Studies in Johsua
JOSHUA: Captain of our Salvation
Joshua means "Yahweh is salvation," or "the LORD is salvation." Variant forms of his name include Jehoshua, and Yeshua. It is the Hebrew name of the Greek form of "Jesus." In Numbers 13:16 his name was changed from Oshua to Jehoshua (Numbers 13:8, 16). The Divine name was incorporated into his. We first encounter the man Joshua as a successful conqueror, not slaying innocent people, but in fighting the enemies of the LORD (Exodus 17:8ff). He is a victorious conquering hero.
Joshua was born in Egypt and became Moses' right hand man during the exodus and desert wanderings. He was Moses companion at Sinai (Exodus 24:13), and one of the twelve spies who went to spy out the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb had the faith and courage to advocate conquering the land (Numbers 14:6ff). They were the only adult males who left Egypt to enter Canaan 40 years later (Num. 14:30). Joshua assumed leadership after the death of Moses. He was 110 years old when he died.
The book of Deuteronomy (33:37 thru 36:13) records the farewell and death of Moses. The book of Joshua opens with the work of Moses complete. God has provided His people with a written revelation, a priesthood, a place to worship, a system of laws and a new leader to conquer the promised land. Joshua takes over the leadership of Israel. The Israelites were encamped in the Plain of Moab, waiting
on God's command to go over and take possession of Canaan. His responsibility is to conquer the land and settle the tribes in their appointed boundaries. The date of crossing over Jordan is about 1406 B.C. The conquered land was first known as Canaan, and then Palestine. Then to the descendents of Abraham it was known as the Promised Land.
The first historical book in our English Bible is named after its conquering hero. It is the first in the Former Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. It begins with the Lord's commission of Joshua (1:19) and concludes with his death and burial (24:29 thru 33).
Ancient Jewish tradition in the Talmud attributes the book to Joshua, the commander of the Conquest of the Promised Land. A few sections could not have been written by him (15:13ff; 24:29f). However, Eleazar or Phinehas could have added these verses. Joshua 24:1 thru 26 specifically identifies Joshua as author and eyewitness to these events. The accuracy of the stories of the conquest is sup-ported by archaeological findings. There is disagreement among the scholars as to the date of some sites. The material comes from a time reasonably close to the actual events (6:25). Clearly the author was an eyewitness to many of the events (5:1, 6). The book as we have it was completed after the death of Joshua.
The events of Joshua begin where the book of Deuteronomy concludes. "After the death of Moses" (1:1; cf. Deuteronomy 34:16). Joshua takes over the leadership of Israel. It covers about 45 to 50 years. The date of the Conquest was c. 1406 B. C. The initial conquest was about seven years and 25 for the division and allotment of the land. The time of writing is not long after the events described, c. 1400 B. C. Cf. Numbers 13:15; Exodus 17:9f; 24:13; Numbers 14:6f; 27:1823. Joshua died c. 1390 B.C.
The faithfulness of God in fulfilling under Joshua's leadership the promises He made to Moses to conquer and take possession of the Promised Land (1:24; 11:23; 21:45; 24:1416). God is faithful to the promises He has made to the people of His Covenant. What He has promised He will do! God is faithful to His promises!
JHVH will hold Israel true to her covenant with Him. Victory comes through faith in the LORD God and obedience to His Word.
KEY VERSES: Joshua 11:23; 21:45
There are no distinct messianic prophecies in this book, however Joshua is clearly a type of Christ. Just as Joshua was the great conqueror leading the chosen people into the Promised land of Canaan, Jesus his great successor is lead-ing His own into the Promised Land of Heaven. Joshua's name Yeshua is the equivalent of the name Jesus. Both names mean, "Yahweh is salvation." He foreshadows the coming One who will bring "many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). Our great conquering Hero leads us into our final rest.
Also, the scarlet thread which provided Rahab and her family safety (Joshua 2:1721), vividly portrays the safety that is the believers through the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:1922).
