HOW TO REALLY GET IT RIGHT.
THIS IS BASED ON THE N.I.V. ACCOUNT
OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA WRITTEN
ABOUT 1406 B.C., OR 45 LIFETIMES AGO.
OUR COMMENTS ARE IN BRACKETS. JOSHUA WAS
ORIGINALLY CALLED HOSHEA (SALVATION). MOSES
CHANGED IT TO JOSHUA (THE LORD SAVES OR GIVES
VICTORY). IN GREEK THE NAME MEANS JESUS.
After Moses died, the Lord said to Joshua:
-Get ready to cross the Jordan to the land I'm
giving the Israelites.
-I'll give you every place you set your foot
as I promised Moses.
-No-one will be able to stand against you
while you live.
-As I was with Moses, so I'll be with you.
I WILL NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE YOU.
-Be strong.
-Be courageous.
-I'll lead the people to inherit the land I
swore to their forefathers.
-Obey all the law, don't turn to the left or
right of it:
-Then you'll be successful wherever you go.
-Keep the law in your mouth.
-Meditate on it day and night.
-Carefully do everything written in it.
-Then you'll be prosperous and successful.
-I command you:
-Be strong.
-Be courageous.
-Don't fear.
-Don't be discouraged.
-FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL BE WITH YOU
WHEREVER YOU GO.
So Joshua ordered the officers:
-Tell the people, in three days we cross the
Jordan to possess the land the Lord your
God is giving you.
-But he reminded the Reubenites, Gadites, and
half tribe of Manasseh of their "deal" with
Moses - for their fighting men to cross
first and fight 'til all the land was
conquered and then return east of the
Jordan to the land they had chosen.
-They answered:
-Whatever you say we will do.
-Wherever you send us we will go.
-We obeyed Moses, we'll obey you.
-Only may the Lord be with you as He was
with Moses.
-Anyone who disobeys your word will be put
to death.
-ONLY BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
(Chapter 1)
Joshua secretly sent spies to check out the
land. Especially Jericho. (They could see it
from their camp, across the Jordan River, a
mighty fortress defying any advance). The spies
stayed with a prostitute in Jericho named Rahab.
She saved their lives by hiding them from
searchers. Later she:
-Said she knew the Lord has given this land to
you.
-Said all who live in this country are melting
with fear because:
-We heard how the Lord dried up the Red
Sea.
-Of how you defeated Sihon and Og the
Amorite kings.
-The Lord your God is God of heaven above
and the earth below.
-Asked that she and her family be spared
when Jericho fell.
The spies agreed. A scarlet ribbon was
tied in her window to identify the home
whose occupants would be spared.
-Let them down by a rope through the window
as her house was part of the the city
wall.
-Told them to hide in the hills for 3 days
before returning so as to avoid
detection.
So the spies returned and told Joshua, The Lord
has surely given the whole land into our
hands; all the people are melting in fear
because of us.
(Chapter 2)
Early in the morning Joshua and all Israel moved
camp to the Jordan River. It was in flood as is
normal during the harvest. After three days the
officers ordered the people, When you see the
priests carrying the Ark, follow it at a
distance of 1000 yards.
Joshua told the people, Consecrate yourselves,
for to-morrow the Lord will do amazing things
among you. Then he told the priests to take up
the Ark and move on ahead of the people. They
did.
Then the Lord told Joshua, From to-day the
people will know I am with you as I was with
Moses. Tell the priests carrying the Ark to
stand in the Jordan when they reach it.
Joshua said to the Israelites, Listen to the
Lord's words, so you'll know the living God is
among you to drive opponents out (so you can
enter the promised land):
-The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all
the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of
you.
-Choose a man from each tribe.
-When the priests carrying the Ark set foot
in the Jordan its waters will be cut off
and stand up in a heap.
As ordered, the people obeyed. As soon as the
priests' feet touched the water's edge, it dried
up, being blocked about 25 miles upstream. So
the people crossed over opposite Jericho (giving
cause for alarm there). The priests carrying the
Ark stood firm on dry ground in the middle of
the Jordan. All Israel passed by until the whole
nation passed by on dry ground.
(Chapter 3)
After crossing, the Lord told Joshua, Choose a
man from each tribe, to take a stone each from
where the priests stood in the Jordan and carry
them to where you camp to-night. So Joshua told
the 12 men what to do. The stones were to remind
Israel of how the Lord stopped the Jordan before
the Ark for them.
