Finally Israel was ready to make its crossing, the occupy the land of promise and to dispossess the wicked Canaanites. Cometh the moment, cometh the man, and Joshua was that man.
The book is divided into two around
chapter 13, with the first half being about the conquest and occupation of
Canaan and the balance being about the allotment of land to the tribes.
It seems from writing
styles and context, that a number of writers contributed to the book, with the last
contribution coming during the reign of Josiah.
It is an important
book and provides a great introduction to the occupation period of early
Israel.
In Hebrew it is called
Yehoshua, the name that Moses gave to his understudy, when he translated “Hoshea”,
meaning “Salvation” to Yehoshua or “God our salvation”. That was the same
Hebrew name given to Jesus, alternatively Jeshua.
Preparations for crossing (Chapter 1)
Right from the outset,
Joshua showed a matter-of-fact-business-like-approach that contrasted the more
organic, relational style of Moses. He deigned to speak of the death of Moses,
a task that most naturally fell to him.
Why, I don’t know,
perhaps he felt he could not do his life justice, or because he was grieving or
maybe because God urged to take the next step as suggested in chapter 1:2,
where God said, “Moses my servant is dead: therefore arise, go.”
I have to say that I
do not see God as sentimental. Moses was just a man, a great man, but no more
than a man. Life had to go on.
There was a bigger picture and God was anxious
to get to that. Besides Israel had waited more than long enough.
Twice Joshua repeated
the last call to action given by Moses: “be strong and of good courage”. His
leadership style emerged clearly. He was a man of action. Not patient.
He had a
job to do and a duty to execute and knew that the people needed to see strength
in him.
He gave them that and
urged them to follow. Moses could not do what Joshua had to do.
In the spirit
of Hershey and Blanchard’s situational leadership, a different situation
demanded a different leadership style and God ensured it was so.
He quickly set about organizing
their last great stride by sending officers into the camps to diligently
prepare everyone for what lay ahead.
He set a three-day deadline, enough time
to get the message through and for everyone to prepare their households.
He also instructed the cattle-herding Reuben, Gad and Manasseh to leave their families to get on with settling down along
the east bank of the Jordan.
The men enjoined the occupation struggle, as they
had solemnly promised to Moses.
They were very willing
it should be so and swore to stand with their brethren until they too were safely settled in the land. It would take
many months before they could return to their families and start settling down,
but that was the deal.
Spying out the land (Chapter 2)
The three days allowed
for preparations included the work of the two spies for that was the time it
took to get to Jericho, escape their pursuers and get back.
Thus, they only really
penetrated the epidermis of Canaan, going as far as Jericho, a few miles across
the river.
That also reflected
Joshua’s style. He was a shorter term thinker, concerned with immediate conquests,
unlike Moses who saw far ahead.
Well, God needed a man
for the moment, not a dreamer or visionary. He needed a bold, courageous general,
not a statesman.
Rahab the Jerichoan harlot of
Jericho, gave them shelter.
Her intent went beyond the normal role of a harlot.
Her faith saw the coming threat of Israel and she knew enough to know that God was
with them and would overthrow all before them.
Such was her faith,
that she is named in the lineage of Jesus. God deemed her actions righteous, for much the same reason as Abraham's actions were so deemed.
Clearly she was not a Jew, but she married a Jew, from Judah (it had to be so, for Jesus was the Lion of Judah) and great things came
from that. It’s a wonderful story.
Well, the spies saw
what they needed to see and swore to protect her and anyone inside her home. The sign was poignant - a scarlet thread.
It echoed the deliverance from Egypt, but more importantly it echoed the separation of Jacob and Judah, the vital links in the Scarlet line of our Savior.
In
return for their promise of protection, she let them escape down the wall, through her window.
It did take three days
to get back to Joshua because they were pursued and hid out in the hills. But
they had seen enough. An appointment was set with Jericho.
The stage was set for one of the most dramatic biblical scenes.
(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com
