Introduction to Joshua

Transitions in leadership can be very dangerous times for nations, churches, businesses and families.  It is hard for us to adapt to a new leader and it is hard for a new leader to replace a dynamic and powerful former leader.  Joshua starts out with a very clear message of transition in leadership.  God makes it clear to Joshua that Moses is not coming back and that he is the man who has been chosen to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land.  However, God also makes it very clear that Joshua will not be alone in the task of leading His people.  As believers, the realization that God is our supreme Leader should make transitions of leadership much easier for both leaders and followers.  The Lord is in charge of the leadership changes that happen on every level of our lives so we must learn to trust Him through this process.  Joshua demonstrates his competence as a leader and God uses him to fulfill promises that He had made to Abraham many generations ago.  The book of Joshua is about how God finally brought the nation of Israel into the Promised Land to which He had called Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Four hundred years of slavery in Egypt and forty years of wandering in the desert culminate in Israel taking possession of the Promised Land.   

DEFEATING THE PROMISED LAND: The task that Joshua was called to accomplish was not an easy one.  The land of Cannon was inhabited by many strong nations who lived in fortified cities and had well equipped and experienced armies.  However, when God decides to do something; it really does not matter how great the obstacles might be.  The first step in defeating these nations was to prepare the people for this task by consecrating them to the Lord.  God commanded them to be circumcised as this had been neglected as they were wandering in the desert.  The people confessed their sins and made sacrifices of atonement as they set themselves apart for the task ahead.  If we expect to be used of God; we must first deal with our own sinfulness.  We are instruments in His hands and He likes to use clean instruments.  God makes it very clear that this will be no ordinary war.  Their entrance into the land is made through the parted waters of the Jordan River during flood stage.  The mighty city of Jericho falls, literally, in response to the people simply marching around the wall, blowing a trumpet and on the final day shouting.  However, when one man kept for himself gold and clothing that were supposed to be destroyed or dedicated to the Lord; the army of Israel had to run for their lives from a much smaller foe.  The army of Israel learned to live in the fear of the Lord which is why one thousand men would be defeated by one of Israel’s soldiers.  Defeating the Promised Land was a graphic demonstration of the power of God at work through the lives of His people.

DIVIDING THE PROMISED LAND: The nation of Israel was divided into twelve tribes.  Each of the tribes was to be given a portion of land according to God’s determination and the size of the people.  For the most part, the former inhabitants had been defeated by the entire nation.  However, as the land was divided, each of the individual tribes were expected to finish the task of removing the existing nations from their midst.  Each tribe was designated to a very distinct and specific territory that was described in great detail.  Two of the tribes plus half of another tribe were given land on the other side of the Jordan.  Judah and Benjamin were given specific territories based on the promise of God made to Caleb who, along with Joshua, had encouraged the people to trust God in conquering the Land forty five years earlier.  Joshua and Caleb are at least twenty years older than everyone else in the nation; but Caleb attests to the fact that he is as strong and as healthy at 85 as he had been at 40.  The other seven tribes were given the task of mapping out the land and making seven distinct territories and then they were assigned to a specific place by casting lots.  This process is a clear illustration of the responsibility of man being coupled with the sovereignty of God.  These divisions are made very clearly and every attempt is made to be fair to each tribe as well as to make allowances for special circumstances within the individual families of each tribe.  God is a God of detail and order but He is also clearly flexible and accommodating to unique situations.  He allows the people to make divisions but then His sovereign will designates who will live where.  Dividing the Promised Land is a clear illustration of the balance between man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty.

DEVOTING THE PROMISED LAND: The Lord had given victory to the nation and each tribe had been given its inheritance.  God had given Joshua and the nation a mission.  Joshua’s mission was accomplished.  The people were in the land, the land had been divided and the former nations had been subdued.  There was still work to be done, but victory was in the grasp of every tribe. Joshua is now well advanced in years so he calls the people together and, like Moses, reminds the people of the covenant God had made with them and their promise to obey and follow that covenant.  He challenges them to be faithful to the Lord, finish the task of removing the remaining nations and obey the Law of God as they had promised to do.  Joshua reminds them of the blessings of obedience as well as the consequences of rebellion and urges the people to choose the path of submission to the Lord and His Word.  It is a testament to Joshua’s leadership that the people followed the Lord as long as he was their leader and as long as the generation that knew Joshua was leading.  The true quality of a leader is revealed in the faithfulness of the following generation.  Joshua called the people to be consecrated to the Lord and they all promised to follow the trail that Joshua had blazed.  God continues to look for leaders like Joshua who will serve the Lord faithfully, trust the Lord fully and impact their generation and the ones the follow by pointing them to God.  Devoting the Promised Land is a lasting motivation for all of to live in submission to the will of God.