Chapter One
A New Beginning
Introduction to the Book of Joshua
Why should anybody today study the book of Joshua, an ancient book that gives a grim account of war, slaughter, and conquest? If the book of Joshua were fiction, we might accept it as an exciting adventure story; but the book conveys real history and is a part of inspired Holy Scripture. What does it mean to us today?
âThere never was a good war, or a bad peace,â Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1783, but itâs possible that the wise old patriot was wrong for once. After all, God called Joshua to be a general and to lead the army of Israel in holy conquest. But there were bigger issues involved in that conquest than the invasion and possession of a landâissues that touch our lives and our faith today.
Thatâs why weâre embarking on this study. The book of Joshua is the book of new beginnings for the people of God, and many believers today need a new beginning. After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, Israel claimed their inheritance and enjoyed the blessings of the land that God had prepared for them, âas the days of heaven upon the earthâ (Deut. 11:21). Thatâs the kind of life God wants us to experience today. Jesus Christ, our Joshua, wants to lead us in conquest now and share with us all the treasures of His wonderful inheritance. He has âblessed us with all spiritual blessingsâ (Eph. 1:3), but too often we live like defeated paupers.
THE NEW LEADER
From Exodus 3 to Deuteronomy 34, the Bible focuses attention on the ministry of Moses, Godâs chosen servant to lead the nation of Israel. But Moses died, and though he would not be forgotten (heâs named over fifty times in the book of Joshua), a new âservant of the LORDâ (Josh. 24:29) would take his place. âGod buries His workers, but His work goes on.â We shall note later that this change in leadership carries with it a tremendous spiritual lesson for believers who want to experience Godâs best in their lives.
Joshua the slave. God spent many years preparing Joshua for his calling. He was born into slavery in Egypt and was given the name Hoshea (Num. 13:8 NIV), which means âsalvation.â Moses later changed it to Joshua (v. 16 NIV), âJehovah is salvation,â which is the Hebrew form of âJesusâ (Matt. 1:21; see Acts 7:45 and Heb. 4:8). When his parents gave the baby the name âsalvation,â they were bearing witness to their faith in Godâs promise of redemption for His people (Gen. 15:12â16; 50:24â26). Joshua belonged to the tribe of Ephraim and was the firstborn son of Nun (1 Chron. 7:20â27). This meant that his life was in danger the night of Passover, but he had faith in the Lord and was protected by the blood of the lamb (Ex. 11â12).
While in Egypt, Joshua saw all the signs and wonders that God performed (Ex. 7â12), and he knew that Jehovah was a God of power who would care for His people. The Lord had humiliated the gods of Egypt and demonstrated that He alone was the true God (Ex. 12:12; Num. 33:4). Joshua saw the Lord open the Red Sea and then close the waters and drown the pursuing Egyptian army (Ex. 14â15). Joshua was a man of faith who knew the Lord and trusted Him to do wonders for His people.
Joshua the soldier. The first official recorded act of Joshua in Scripture is his defeat of the Amalekites when they attacked Israel about two months after Israelâs exodus from Egypt (17:8â16). Moses was a prophet and legislator, but Joshua was a general with exceptional military skills. He was also a man of great courage, who wasnât afraid to confront the enemy and trust the Lord for victory.
Where did Joshua learn to use a sword and to command an army? Certainly he was especially gifted by the Lord, but even heavenly gifts must be discovered and developed in an earthly setting. Had Joshua in some way been involved with the Egyptian army and received his early training in its ranks? This is possible, though the Scriptures are silent and we must not be dogmatic. Just as Moses refused a high position in Pharaohâs palace but received his education there (Heb. 11:24â26; Acts 7:22), so Joshua may have turned down army promotions that he might identify with his people and serve the Lord.
According to Exodus 17:14, the writer suggests that God had chosen Joshua for a special work in the future. Unknown to Joshua, the battle with Amalek was a testing time when God was examining his faith and courage. âMake every occasion a great occasion, for you can never tell when someone may be taking your measure for a larger placeâ (Marsden). Joshuaâs conflict with Amalek was the preparation for many battles he would fight in the Promised Land.