The priests carrying the Ark stayed standing in
the middle of the Jordan until everything the
Lord commanded Joshua was done. After all the
people had hurried over, the priests with the
Ark came to the other side while the people
watched. No sooner had they set their feet on
dry ground than the waters of the Jordan flooded
back as before. 40,000 men armed for battle
crossed over led by the Reubenites, Gaddites and
the half tribe of Manasseh.
That day the Lord exalted Joshua so all Israel
revered him all his life as they had revered
Moses.
So that day, the 10th day of the 1st month
(Passover Day!) they camped two miles northeast
of Jericho. Joshua set up the 12 stones there.
He told the Israelites:
-When your descendants ask about the stones
tell them
-Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground
-Because the Lord your God did to the Jordan
what He had done to the Red Sea
-So all the earth might know that the hand of
the Lord is powerful and so that you might
always have reverent awe for the Lord your
God.
(Chapter 4)
When the kings west of the Jordan heard about
the miracle at the Jordan they lost all courage
to face Israel.
The Lord told Joshua to circumcise the
Israelites because the generation born in the
wilderness had not been circumcised. They
remained in camp until healed.
The Lord told Joshua, To-day I have rolled away
the reproach of Egypt from you.
On the evening of the 14th day of the month
Israel celebrated the Passover. Next day they
ate some of the produce of the Promised Land.
Next day the manna stopped. That year they ate
the produce of the Promised Land.
Joshua, near Jericho, saw a man before him with
a drawn sword. Joshua asked if he were for or
against him. Neither he replied, but as
commander of the Lord's army I have come. Joshua
fell face down in reverence and asked, What
message from the Lord for His servant? The
commander replied, Remove your sandals, you are
standing on hallowed ground. Joshua did.
(Chapter 5)
Jericho was tightly shut up. The Lord said to
Joshua:
-I've delivered Jericho into your hands with
its king and fighting men.
-Each day for 6 days march around the city
once:
-With 7 priests carrying trumpets of rams'
horns in front of the Ark.
-With all the armed men.
-On the 7th day march around 7 times
-With the priests blowing the trumpets.
-When they sound a loud blast
-Have all the people give a loud shout.
-The wall of the city will collapse
-And the people will go straight in.
Joshua instructed the priests and ordered the
people to advance so:
-7 priests blew their trumpets and went
forward.
-The Ark of the Lord's Covenant followed.
-The armed guard marched ahead of the priests.
-The rear guard followed the Ark.
He told them not to say a word until the day I
tell you to shout. THEN SHOUT! The people did as
commanded and returned to camp.
Early next morning they did the same and
repeated the procedure for 6 days.
On the 7th day they got up at daybreak and:
-Marched around the city as before, but this
time for 7 times.
-The 7th time round, when the priests sounded
the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the
people:
-Shout for the Lord has given you the
city.
-The city and all in it is to be devoted
to the Lord. (Totally destroyed).
-Only Rahab and her family shall be
spared.
-Keep away from devoted things or you'll
be destroyed and the camp of Israel
liable to destruction.
-Keep only silver, gold, bronze and iron
for the Lord's treasury.
-When the trumpets sounded and the people
shouted:
-The wall collapsed.
-Every man charged straight in.
-They devoted the city to the Lord and
destroyed every living thing.
-Joshua told the two spies to rescue Rahab
and her family. They did and put them in
a place outside the camp of Israel.
-Then they burned the whole city, after
taking gold, silver, bronze and iron for
the treasury of the Lord's house.
-Joshua pronounced this solemn oath,
Cursed before the Lord is the man who
undertakes to rebuild this city
So the Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread
throughout the land.
(Chapter 6)
But the Israelites acted unfaithfully about the
devoted things. Achan took some. So the Lord's
anger burned against Israel.
Joshua sent spies 10 miles up into the mountains
to Ai.
-They returned and said only 2 or 3 thousand
men are needed to take it.
-So that many went.
-But they were routed by the men of Ai who
killed about 36 and chased them back down
the slopes.
-So the hearts of the Israelites melted.
-Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down
before the Ark of the Lord 'til evening.
-The elders of Israel did likewise and
sprinkled dust on their heads.
-Joshua said -
-Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring
this people across the Jordan to destroy
us?
-If only we had been content to stay on the
other side.
-What can I say now that enemies have
routed us?
-Word will spread, we'll be surrounded and
wiped out.
-What then will you do for your own great
name?
The Lord said to Joshua
-Stand up.
-What are you doing down on your face?
-Israel has sinned - violated my covenant.
-They've taken devoted things, stolen and
lied.