CANAAN
The land of Canaan was composed of individual city-states. Each of these cities had their own king. Therefore, to conquer the land meant to defeat each city one at a time since there was no central government in Canaan. Toward the end of the conquest we find some of the cities banding together against their common enemy (chapters 10, 11).
These city-states in Canaan were well laid out and advanced culturally and technically. There was extensive foreign trade with Mesopotamia, Egypt and Cyprus. Canaanite houses were of good design with floors paved or plastered. Most cities had developed drainage systems. There were artisans of gold, copper and lead. Some of the finest pottery has been escavated there.
It is also important to keep in mind that Canaan was only one of Israels enemies at that time. Ultimately, however, she was the worst. Only a few of the battles are recorded in Joshua. The emphasis is on Israel driving out the inhabitants of the land so she could conquer her inheri- tance. She had to conquer the pagan influences of the land.
The inhabitants were immoral, they offered child sacrifice while female priests were temple prostitutes, Sodomites were male temple prostitutes, etc. The Temples of Baal, Ashtoreth and other Canaanites were centers of vice. Baal was the principal god of the Canaanites, and his wife Ashtoreth was their goddess. She was the personification of the reproductive principle in nature. Her Babylonian name was Ishtar, Astarte her Greek name. What made Canaanite worship of Baal so appealing to Israel was it was held to be the god of the weather and fertile crops. The worship of these Canaanite gods consisted of estrava- gant orgies in their vice centered temples. Immoral indul- gence was a means of worship for the pagan Canaanites, and they murdered their firstborn children as a sacrifice to the same gods. One archaeological find revealed a number of jars containing the remains of children and new born babes who had been sacrificed to Baal.
However, JHVH is holy and His people must be holy. God warned Israel, and later executed punishment upon them by cruel nations. Israel was solemnly warned that if she turned to the sins of the people of the land she would be cast out of the land. That was precisely what happened. The dealings of God with Israel is more severe than His dealings with Canaanites. God will not make a truce with sin! Assyria and Babylon ultimately became the instruments of God in dealing with Israels sin. We know from Judges 2:11 thru 15 that many Canaanites were allowed to remain in the land and as a result Israel suffered from their in- fluence spiritually. What had to be destroyed were the pagan shrines and their cultic devices. Wherever the Canaanite religion was tolerated the Israelites quickly absorbed it. There is truth here we need to latch hold to and that is whatever we are willing to tolerate we will never change.
Why does God command Israel to exterminate the people who were living in the Promised Land? Cf. Deuteronomy 9:46; 12:30-32; Leviticus 18:21-30; Numbers 25:15, 16-18; Joshua 6:17-21; 8:21-29.
It is important to keep in mind the peculiar role of the nation of Israel and the exceeding wickedness of the land that had been promised to her. Israel was the redemptive nation, chosen by God and set aside for His holy purpose as a witness and testimony to all nations. She was to show the way of eternal redemption. How could she do so if she were not separated from the evil influence of the Canaanites? When Israel chose disobedience and sin she gave away the blessing! The inhabitants of Canaan had espoused a type of religion in which sexual promiscuity played a prominent part. They practiced sacred prostitution, human sacrifices and snake worship. The immoral practices were an abomination to God and would offend the moral senses of most modern men including non-Christians. Archaeologists tremble at the evidence of wickedness in Canaan. God has always punished sin wherever He has found it. God is perpetually at war with sin; even in Israel. Achan defied God's warning and by this one man's sin, he involved the whole nation in sin. He and his whole family were stoned for his sin. Possibly, the whole family was involved in the deception, and the hiding of the items was a matter of agreement among the members. It would appear that not only Achan himself but his whole family was involved in the deception and cover up which brought national disaster. The amount of contra- band hidden in the family tent was sufficiently large that scarcely any member of the family could have been unaware of its existence. There seems to be agreement among the members of the family. Because of the social implications, the nation could not allow the sin to go unpunished. In the time of Joshua, the family was considered to be a unit but it was also considered to be a part of the larger family which was becoming a nation. To allow a sin with social implications to go unpunished would be a moral disaster.
