of faith: “The Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” What remarkable faith, indeed!
So why does the Lord command the destruction of all of Rahab’s people? The answer is found in Genesis 15. The context is the day Abram believed in God (verse 6). Late that night, the Lord tells Abram that his descendants will be slaves in Egypt for 400 years (verses 13-14).
Afterward, “your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure” (v. 17).
Who are these cursed peoples whose horrific sins against their own families and neighbors regularly include incest, prostitution, rape, violence, torture, and murder? The Lord says they include the “Hittites, Perizzites, . . . Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites” (Genesis 15:20-21).
Later, the Hivites join this list of wicked, cursed peoples (Exodus 3:8,17). The Lord promises to drive out all of these peoples (Exodus 23:23; 33:2; 34:11) even though they are “seven nations larger and stronger than you” (Deuteronomy 7:1).
How cursed are these wicked people? After four extra centuries, they still have not repented. Instead, they have become evil through and through.
Therefore, Moses says: “Completely destroy them — the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites — as the Lord has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 20:17-18).
In complete contrast with these peoples, Rahab turns away from her sins, turns steadfastly toward the Lord of heaven and earth, and trusts His purposes and protection for her family.
Instead of dying, Rahab’s blood is spared and later commingled with the lineage of the promised Messiah (Matthew 1:5). What a great woman of faith, and what a wonderful God of second chances!
The First Huge Miracle
After hearing the report from the two spies, Joshua leads God’s people across the Jordan River. At that time, the Jordan is a fierce, swollen river that threatens to drown them. Joshua assures them, however, that the Lord promises to do a miracle.
After nearly 40 years at Moses’ side, including crossing the Red Sea on dry land, Joshua knows the Lord can be trusted to keep His word — always!
When it comes to miracles, three facts resound throughout the Bible. First, the Lord can do whatever He wants. Second, the Lord created the heavens and earth. Third, the Lord has done — and will do — astounding celestial events that will shatter humanity’s perceptions of full knowledge, full predictability, and thus full control.
In that regard, these celestial events are no different from the astounding terrestrial events described from Genesis to Revelation. The Lord is active, not passive! And whatever He does is astounding and miraculous for all who see, hear, taste, smell, and feel the effects of God’s activities.
Humanly speaking, the astounding terrestrial miracles in the Book of Joshua are impossible. Of course, the Lord just smiles. As Jesus reminded us, “What is impossible with man is possible with God” (Luke 18:27) and “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Jesus is echoing similar statements made throughout the Old Testament from Genesis 18:14, “Is anything too hard for the Lord? to Zechariah 8:6, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘It may seem marvelous to the remnant of this people at that time, but will it seem marvelous to me?’ declares the Lord Almighty.”
Not surprisingly, the apostles echo what the Old Testament and Jesus say, including Paul (Ephesians 1:19-20) and Peter (2 Peter 1:3-4).
In this case, the Lord may have used a massive earthquake to calve steep embankments and dam the Jordan River near the city of Adam.
Similar earthquakes have done the same at that location down through the ages, including AD 1160, 1267, 1546, 1834, 1906, and 1927 (when 46 meters calved into the Jordan and all water stopped flowing for 21 hours).
The difference on this particular day? A true act of God — with perfect timing, of course!
Without any way of knowing how the Lord would do it, Joshua believes He can do the humanly impossible (verse 5). In turn, in verse 7 we read: “And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.’”
All told, the Lord speaks directly to Joshua more than a dozen times. What’s more, the Lord performs earth-shattering miracle after miracle exactly as promised to Joshua.
In turn, Joshua places his complete faith and trust in the Lord and urges God’s people to do the same.
Like Joshua, may we listen to the Lord speaking through His Word to our own hearts. And when we listen, may we trust and obey.
For further reading:
How Is God a God of Second Chances?
What Did God Mean ‘Be Strong and Courageous’?
Why Did God Have to Give His People the 10 Commandments?
What Is the Spiritual Gift of Leadership?
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