-That's why they are defeated.
-I won't be with you any more unless you
destroy whatever among you is devoted to
destruction.
-Consecrate the people.
-Present yourselves (before me) in the morning
and I will indicate responsibility by:
-The tribe.
-The clan.
-The family.
-The man.
-And the man caught with the devoted things
shall be destroyed by fire with all his
belongings. He has violated the covenant and
done a disgraceful thing by Israel.
Early next morning Joshua had Israel come
forward by tribes-
-Of the tribes, Judah was taken.
-Of Judah, the Zerahite clan was taken.
-Of the Zerahite clan, the family of Zimri was
taken.
-Of the family of Zimri, Achan was taken.
Joshua told Achan to give glory and praise to
the God of Israel and tell Him what you've done.
Achan confessed to sinning against the Lord by
taking and burying under his tent a beautiful
Babylonian robe, 2.3 kilograms of silver and 4.6
kilograms of gold.
Joshua sent, found this to be true and the loot
was spread before Joshua, all Israel and the
Lord. Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, his
family and possessions to a valley, stoned him
and his family to death and burnt everything.
Then they heaped stones over Achan.
Then the Lord turned from His fierce anger.
(Chapter 7)
The Lord told Joshua not to fear or be
discouraged, to set an ambush behind the city
and to attack Ai with the whole army, for:
-I have delivered it into your hands.
-You'll do to Ai as you did to Jericho except
you can keep plunder and livestock for
yourselves.
So Joshua and the whole army moved to attack Ai
thus:
-30,000 best fighting men were sent at night
to:
-Set an ambush close behind the city, staying
alert.
-I and those with me will advance on the city
and
-When the men of Ai come out, we will flee
as before.
-We will let them pursue us until they are
lured away from the city.
-Then you attack the city from ambush. The
Lord your God will give it into your hand.
-Then set it on fire.
Early the next morning they put the plan into
effect. After luring the men of Ai out of the
city, the Lord told Joshua to hold out toward Ai
the javelin in your hand for I'll deliver the
city to you. As soon as he did this the men in
ambush captured and burned the city. The men of
Ai looked back, saw the smoke, but couldn't
escape,for now Joshua and his men turned back on
them. Caught between Joshua and the men
returning from the ambush, not one survived
except the king of Ai. Then they returned to Ai
and killed everyone in it.
Israel took plunder and livestock as the Lord
had instructed Joshua. They burned Ai and hung
the king on a tree 'til evening.
Joshua built on Mt Ebal an altar to the Lord God
of Israel, as Moses commanded. Made of uncut
stones,no iron tool was used. There they offered
burnt and fellowship offerings. In the presence
of the Israelites Joshua copied on stones the
law of Moses.
All Israel stood on both sides of the Ark,
facing those who carried it. Half stood in front
to Mt Gerizim and half in front of Mt Ebal as
Moses had instructed.
Afterwards Joshua read all the words of the law
- the blessings and curses. Every word was read
to the whole assembly of Israel as Moses had
commanded.
(Chapter 8)
Hearing of Israel's victories, all the kings
west of the Jordan decided to combine forces and
attack.
But the people of nearby Gibeon tricked Israel
by coming to them pretending to be from a far
country. They said they'd heard of the fame of
the Lord your God and asked for a treaty.
So WITHOUT ENQUIRING OF THE LORD Joshua made a
treaty of peace. Three days later the Israelites
found they'd been tricked. They came to their
cities but did not attack them because they had
sworn an oath to them by the Lord the God of
Israel.
The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders
but they said:
-We can't go back on our oath.
-We'll let them live but only as woodcutters
and water carriers for Israel.
So Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and told them
that because of their deception they were under
a curse of being woodcutters and water carriers
for the house of my God and the community.
They told Joshua they deceived him because they
feared for their lives, having heard how the
Lord your God commanded Moses to give you the
whole land and wipe out its inhabitants.
(Chapter 9)
The king of Jerusalem became alarmed so he
joined forces with 4 Amorite kings from Hebron,
Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon and attacked Gibeon.
The Gibeonites called for help. Joshua and his
army marched up hill all night.
The Lord said to Joshua, Don't fear, not one
will withstand you. After the all night march
Joshua took them by surprise. The Lord threw
them into confusion before Israel who defeated
them with a great victory at Gibeon. As they
fled, the Lord hurled large hailstones from the
sky and more died from the hailstones than were
killed by the swords of the Israelites.
That day Joshua said to the Lord in the presence
of Israel, Sun and moon stand still 'til the
nation is avenged on its enemies. And they did.