J. Rea writing in the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia writes:
God is one, and He does not change. He is the same in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He shows love and mercy to the heathen (e.g. to Nineveh, Jonah 4:11) as well as to Israel in the Old Testament; and he shows wrath and takes vengeance on the wicked and idolaters in the New Testament (on the money changers, John 2:14-16; Romans 2:19; Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:3-11; & Revelation 21:8). God is no respecter of persons. Equally severe judgment was inflicted upon false prophets and idolaters among the ranks of Israel (Exodus 32:25-29and 35); Deuteronomy 13:1-18). God warned His own chosen people of the consequences of disobedience, and later executed punishment upon them by the sword of cruel nations. He will do so again in the end of time when Jerusalem will be besieged and trodden upon yet once more (Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2; 13:5).
But why exterminate the Canaanites? Were they actually more wicked in Joshua's day than other idolatrous people on earth? The Aztecs and Mayas of Central America, for example, practiced human sacrifices. But in His inscru- table wisdom God selected Canaan, not another nation, as the land that he promised to Abraham. He considered it to be at the center (lit. "navel") of the earth (Ezekiel 38:12; cf. 5:5); hence it would exert an influence on the rest of the world throughout history out of all proportions to its size. Furthermore, the Canaanites were sinning against spiritual light. In the days of Melchizedek and Abraham they had a witness from the one true God, they saw divine judgment fall upon Sodom and its sister cities, and before the Conquest they quaked at His mention (Joshua 2:8-11) By 1400 B. C. the Canaanite civilization and religion had become one of the weakest, most decadent, and most immoral cultures of the civilized world. Many of its repulsive practices were prohibited to Israel in Leviticus 18.
Moreover, remember that in the midst of wrath Yahweh demonstrated mercy. Rahab and her family were spared, delivered from death "by grace through faith." She is even included in the lineage of the Messiah.
The horrible depravity and gross idolatry was a moral cancer that had to be removed at all costs. Israel acted as executioners of Divine wrath. Later the Assyrians would be the rod of God's anger to punish the Northern Kingdom of Israel (722 B.C.), and Babylon would be God's instrument to take the Southern Kingdom into exile (586 B. C.). In a similar way Israel was God's instrument of judgment on the Canaanite citystates.
There have always been those who doubted the accuracy of the Biblical account because of the miracles in the book. How do you explain the sun being delayed in its setting? Who made the sun, moon and stars, and the universe? If you believe God the creator made the universe then there should be no problem in believing that He could intervene in His universe to accomplish His plan of redemption. It is the existence of His redemptive nation in its campaign to conquer the Promised Land that is at stake. God will not allow his redemptive purpose to be defeated. It is interesting that all ancient peoples on various continents have a tradition about the longest day in history. Who is in control of the sun, moon and stars? If you can ration- alize away miracles you can rationalize away God and therefore you rationalize away your responsibility to Him.
The object of all the miracles was to reveal the power and grace of God. Israel did not deliver itself. The mighty arm of the LORD God delivered Israel. It was not by mili- tary conquest as much as it was God's free gift of Canaan. God provided the land. Can you imagine what must have gone on in the minds of the enemies when they discovered the God of Israel was no local deity? JHVH is the God of the universe. Whatever happened that day caused the Israelites to be greatly strengthened and their enemies to become frightened before them. It was an act of God. God had kept His promise to be with His people.
CONTENTS: The book easily divides into three parts (1) the Conquest which lasted about seven years (chapters 1-12), the (2) Settlement in the Land which took another 25 years (chapters 13-21) and (3) the Consecration of the People (chapters 22-24).
Joshua died at the age of 110 years, but his message lives on even in our day. The LORD God is a holy God and He demands that His people serve Him in holiness. Just as Israel was to be a priestly nation to reveal Gods truth we, too, must be a people separated to God to accomplish His holy purpose.
