Joshua

The book of Joshua presents a first-hand account of Israel’s entry into the promised land. It is an exciting book, full of miracles, battles and intrigue. Faithful (Rahab) and faithless (Achan) add their color to the narrative. Behind the drama of the stories there are lessons. If we take the lessons to heart, it will become easier to walk acceptably before the Lord our God.

Joshua’s background

Joshua was prepared for his role of leadership by the events of his earlier years.

He learned warfare in fighting Amalek at Rephidim (Ex. 17:10). He learned to serve others as a minister of Moses on the mount of God and in the tabernacle (Ex. 24:13; 33:11). As a spy, he scouted Canaan, becoming familiar with the territory that Israel was about to attack (Num. 13:16,25). While others of his generation rebelled, God could say of Joshua and Caleb that, “They had wholly followed the LORD” (Num. 32:12). He was thus an enthusiastic and faithful servant of God — the most important attributes to successfully lead God’s people.

God’s support was all-important

The Lord gave His firm backing to Joshua: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (1:5). Although God would require considerable effort from Joshua and the people, God was the one who would give them the victory. In like manner, the apostle Paul says, “God giveth us the victory (over sin and death) through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To gain the victory promised to us, we must remain “stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (I Cor. 15:57,58). In like manner, the Lord exhorted Joshua: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (1:8).

Meditating in the law

While receiving the law, God frequently told Moses to “write thou these words.” There was thus a written record of at least the first five books of the Bible. But it would be in the form of a bulky scroll. In addition, Joshua would have to remember the various instructions God gave him as the invasion proceeded.

Since the scriptures are so readily available to us today, it is difficult for us to appreciate that, in order to continually meditate in the word of God and have it always on his lips, Joshua would have to memorize scripture. In our case, a small Bible easily fits in a purse or pocket for daytime use and we can have others scattered in convenient places at work or home. We could well ask ourselves, how readily can we talk of the word and how often do we meditate in it? Probably we would be better off memorizing the contents much more than we are inclined to do.

Note, too, that Joshua was to have the word of God continually on his mind in spite of having the all-consuming job of leading an attacking army and being head of an unsettled nation. Of course we can see why Joshua always had to have the word of God in his mind; that is the only way he could do the right thing amid varied and changing circumstances. As we are well aware, however, the same is true of ourselves.

Obedience in practice

It is interesting to watch Joshua put his knowledge of God’s law into practice in the midst of a great battle.

In the battle against Ai, we are told in Joshua 8:25-29:

1. Joshua utterly destroyed all the inhabitants.
2. Israel took for themselves only the cattle and the spoil.
3. Ai was burned.
4. The king of Ai was hanged.
5. His carcass was removed at sundown.
6. A heap of stones was raised over his body.

Was it just Joshua’s idea that these would be good things to do? Not at all! Chapter 8:26-27 informs us that numbers one, two and four above were done “according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.” Item three was done in accord with Joshua 6:24. Items five and six were based on instructions found in Deuteronomy 21:22-23. These acts make it obvious that God’s will and word were in the forefront of Joshua’s mind.

The Gibeonite incident

Another example of obedience in practice is the Gibeonite incident. Deuteronomy 20:10-18 regulates warfare with other nations, making a distinction in the handling of those who are far off as opposed to those who are nearby. The Canaanite inhabitants of the land were utterly opposed to divine standards. Their iniquity was full and they were to be wiped out (Gen. 15:16; Deut. 9:4,5). With distant nations, however, the dangers of their evil influence were diminished and Israel could establish peace treaties with them.

Joshua showed no mercy to the Canaanites he conquered: “So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded” (Josh. 10:40).

To a distant people, however, peace could be offered: “When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and opens unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee” (Deut. 20:10,11).

The ruse and request of the Gibeonites closely matches the conditions under which Israel could offer peace. In fact, it seems that the Gibeonites somehow had knowledge of the provisions of the law, for they presented themselves as being from a far country and requested Israel make a league with them (Hos. 9:6 cf. Deut. 20:11). The only variance from the scriptural stipulations is that it was the Gibeonites, not Israel, that first made mention of peace.

Unfortunately, in this instance, Joshua should have sought additional advice from the Lord. There really was no exact precedent for the Gibeonite situation. Yet, in spite of Joshua’s mistake, God worked with the Gibeonites. For example, Ismaiah, a Gibeonite, was prominent in David’s army (I Chron. 12:4) and others are mentioned as repairing the wall in Nehemiah’s time (Neh. 3:7).

Perhaps the final commendation for Joshua is Christ’s use of Joshua’s summary words. Standing before all Israel at Shechem, Joshua urged them to: “Fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth…” (Josh. 24:14). Standing in nearly the identical spot, the Lord said: “The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit [sincerity] and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23). Joshua was such a man who served God in spirit and truth and therefore was a man who ably filled the job God designated him to perform.