There has never been a day like it before or
since when the Lord listened to a man. Surely
the Lord was fighting for Israel. Then Joshua
and all Israel returned to Gilgal.
The 5 kings were found hiding in a cave. Joshua
summoned all the men of Israel and said to the
army commanders, Put your feet on their necks.
They did. Joshua said DON'T FEAR, DON'T BE
DISCOURAGED, BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS. THIS IS
WHAT THE LORD WILL DO TO ALL OUR ENEMIES. Then
Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them
on 5 trees 'til sunset. Then they were thrown
back in their cave and it was sealed.
Then Joshua moved on defeated and completely
destroyed, as he had done to Jericho, these
cities of the southern uplands:
-Libnah
-Lachish, at the same time defeating the king
of Gezer.
-Eglon
-Hebron
-Debir.
So Joshua subdued the whole southern region from
Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, from Goshen to Gibeon.
(Chapter 10)
This alarmed the northern kings who joined
forces forming a huge army with horses and
chariots to fight Israel.
The Lord said to Joshua, Don't fear, by this
time to-morrow I'll hand them all over to you.
So Joshua attacked suddenly, defeated and
pursued them. He hamstrung their horses and
burned their chariots as the Lord had
instructed. All the royal cities were taken. All
built on mounds (except Hazor) were spared, and
the rest burned. They kept the plunder and
livestock. All the people were killed.
As the Lord commanded Moses, so He commanded
Joshua and Joshua did exactly what the Lord
commanded. Joshua waged war for a long time. The
Lord hardened the hearts of the opposition so he
could destroy them totally as He had commanded
Moses. Except for some Anakites living about 40
miles south west of Jerusalem, Joshua took the
entire land. He gave it as an inheritance to
Israel according to their tribal divisions as
the Lord had directed Moses. Then the land had
rest from war.
(Chapter 11)
The names of the kings that were defeated and
their territories are listed in Chapter 12.
(Chapter 12)
When Joshua was old, the Lord said, You are very
old and there are still large areas of land to
be taken over, this land being a coastal strip
from about 40 miles north west of Jerusalem
running running south for about 100
miles and Lebanon about 100 miles north
of Jerusalem.
The Lord told Joshua that He (the Lord) would
drive out the mountain people from Lebanon. And
that this land was to be allocated to Israel for
an inheritance.
Details of land east of the Jordan given to the
half tribe of Manasseh, Reuben and Gad are
listed in Chapter 13. The tribe of Levi had no
inheritance because offerings by fire to the
Lord were their inheritance.
(Chapter 13)
The areas the 9 and a half Israelite tribes
received as an inheritance were allocated by lot
by Eleazar the priest,Joshua and tribal heads.It
was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses:
-Caleb reminded Joshua, how, 45 years earlier,
when he was 40, Moses sent him to spy out the
promised land. And how he returned and with
wholehearted trust in the Lord urged Israel
to attack and enter in. Even though enemy
soldiers were huge and their cities
"impregnable" fortresses. But the fear of his
fellow spies paralysed Israel and resulted in
them spending a further 40 years in the
desert. So because of his faith, Moses
promised him the land he had spied out.
Caleb said, Just as the Lord promised, He has
kept me alive and now I am 85 years old. And
still as strong and vigorous to go in to
battle as when I was 40. So give me this hill
country that the Lord promised me 40 years
ago. The soldiers are huge and their cities
"impregnable" fortresses but THE LORD HELPING
ME I WILL DRIVE THEM OUT JUST AS HE SAID.
Then Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron
as his inheritance because he followed the
Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.
(Chapter 14)
-Judah was allocated territory and towns as
detailed in Chapter 15.
From Hebron Caleb drove out some Anakites and
marched against the nearby town of Debir. For
his daughter's hand Othniel captured the
town.
But Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites
who were living in Jerusalem.
(Chapter 15)
-Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh were
allocated lands and cities as detailed in
Chapters 16 & 17. But they did not dislodge
all the Canaanites living in their area.
However the Canaanites living among the
people of Ephraim were required to do forced
labour.
The daughters of Zelophehad who had no sons
went to Eleazar, the priest, Joshua and the
elders. They said, The Lord commanded Moses
to give us an inheritance among our brothers.
Joshua did so according to the Lord's
command.
Ephraim and Manasseh complained to Joshua
that their territory was too small and their
opponents had iron chariots. He told them to
clear land in the forested hill country.