Some Abiding Principles found in the study of Joshua:
When God's people obey unconditionally the victory is certain. Victory depends upon obedience to God. Obedience is imperative. If we love Him we will obey Him. When
there is total dependence upon God victory is assured. The triumph of faith is stressed in Joshua as it portrays the entire nation marching unitedly to victory in total trust upon the LORD. The spiritual victory that God provides in Christ is beautifully pictured in this book. The crossing over Jordan and conquering the Promised Land is a beautiful illustration of the Christian's spiritual exper- ience of conflict, triumph and blessing in the heavenlies or spiritual realm (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; 6:12) through the mighty power of God (Eph. 1:19, 20, 20; 6:10). Compare the battle of Israel in entering and possessing Canaan with the Christian's battles on earth. The events of the Exodus and the Conquest are highly typical as seen in I Corinthians 10:1-11. For example, Joshua is the Captain who leads Israel into the Land, and Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10), who brings believers today into Promised Rest (Heb. 4:8, 9; Acts 20:32; 26:18). Joshua interceded for Israel when the nation sinned and was defeated (Joshua 7:6-15), so Jesus is our Advocate who intercedes continually for His own (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1). Joshua led the Israelites to victory over the enemies of God, so Christ makes possible our victory over sin (Romans 8:37; II Corinthians 1:10; 2:14) and Satan (Hebrews 2:14, 15; I John 3:8).
Joshua means "Yahweh is salvation," or "the LORD is salvation." Variant forms of his name include Jehoshua, and Yeshua. It is the Hebrew name of the Greek form of "Jesus." In Numbers 13:16 his name was changed from Oshua to Jehoshua (Numbers 13:8, 16). The Divine name was incorporated into his. We first encounter the man Joshua as a successful conqueror, not slaying innocent people, but in fighting the enemies of the LORD (Exodus 17:8ff). He is a victorious conquering hero.
Joshua was born in Egypt and became Moses' right hand man during the exodus and desert wanderings. He was Moses companion at Sinai (Exodus 24:13), and one of the twelve spies who went to spy out the Promised Land. Only Joshua and Caleb had the faith and courage to advocate conquering the land (Numbers 14:6ff). They were the only adult males who left Egypt to enter Canaan 40 years later (Num. 14:30). Joshua assumed leadership after the death of Moses. He was 110 years old when he died.
The book of Deuteronomy (33:37 thru 36:13) records the farewell and death of Moses. The book of Joshua opens with the work of Moses complete. God has provided His people with a written revelation, a priesthood, a place to worship, a system of laws and a new leader to conquer the promised land. Joshua takes over the leadership of Israel. The Israelites were encamped in the Plain of Moab, waiting
on God's command to go over and take possession of Canaan. His responsibility is to conquer the land and settle the tribes in their appointed boundaries. The date of crossing over Jordan is about 1406 B.C. The conquered land was first known as Canaan, and then Palestine. Then to the descendents of Abraham it was known as the Promised Land.
The first historical book in our English Bible is named after its conquering hero. It is the first in the Former Prophets in the Hebrew Bible. It begins with the Lord's commission of Joshua (1:19) and concludes with his death and burial (24:29 thru 33).
Ancient Jewish tradition in the Talmud attributes the book to Joshua, the commander of the Conquest of the Promised Land. A few sections could not have been written by him (15:13ff; 24:29f). However, Eleazar or Phinehas could have added these verses. Joshua 24:1 thru 26 specifically identifies Joshua as author and eyewitness to these events. The accuracy of the stories of the conquest is sup-ported by archaeological findings. There is disagreement among the scholars as to the date of some sites. The material comes from a time reasonably close to the actual events (6:25). Clearly the author was an eyewitness to many of the events (5:1, 6). The book as we have it was completed after the death of Joshua.
The events of Joshua begin where the book of Deuteronomy concludes. "After the death of Moses" (1:1; cf. Deuteronomy 34:16). Joshua takes over the leadership of Israel. It covers about 45 to 50 years. The date of the Conquest was c. 1406 B. C. The initial conquest was about seven years and 25 for the division and allotment of the land. The time of writing is not long after the events described, c. 1400 B. C. Cf. Numbers 13:15; Exodus 17:9f; 24:13; Numbers 14:6f; 27:1823. Joshua died c. 1390 B.C.
