joshua

Joshua was chosen and commissioned to lead the people of Israel across the River Jordan and on into the land which was to become their national home. He did not come to the position unprepared. The Lord chose him for this purpose well before the death of Moses. His preparation for the task of leadership was spread over many years.

For 40 years or more, Joshua had been closely associated with Moses. As part of the leadership team serving under Moses, Joshua learned much that equipped him to take on the leadership of the nation. One of the first was ...

One of Joshua’s earliest experiences in leadership was when he was given the task of leading the Israeli armed forces to defend his people against an attack by the Amalekites at Rephidim. While the army fought, Moses prayed. While he held his hands up in an attitude of prayer, the Israeli forces prevailed. But when his arms sagged in tiredness the Amalekites took the upper hand in the battle. When Aaron and Hur joined Moses in prayer and held up his hands and kept them steady the people of Israel won the victory. The lesson was not lost on Joshua.

It is not clear if Joshua went all the way to the top of Mount Sinai with Moses. It would seem however, that he accompanied him at least part of the way. As Moses received the law from God, the glory of the Lord covered the top of the mountain. This would have been an awesome sight for Joshua and the people below.

The holiness of the God of Israel set him apart from the gods of the surrounding nations. The sinful practices associated with their worship was to have no part in the worship of Jehovah. He alone is awesome in his holiness. Many older churches have the words of Psalm 29:2 (KJV) scrolled on the front wall of the church. “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” His experience at Mt Sinai would have made real to him the song of praise written earlier by Moses.

           “Who else among the gods is like you O Lord?
            Who is glorious in holiness like you—
               so awesome in splendour,
              performing such wonders?

Alfred Edersheim[1] writes, “As we try to realise the scene presented at the giving of the law, we can well understand how ‘everyone in the camp trembled’ (Exodus 19:16). The vast plain of Er Rahah, and all the neighbouring valleys and glens, were dotted with the tents of Israel. No more suitable camping ground could have been found than this, the best watered neighbourhood in the whole peninsular, where running streams are found in no less than four of the adjacent valleys. The plain itself is nearly 5000 feet above the level of the sea. Right in front, cut off by intervening valleys from all around, rises the Horeb group (its highest point 7363 feet), and from it projects into the valley, like some gigantic altar or pulpit, the lower bluff of Ras Sufsafeh (6380 feet) - the nether part of the Mount - that Sinai from which the voice of the living God was heard.”

Moses set aside a special place where he went to worship the Lord. It was here that he received guidance and strength. It was where he sensed the presence of the Lord in a very personal way (v. 14). And as Moses went to this tent to worship the people worshipped in their homes (v. 10). Worship is something that comes from within a person. It is not something which can be whipped up from a source outside of ourselves. Paul’s letters to the churches in Ephesus and Colosse reveal that he understood this well. His references to the Holy Spirit and the words of Christ in the separate letters suggests a connection between the filling of the Holy Spirit and the hiding of God’s word in our hearts.[2] To the Ephesians Paul wrote, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you. Then you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, making music to the Lord in your hearts. And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20). And to the Colossians, “Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.” (Colossians 3:16).

Joshua may often have wondered what God’s purpose was in having him serve under Moses. He was being prepared to take over the leadership was Moses. As he witnessed at close hand the struggles and victories which Moses experienced he learned much that would be helpful to him when the time came for him to lead the nation himself.

For Joshua, not only was there the preparation which equipped him well for the task, but there were also ...

David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge, once said, “Every man God has ever used has anchored his soul and vision on great promises made personal and confirmed to his own soul by the Holy Spirit.”

Joshua was a person whose vision was anchored like that to God’s promises. While he agreed with Caleb that they could take possession of the land (Numbers 14:6-9), he did not under-estimate the difficulties. He may have felt discouraged at times as he thought about the problems associated with going forward. He may even have wondered sometimes if the ten who said it couldn’t be done were perhaps right after all. But the promises the Lord made to him enabled him to go forward and take the land. The promises made to Joshua have become personal and a source of encouragement to many Christians.

Charles Studd for example, was one who went forward on the basis of the promises made to Joshua. A graduate of Cambridge University and an English test cricketer, he served as a missionary in China and India for many years. And then at 50 years of age he was challenged by the needs of Africa. Norman Grubb[3] writes, “But how set about it? He had no money. At fifty years of age, after 15 years of ill health, how could he face tropical Africa?” In reading about the life of Joshua he came to the promise, “I will give you every place where you set your foot” (Joshua 1:3). He felt that the promise was for him also as he faced the challenges of Africa and with good humour responded that he was glad he took a large size in footwear!

As the scouts had earlier reported, it was indeed ‘a rich land flowing with milk and honey’ (Numbers 14:8). The clusters of grapes were large. It took two of the scouts to carry one cluster of grapes and some samples of the fruit. The soil was fertile. It was to become their national home as had already been promised to Abraham many years before. It was an inheritance to be enjoyed, a place where they could be secure, and from where they would be a blessing to the nations of the world (Genesis 12:1-9).

There is also an inheritance for us to enjoy. David wrote, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you for ever.” (Psalm 16:11). There are bubbling springs of crystal clear water to refresh us (John 7:37-39), ‘food that endures to eternal life’ for us to enjoy (John 6:27 NIV). There is an exciting journey of discovery to be travelled through the Scriptures. There is the place of rest referred to by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 3:7 - 4:16).

Even after much of the land had been possessed by the people of Israel, they were reminded that ‘there are still very large areas of land to be taken over’ (Joshua 13:1 NIV). For us also, there is still much to be discovered and enjoyed in our Christian experience.

[1] Edersheim, Alfred. BIBLE HISTORY OLD TESTAMENT. Massachusetts: Hendrickson. 1995. p. 203.
[2] Refer to the psalmist’s experience, Psalm 119:11.
[3] Grubb, Norman. C. T. STUDD - CRICKETER AND PIONEER. Guildford: Lutterworth Press. 1982. p. 119.