Also, though the Canaanites have iron
chariots and are strong, you can drive them
out.
(Chapter 17)
All Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the
Tent of Meeting there. They controlled the
country but 7 tribes had not yet received their
inheritance.
Joshua asked, How long will you wait until you
take possession of the land the Lord the God of
your fathers has given you? Appoint 3 men from
each tribe and I will send them out to survey
the land. Divide the land into 7 parts. Write
descriptions of each part, bring them to me and
I will cast lots for them in the presence of the
Lord our God.
So the men did as instructed, returned and
Joshua cast the lots at Shiloh in the presence
of the Lord.
Territory and towns were allotted as detailed in
Chapters 18 & 19 for:
-Benjamin
-Simeon. Their share was taken from Judah who
had more than needed.
-Zebulun
-Issachar
-Asher
-Napthali and
-Dan. They had difficulty taking their
territory so attacked and occupied Leshem.
Then the Israelites gave Joshua an inheritance
as the Lord had commanded. He got the town he
asked for, Timnath Serah, about 20 miles north
west of Jerusalem.
(Chapter 19)
Then the Lord told Joshua to designate cities of
refuge. Anyone accidentally killing another
could flee to them for protection 'til his
trial. Anyone fleeing there could:
-Stand at the city gate
-State his case before the elders who then
-Gave him a place to live
-Did not surrender him to his pursuer - the
avenger of blood
-Stay in the city until his trial and until
the death of the high priest serving at that
time.
-Then return to his home town.
So they set apart 5 towns strategically placed
for this purpose.
(Chapter 20)
At Shiloh Levitical family heads said to Eleazar
the priest, Joshua and tribal heads, The Lord
commanded through Moses that you give us towns
and pasturelands.
So as the Lord commanded, the Israelites gave
the Levites towns and pasturelands out of their
inheritance. This was done by lot. The first was
for the:
-Kohathites
They received 13 towns from Judah, Simeon and
Benjamin.
They received 10 towns from Ephraim, Dan and
the half tribe of Manasseh.
-Gershon
Were allotted 13 towns from Issachar, Asher,
Napthali and the half tribe of Manasseh.
-Merari
Were allotted 12 towns from Reuben, Gad and
Zebulun.
Among the towns allotted were the cities of
refuge. The Levites were allotted 48 towns with
their pasturelands in all.
So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had
shown to their forefathers and they possessed
and settled there. The Lord gave them complete
rest just as He had sworn to their forefathers.
Not one of their enemies withstood them.
NOT ONE OF ALL THE LORD'S GOOD PROMISES TO
ISRAEL FAILED. EVERY ONE WAS FULFILLED.
(Chapter 21)
Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites and
half tribe of Manasseh and said:
-You've done all Moses commanded.
-You've obeyed me completely.
-You've not deserted your brothers.
-You've carried out the Lord's mission.
-The Lord your God has given your brothers
rest as He promised.
-Return to your homes east of the Jordan.
-Be careful to keep the commandments and the
law of Moses to:
-LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD.
-WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS.
-OBEY HIS COMMANDS.
-HOLD FAST TO HIM.
-SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL.
Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away
saying, Return to your homes with great wealth
and divide with your brothers the plunder from
your enemies.
So they left the Israelites at Shiloh to return
home. At the Jordan they built an imposing
altar.
When Israel heard, they gathered at Shiloh to go
to war against them. They sent Phineas the
priest with a chief from each tribe. They asked
them:
-How could you break faith with the God of
Israel like this?
-How could you turn away from the Lord and
build an altar in rebellion against Him?
-Wasn't the sin of Peor enough for us? We
still aren't cleansed ourselves from it
even though a plague fell on us.
-Rebel against the Lord to-day and to-morrow
He will be angry with the whole community.
-If your land is defiled, leave it and come
and live with us where the Lord's tabernacle
stands.
But don't rebel against the Lord or against
us by building an altar other than the altar
of the Lord our God.
-When Achan acted unfaithfully regarding the
devoted things, wrath came on us all. He
wasn't the only one to die for his sin.
Then Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh
replied:
-The mighty one, God the Lord.
-The mighty one, God the Lord, He knows
-And let Israel know.
-If this is rebellion, or disobedience to the
Lord:
-Don't spare us to-day.
-May the Lord Himself call us to account.
-No, we did it in case your descendants might
say to ours you have no share in the Lord
and so cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.
-So we built the altar NOT for offerings or
sacrifices but as a witness between us:
-That we will worship the Lord at His
sanctuary with offerings and sacrifices.