The faithfulness of God in fulfilling under Joshua's leadership the promises He made to Moses to conquer and take possession of the Promised Land (1:24; 11:23; 21:45; 24:1416). God is faithful to the promises He has made to the people of His Covenant. What He has promised He will do! God is faithful to His promises!
JHVH will hold Israel true to her covenant with Him. Victory comes through faith in the LORD God and obedience to His Word.
KEY VERSES: Joshua 11:23; 21:45
There are no distinct messianic prophecies in this book, however Joshua is clearly a type of Christ. Just as Joshua was the great conqueror leading the chosen people into the Promised land of Canaan, Jesus his great successor is lead-ing His own into the Promised Land of Heaven. Joshua's name Yeshua is the equivalent of the name Jesus. Both names mean, "Yahweh is salvation." He foreshadows the coming One who will bring "many sons to glory" (Hebrews 2:10). Our great conquering Hero leads us into our final rest.
Also, the scarlet thread which provided Rahab and her family safety (Joshua 2:1721), vividly portrays the safety that is the believers through the blood of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:1922).
CANAAN
The land of Canaan was composed of individual city-states. Each of these cities had their own king. Therefore, to conquer the land meant to defeat each city one at a time since there was no central government in Canaan. Toward the end of the conquest we find some of the cities banding together against their common enemy (chapters 10, 11).
These city-states in Canaan were well laid out and advanced culturally and technically. There was extensive foreign trade with Mesopotamia, Egypt and Cyprus. Canaanite houses were of good design with floors paved or plastered. Most cities had developed drainage systems. There were artisans of gold, copper and lead. Some of the finest pottery has been escavated there.
It is also important to keep in mind that Canaan was only one of Israels enemies at that time. Ultimately, however, she was the worst. Only a few of the battles are recorded in Joshua. The emphasis is on Israel driving out the inhabitants of the land so she could conquer her inheri- tance. She had to conquer the pagan influences of the land.
The inhabitants were immoral, they offered child sacrifice while female priests were temple prostitutes, Sodomites were male temple prostitutes, etc. The Temples of Baal, Ashtoreth and other Canaanites were centers of vice. Baal was the principal god of the Canaanites, and his wife Ashtoreth was their goddess. She was the personification of the reproductive principle in nature. Her Babylonian name was Ishtar, Astarte her Greek name. What made Canaanite worship of Baal so appealing to Israel was it was held to be the god of the weather and fertile crops. The worship of these Canaanite gods consisted of estrava- gant orgies in their vice centered temples. Immoral indul- gence was a means of worship for the pagan Canaanites, and they murdered their firstborn children as a sacrifice to the same gods. One archaeological find revealed a number of jars containing the remains of children and new born babes who had been sacrificed to Baal.
However, JHVH is holy and His people must be holy. God warned Israel, and later executed punishment upon them by cruel nations. Israel was solemnly warned that if she turned to the sins of the people of the land she would be cast out of the land. That was precisely what happened. The dealings of God with Israel is more severe than His dealings with Canaanites. God will not make a truce with sin! Assyria and Babylon ultimately became the instruments of God in dealing with Israels sin. We know from Judges 2:11 thru 15 that many Canaanites were allowed to remain in the land and as a result Israel suffered from their in- fluence spiritually. What had to be destroyed were the pagan shrines and their cultic devices. Wherever the Canaanite religion was tolerated the Israelites quickly absorbed it. There is truth here we need to latch hold to and that is whatever we are willing to tolerate we will never change.
Why does God command Israel to exterminate the people who were living in the Promised Land? Cf. Deuteronomy 9:46; 12:30-32; Leviticus 18:21-30; Numbers 25:15, 16-18; Joshua 6:17-21; 8:21-29.
