Joshua 1

Joshua 1

God does not hesitate with Joshua. From the start of this book, God begins preparations to get His children across the Jordan River and into the Promised Land. Now the end of Deuteronomy said that Israel went through their 30 days of mourning in Moab, so it was at least 30 days separating the end of Deuteronomy and the beginning of Joshua. It was probably not much longer after this, however, that God spoke to Joshua about Israel’s next set of instructions.

As He had told Moses (and the rest of Israel’s ancestors) on many occasions, God explained to Joshua where the Promised Land was. He told Joshua about the boundaries and how He would give them all the land that they stepped foot on. God was preparing Joshua for a major task, and so He also reminded Joshua of His presence. One of the major themes of the book of Joshua is trusting God, not being fearful or cowardly. God had previously told Joshua to be strong and courageous, back when he was being commissioned as the next leader of Israel. Now Moses is dead, and Joshua does not have that extra support from a man he looked up to. Yes, God should always be enough for us, but Joshua probably felt more alone than ever without Moses’ leadership in his life. God reassured him that he would be fine if he trusted in God and followed all His commands. The Law was Israel’s authority, and if Joshua expected the Israelites to follow it, then he had to make sure he was living according to the Law first.

After meeting with God and getting his first set of instructions, Joshua did not hesitate to start setting things in motion. He immediately went to the officers of Israel and asked them to get everyone ready to leave. He told them that they would be crossing the Jordan River in three days. 9 ½ of the tribes had to get all of their possessions together so that they would have all that they needed in their new home. They were just one final leg away from the end of their journey. The other 2 ½ tribes had already made it to their portion of the Promised Land on the eastern side of the Jordan River. However, they acquired that land on a condition. God agreed to give them the land as long as they helped their brothers acquire their land as well. Israel had fought hard to gain these 2 ½ tribes the land they owned, and so they were expected to return the favor. Joshua made sure that all that had been commanded under Moses’ leadership was fulfilled. So the women and children of these 2 ½ tribes remained in their homes as their men packed up with the rest of Israel.

This being Joshua’s first set of instructions to the nation of Israel, he probably wondered how they would respond to his leadership. It is hard to be the one who follows such a great leader. Moses’ had set such a high bar for leadership. Although he had messed up just like everyone else, he had been well respected by all of Israel, and God had used in mighty ways. Joshua was probably wondering if he could live up to Moses’ leadership. Yet Israel responded in a positive manner. They told Joshua that they respected his role of leadership and that they would follow him just as they had followed Moses. They trusted that God had put him in that position, and they knew that they had to follow his commands, because God was speaking through him. They were even bold enough to say that if any of them did not listen, they should be put to death. In the opening chapter of Joshua, we see a united nation, a nation ready to follow God, follow Joshua, and conquer the land. Instead of crumbling after the death of a great leader, Israel was strengthened and ready to follow God into their next journey.

Matt