-So your descendants won't be able to say
to ours we have no share in the Lord.
-No way would we rebel and turn from the Lord
by building an altar when the altar of the
Lord our God stands before His tabernacle.
When Phineas and the 10 chiefs heard this, they
were pleased. They said, We know the Lord is
with us because you have not acted unfaithfully
towards Him.
So they returned and reported to Israel.
Everyone praised God.
So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, A
witness between us that the Lord is God.
(Chapter 22)
A long time passed and the Lord had given Israel
rest. Joshua who was old, summoned Israel and
said:
-You've seen all the Lord has done to all
these nations for your sake.
-It was the Lord your God who fought for you.
-Remember how I have allotted an inheritance
for your tribes all the land of the
remaining nations.
-The Lord will drive them out of your way.
You'll possess the land as the Lord your God
promised.
-BE STRONG
-CAREFULLY OBEY ALL WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE
LAW.
-DON'T TURN ASIDE TO RIGHT OR LEFT.
-DON'T ASSOCIATE WITH NATIONS REMAINING
AMONG YOU.
-DON'T INVOKE THE NAMES OF THEIR GODS OR
SWEAR BY THEM.
-DON'T SERVE OR BOW DOWN TO THEM.
-HOLD FAST TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AS YOU HAVE
'TIL NOW.
-THE LORD HAS DRIVEN OUT GREAT AND POWERFUL
NATIONS.
-NO ONE HAS WITHSTOOD YOU.
-ONE OF YOU ROUTS 1000 BECAUSE THE LORD YOUR
GOD FIGHTS FOR YOU, JUST AS HE PROMISED.
-SO BE VERY CAREFUL TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD.
But if you turn away and ally yourselves with
the survivors of these nations remaining among
you, inter marry and associate with them, you
may be sure:
-The Lord will no longer drive them out.
-They will become:
-Snares and traps for you.
-Whips on your backs.
-Thorns in your eyes.
-Until you perish from this good land, the
Lord your God has given you.
I am about to go the way of all the earth.
-You know with all your heart and soul that:
-Not one good promise of the Lord your God
has failed.
-Every promise has been fulfilled.
-But the reverse also applies:
-The Lord will bring on you all the evil He
has threatened until you quickly perish
from this good land He has given you if
you:
Violate the covenant of the Lord your
God which He commanded you.
Go, serve and bow down to other gods.
(Chapter 23)
Joshua assembled all the tribes at Shechem, the
elders, leaders, judges and officials. They
presented themselves before God. He said, This
is what the Lord, the God of Israel says:
Abraham's forefathers lived beyond the river
and worshipped other gods.
But I took Abraham, led him through Canaan
and gave him many descendants including
Isaac.
-To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau
-I gave the hill country of Seir to Esau.
-But Jacob and his sons went to Egypt.
-Then I sent Moses and Aaron and brought you
out of Egypt.
-You came to the sea.
-The Egyptians pursued.
-You cried for help.
-I put darkness between you and the
Egyptians.
-I drowned them in the sea.
-You saw this with your own eyes.
-You lived in the desert a long time.
-I brought you east of the Jordan.
-The Amorites fought you but I gave them
into your hands. You possessed their
land.
-Balak prepared to fight you and asked
Balaam to curse you.
-But I wouldn't listen to him, so he
blessed you and I delivered you out of
his hand.
-You crossed the Jordan and I gave Jericho
and all the nations into your hands.
YOU DID NOT DO IT WITH YOUR OWN SWORD AND
BOW.
-I gave you a land on which you did not toil
and cities you did not build. You live in
them and eat from vineyards and olive
groves you did not plant.
-NOW FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM WITH ALL
FAITHFULNESS.
-Throw away the gods your forefathers
worshipped beyond the river in Egypt AND
SERVE THE LORD.
-Joshua said:
-Choose to-day whom you will serve:
-The Lord your God - or -
-The gods of your forefathers beyond the
river or the gods of the Amorites in
this land.
-BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD, WE WILL
SERVE THE LORD.
-The people answered:
-We won't forsake the Lord to serve other
gods.
-The Lord our God brought us out of Egypt
and slavery.
-He performed those great signs before our
eyes.
-He protected us the entire journey to
here.
-He drove out before us all the nations of
this land.
-WE TOO WILL SERVE THE LORD BECAUSE HE IS
OUR GOD.
-Joshua said:
-You can't serve the Lord:
-He is holy.
-He is jealous.
-He won't forgive your rebellion and
sins.