It is important to keep in mind the peculiar role of the nation of Israel and the exceeding wickedness of the land that had been promised to her. Israel was the redemptive nation, chosen by God and set aside for His holy purpose as a witness and testimony to all nations. She was to show the way of eternal redemption. How could she do so if she were not separated from the evil influence of the Canaanites? When Israel chose disobedience and sin she gave away the blessing! The inhabitants of Canaan had espoused a type of religion in which sexual promiscuity played a prominent part. They practiced sacred prostitution, human sacrifices and snake worship. The immoral practices were an abomination to God and would offend the moral senses of most modern men including non-Christians. Archaeologists tremble at the evidence of wickedness in Canaan. God has always punished sin wherever He has found it. God is perpetually at war with sin; even in Israel. Achan defied God's warning and by this one man's sin, he involved the whole nation in sin. He and his whole family were stoned for his sin. Possibly, the whole family was involved in the deception, and the hiding of the items was a matter of agreement among the members. It would appear that not only Achan himself but his whole family was involved in the deception and cover up which brought national disaster. The amount of contra- band hidden in the family tent was sufficiently large that scarcely any member of the family could have been unaware of its existence. There seems to be agreement among the members of the family. Because of the social implications, the nation could not allow the sin to go unpunished. In the time of Joshua, the family was considered to be a unit but it was also considered to be a part of the larger family which was becoming a nation. To allow a sin with social implications to go unpunished would be a moral disaster.
J. Rea writing in the Zondervan Pictorial Bible Encyclopedia writes:
God is one, and He does not change. He is the same in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He shows love and mercy to the heathen (e.g. to Nineveh, Jonah 4:11) as well as to Israel in the Old Testament; and he shows wrath and takes vengeance on the wicked and idolaters in the New Testament (on the money changers, John 2:14-16; Romans 2:19; Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:3-11; & Revelation 21:8). God is no respecter of persons. Equally severe judgment was inflicted upon false prophets and idolaters among the ranks of Israel (Exodus 32:25-29and 35); Deuteronomy 13:1-18). God warned His own chosen people of the consequences of disobedience, and later executed punishment upon them by the sword of cruel nations. He will do so again in the end of time when Jerusalem will be besieged and trodden upon yet once more (Luke 21:24; Revelation 11:2; 13:5).
But why exterminate the Canaanites? Were they actually more wicked in Joshua's day than other idolatrous people on earth? The Aztecs and Mayas of Central America, for example, practiced human sacrifices. But in His inscru- table wisdom God selected Canaan, not another nation, as the land that he promised to Abraham. He considered it to be at the center (lit. "navel") of the earth (Ezekiel 38:12; cf. 5:5); hence it would exert an influence on the rest of the world throughout history out of all proportions to its size. Furthermore, the Canaanites were sinning against spiritual light. In the days of Melchizedek and Abraham they had a witness from the one true God, they saw divine judgment fall upon Sodom and its sister cities, and before the Conquest they quaked at His mention (Joshua 2:8-11) By 1400 B. C. the Canaanite civilization and religion had become one of the weakest, most decadent, and most immoral cultures of the civilized world. Many of its repulsive practices were prohibited to Israel in Leviticus 18.
Moreover, remember that in the midst of wrath Yahweh demonstrated mercy. Rahab and her family were spared, delivered from death "by grace through faith." She is even included in the lineage of the Messiah.
The horrible depravity and gross idolatry was a moral cancer that had to be removed at all costs. Israel acted as executioners of Divine wrath. Later the Assyrians would be the rod of God's anger to punish the Northern Kingdom of Israel (722 B.C.), and Babylon would be God's instrument to take the Southern Kingdom into exile (586 B. C.). In a similar way Israel was God's instrument of judgment on the Canaanite citystates.
There have always been those who doubted the accuracy of the Biblical account because of the miracles in the book. How do you explain the sun being delayed in its setting? Who made the sun, moon and stars, and the universe? If you believe God the creator made the universe then there should be no problem in believing that He could intervene in His universe to accomplish His plan of redemption. It is the existence of His redemptive nation in its campaign to conquer the Promised Land that is at stake. God will not allow his redemptive purpose to be defeated. It is interesting that all ancient peoples on various continents have a tradition about the longest day in history. Who is in control of the sun, moon and stars? If you can ration- alize away miracles you can rationalize away God and therefore you rationalize away your responsibility to Him.