Joshua the servant. In Exodus 24:13, Joshua is called Mosesâ servant (âministerâ), which indicates that Joshua was now an official assistant to the leader of Israel. He accompanied Moses to the mount and went with him when he judged the people for making the golden calf (32:17). It wasnât enough that Joshua be a good warrior; he also had to know the God of Israel and the holy laws God gave His people to obey. We shall discover that the secret of Joshuaâs victories was not his skill with the sword but his submission to the Word of God (Josh. 1:8) and to the God of the Word (5:13â15).
During Israelâs wilderness journey, Moses had a special tent set up outside the camp where he could meet with God (Ex. 33:7â11). It was Joshuaâs responsibility to stay at the tent and guard it. Not only was Joshua a warrior, but he was also a worshipper and knew how to live in the presence of God.
Joshua was jealous not only for the glory of God but also for the honor and authority of Moses. This is a good characteristic for a servant to have, and it showed up when God sent His Spirit upon the seventy elders Moses had chosen to assist him in his work (Num. 11:16â30). When the Spirit came upon Eldad and Medad in the camp, two men who had not assembled with the other elders at the tabernacle, Joshua protested and asked Moses to stop them from prophesying. (For a New Testament parallel, see Luke 9:49â50.) The breadth of Mosesâ spirit must have moved Joshua as Moses claimed no special privileges for himself. Itâs worth noting that when the inheritance was allotted after the conquest of the Promised Land, Joshua took his share last (Josh. 19:49â51).
Joshua the spy. When Israel arrived at Kadesh Barnea, on the border of the Promised Land, God commanded Moses to appoint twelve men to spy out the land of CanaanâJoshua among them (Num. 13). After forty days of investigating the land, the spies returned to Moses and reported that the land was indeed a good one. But ten of the spies discouraged the people by saying that Israel wasnât strong enough to overcome the enemy, while two of the spiesâCaleb and Joshuaâencouraged the people to trust God and move into the land. Sadly the people listened to the faithless ten spies. It was this act of unbelief and rebellion that delayed the conquest of the land for forty years.
This crisis revealed some fine leadership qualities in Joshua. He was not blind to the realities of the situation, but he didnât allow the problems and difficulties to rob him of his faith in God. The ten spies looked at God through the difficulties, while Joshua and Caleb looked at the difficulties through what they knew about God. Their God was big enough for the battles that lay ahead!
Knowing he was right, Joshua wasnât afraid to stand up against the majority. He, Moses, and Caleb stood alone and risked their lives in so doing, but God stood with them. It has well been said that âone with God is a majority.â It would take that kind of courage for Joshua to lead Israel into their land so they could defeat their enemies and claim their inheritance.
Think of the years of blessing in the Promised Land that Joshua forfeited because the people had no faith in God! But Joshua patiently stayed with Moses and did his job, knowing that one day he and Caleb would get their promised inheritance (Num. 14:1â9). Leaders must know not only how to win victories but also how to accept defeats. I have a suspicion that Joshua and Caleb met each other regularly and encouraged each other as the time of their inheritance drew near. Day after day, for forty years, they saw the older generation die off, but each day brought them closer to Canaan. (See Heb. 10:22â25 for a New Testament parallel.)
Joshua the successor. Throughout that wilderness journey, God was preparing Joshua for his ministry as successor to Moses. When Israel defeated Og, king of Bashan, Moses used that victory to encourage Joshua not to be afraid of his enemies (Deut. 3:21â28; Num. 21:33â35). When Moses was preparing to die, he asked God to give the people a leader, and God appointed Joshua (Deut. 3:23â29). In his final message to Israel, Moses told the people that God would use Joshua to defeat their enemies and help them claim their promised inheritance, and he also encouraged Joshua to trust God and not be afraid (31:1â8). Moses laid hands on Joshua, and God imparted to Joshua the spiritual power he needed for his task (34:9).
Like Moses, Joshua was human and made his share of mistakes; but he was still Godâs chosen and anointed leader, and the people knew this. This is why they said to Joshua, âJust as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed youâ (Josh. 1:17 NKJV). Godâs people in the church today need to acknowledge Godâs leaders and give them the respect that they deserve as the servants of God (1 Thess. 5:12â13).
The secret of Joshuaâs success was his faith in the Word of God (Josh. 1:7â9), its commandments and its promises. Godâs Word to Joshua was âBe strong!â (vv. 6â7, 9, 18; and see Deut. 31:6â7, 23); and this is His Word to His people today.
THE NEW LAND
The promise of the land. The word land is found eighty-seven times in the book o...