-If you forsake Him and serve foreign gods
He will bring disaster on you after He
has been good to you.
-But the people said, No we will serve the
Lord.
-Joshua said:
-You are witnesses against yourselves that
you have chosen to serve the Lord.
-The people said, We are witnesses.
-Joshua said, Destroy foreign gods and yield
your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.
-The people said:
WE WILL SERVE THE LORD OUR GOD AND OBEY
HIM.
-Joshua made a covenant for the people that
day at Shechem. He drew up decrees and
laws.
-He recorded these things in the book of the
law of God.
-He took a large stone and put it under the
oak near the holy place of the Lord.
-He said, This stone has heard all the words
the Lord has said to us. It will be a
witness against you if you are untrue to
your God.
Then Joshua sent the people away each to his own
inheritance.
He then died aged 110. He was buried in the land
of his inheritance.
Israel served the Lord during Joshua's lifetime
and the elders who outlived him who had
EXPERIENCED all the Lord had done for Israel.
Joseph's bones, brought from Egypt, were buried
in the tract of land Jacob bought for a hundred
pieces of silver. It became the inheritance of
Joseph's descendants.
Eleazar, Aaron's son died and was buried at
Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son
Phineas.
(Chapter 24)
HERE ARE SOME MAIN POINTS FROM JOSHUA.
1. When you die what will the Lord say to you?
Well done good and faithful servant?
2. Have you turned from your sins, trusted Jesus
Christ for forgiveness and believed He will
live His life through you? If so, the Lord's
words to Joshua are for you too:
Be strong, not fearful.
Be courageous, not discouraged.
I'll never leave or forsake you.
3. Believe and act on God's promises. He always
keeps them (Chapters 1 and 20).
4. To have the best possible life, the one God
wants for you involves knowing and obeying
Him. You know Him by listening to Him. Listen
by abosorbing every word of His in His book,
the Bible. But absorbing is not acquiring
intellectual head knowledge (those who
crucified Jesus had that). It is the quiet,
prayerful, soaking up of not only God's
written words but the spirit, the love, the
intention behind them. For example, the 10
Commandments. You could read the words as
being harsh,dictatorial, and restricting your
"rights" to personal freedom. The letter of
the law may appear thus to an uninformed
person. But the spirit of the law is that of
a perfect loving father, guiding a small
child safely through a minefield. Because
God's law is never broken. The lawbreaker
breaks it and himself.
So having the life God wants you to have
involves absorbing His word as above. And
confessing all sin immediately so you can be
sensitive to the (often still small) voice of
God the Holy Spirit. It involves sensitivity
and obedience to God's word and Spirit.
Thus God's word to Joshua is relevant to
you:
-Keep the law in your mouth.
-Meditate on it day and night.
-Carefully obey it not turning to the
left or right of it and you'll be
successful wherever you go.
5. When you agree with the Lord on a course of
action diligently follow through to its
completion.
(Chapter 1)
6. "Impregnable" fortresses will block your
advance along the road God wants you to take
for your life. It makes sense to spy out the
devil's defences. Impressive at a distance,
but close inspection will reveal a
fabrication of lies and deceptions.
(Chapter 2)
7. Have faith to look beyond the immediate
problem to your heavenly Father who has
solved it. Act on that faith by moving ahead
on the basis the problem is solved.
Example: The river was "a mile wide" and in
flood. God wanted them on the other side. So
Joshua told everyone to line up and march.
"For to-morrow the Lord will do amazing
things among you." How did he KNOW that? How
could he be so SURE? Because this was ONLY
a river. He had seen the RED SEA open up!
And then 40 years of miracles. He was
walking in step, in harmony, with God. And
it was only then, after Joshua had committed
himself and the nation to an "impossible"
task that the Lord told him how to do it.
Joshua's faith moved a notch higher. So did
the people's faith. Note Joshua's important
words. "Listen to the Lord's words so you'll
KNOW the LIVING GOD is among you to drive
out your enemies."
8. Get up early each morning. Spend time then
with God. Get under way for Him early.
Joshua did. It feels good to have half a
day's work done by 9 a.m. And it's a great
time to take enemies by surprise. (See
Chapter 10 - an all night march, an early
morning victory).
(Chapter 3)
9. Make sure that the outcome of such miracles
is that you always have reverent time for
the Lord your God. (And not just
thankfulness for a problem solved). And also
that "all the earth might know that the hand
of the Lord is powerful."
(Chapter 4)
10. As a Christian (see 3) you confess and are
cleansed from sin daily. Then you walk
through the day with your hand in God's, (a
SMALL child a BIG daddy). He is invincible
therefore so are you. His/your enemies are
powerless. The Commander of the Lord's army
is with you.
(Chapter 5)
11. When your way is blocked by an "impregnable"
fortress and the Lord tells you to remove it
by doing something ridiculous, obey Him in
every detail. Make the most of it. The next
one might be tougher.
(Chapter 6)
12. When you obey God, do something ridiculous
and a fortress blocking your way falls,
don't become self confident. Get and obey
His battle plan before you start attacking
the next fortress.
13. If you suffer a defeat it will be you, not
your God who has fouled up. So ask Him to
show you what sin has caused the problem and
act to fix it. God gets angry when you sin.
It is serious. NEVER make excuses for
yourself. NEVER try to rationalise it away.
There are always plenty of rational, logical
reasons for sin but none that will ever
impress a God who had to die as a criminal
in a backwater of the Roman Empire one
Friday to save you from sin's death penalty.
14. Ask God to keep you stable and level headed
about your relationship with Him both in
success and adversity. You'd hardly believe
it was the same Joshua who crossed the
Jordan and flattened Jericho, who then said
"Our enemies will surround and wipe us out."
(Chapter 7)
15. When you walk hand in hand with God (no sin
breaking your grip) every day, every
challenge, is unique. Never rely on your
past experience. Get and act ONLY on your
Father's daily instructions. Ai was a small
town. But look at the massive forces, and
God's complex strategy to capture it.
Trumpets to crush "impregnable" Jericho. The
whole army to crush "small weak" Ai. Big
trouble unless you attack according to God's
plans.
(Chapter 8)
16. Irrespective of your past victories and your
close relationship with your heavenly Father
the devil will, every day, try to foul you
up. And he will if you take a SINGLE STEP
without your hand in God's. If you move
without asking Him first, WATCH OUT! There
never was a smarter con man than Satan.
(Just look at Genesis Chapter 3). NEVER,
EVER make a "treaty of peace" with the
enemy. Remember the prime minister of
Britain, Neville Chamberlain, stepping from
his plane at London airport before the
second world war, having his pathetic paper
signed by Hitler and declaring "peace in our
time." That "peace" cost 60,000,000 lives!
(Chapter 9)
17. As you move ahead on the above basis,
Joshua's words echo down the centuries and
apply to you, Don't fear, don't be
discouraged, be strong and courageous. This
is what the Lord will do to all your
enemies. (As you stand with your foot on
their necks).
18. Be aware that ALL God's enemies (every
unrepentant sinner) will suffer the fate of
the 5 kings of Chapter 10. This should
motivate you to obey the command of Jesus
Christ to "Go into all the world and preach
the gospel." A person can only be saved by
God's grace and through faith in Jesus
Christ.
(Chapter 10)
19. Move ahead with this strategy:
(a) Get God's instructions.
(b) Attack.
Always be on the offensive against Satan.
It's the best defence. Destroy him
completely, no compromises, no peace
treaties.
(Chapter 11)
20. After a victory, secure the territory
gained. Consolidate and don't leave the
devil with any foothold.
(Chapters 13, 18 & 23)
21. Don't let age stop you from achieving the
goals God has for you. Huge soldiers and
impregnable fortresses held no fear for
Caleb when he was 40. Nor when he was 85.
(Chapter 14)
22. Make a wholehearted commitment to:
Love the Lord your God.
Walk in all His ways.
Obey His commands.
Hold fast to Him.
Serve Him with all your heart and soul.
23. Avoid misunderstandings with other believers
by:
(a) Keeping them informed of your actions.
(b) If they appear to be out of line, ask
them to explain first before you
launch into your complaints.
24. Sin by even one person among an assembly of
believers affects every one. It must be
identified and dealt with.
(Chapters 22 & 7)
25. Never forget that every victory is because
the Lord your God fought for you. Any
territory gained is because the Lord keeps
His promises.
26. Having arrived where God wants you to be,
your continued enjoyment of it is
conditional on your continued obedience to
God's word and law. If you sin and disobey,
sooner or later back to the desert you'll
go.
(Chapter 23)
27. Remember that all you have as God's person
is because of His undeserved love and
favour. None of it is the result of, or
reward for, your own effort. Therefore fear
the Lord and serve Him with all
faithfulness.
28. A real first hand experience of God in the
history of your life is essential for
yourself and others. God is not a theory to
be discussed but a Person to be known.
(Chapter 24)
|