The object of all the miracles was to reveal the power and grace of God. Israel did not deliver itself. The mighty arm of the LORD God delivered Israel. It was not by mili- tary conquest as much as it was God's free gift of Canaan. God provided the land. Can you imagine what must have gone on in the minds of the enemies when they discovered the God of Israel was no local deity? JHVH is the God of the universe. Whatever happened that day caused the Israelites to be greatly strengthened and their enemies to become frightened before them. It was an act of God. God had kept His promise to be with His people.
CONTENTS: The book easily divides into three parts (1) the Conquest which lasted about seven years (chapters 1-12), the (2) Settlement in the Land which took another 25 years (chapters 13-21) and (3) the Consecration of the People (chapters 22-24).
Joshua died at the age of 110 years, but his message lives on even in our day. The LORD God is a holy God and He demands that His people serve Him in holiness. Just as Israel was to be a priestly nation to reveal Gods truth we, too, must be a people separated to God to accomplish His holy purpose.
Some Abiding Principles found in the study of Joshua:
When God's people obey unconditionally the victory is certain. Victory depends upon obedience to God. Obedience is imperative. If we love Him we will obey Him. When
there is total dependence upon God victory is assured. The triumph of faith is stressed in Joshua as it portrays the entire nation marching unitedly to victory in total trust upon the LORD. The spiritual victory that God provides in Christ is beautifully pictured in this book. The crossing over Jordan and conquering the Promised Land is a beautiful illustration of the Christian's spiritual exper- ience of conflict, triumph and blessing in the heavenlies or spiritual realm (Ephesians 1:3; 2:6; 6:12) through the mighty power of God (Eph. 1:19, 20, 20; 6:10). Compare the battle of Israel in entering and possessing Canaan with the Christian's battles on earth. The events of the Exodus and the Conquest are highly typical as seen in I Corinthians 10:1-11. For example, Joshua is the Captain who leads Israel into the Land, and Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10), who brings believers today into Promised Rest (Heb. 4:8, 9; Acts 20:32; 26:18). Joshua interceded for Israel when the nation sinned and was defeated (Joshua 7:6-15), so Jesus is our Advocate who intercedes continually for His own (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25; I John 2:1). Joshua led the Israelites to victory over the enemies of God, so Christ makes possible our victory over sin (Romans 8:37; II Corinthians 1:10; 2:14) and Satan (Hebrews 2:14, 15; I John 3:8).
Joshua 1:1-18
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, `Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own. 12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: `The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers 15 until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise." 16 Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!"
This Land is Ours!
New Testament principles in the Christian life are often illustrated through beautiful word pictures in the Old Testament. In the book of Exodus, we see the people of God going out of Egypt. They were delivered from death by the Passover lamb. They were delivered out of the sin and bondage of Egyptian slavery. Believers of the Lord Jesus Christ are saved by God's grace. We have been delivered from the wrath of God by the blood of Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb slain for us.
When we go through a wilderness experience in the Spirit, usually it is God weaning us off self-confidence to a place where we must trust in Him alone. Despite the fact we are Christians, it still goes against our flesh. Even though we are not walking in rebellion per se, we still want to be in control of our destiny. God led Israel around in the wilderness. It was an eleven-day journey to the Promised Land that took forty years to accomplish in the flesh! They were going in circles of unbelief for forty years. How tragic that we go around in circles of the flesh while God seeks to wean us off our selfish lifestyle.
God wants to lead us into the Promised Land of Canaan. God's purpose for Israel was a land filled with "milk and honey." He was going to provide for all their needs. It is a beautiful picture of the Spirit–controlled life. It is the life God intends for every Christian to live. There are no exceptions. You can have every bit of the spiritual life in Christ that you want. God will not give you more than you are ready for however. Nor will He give you what you are not willing to have. It is possessing the life of fullness in Christ. Canaan makes a beautiful analogy of our full salvation in Christ. It is the portion for every believer. God is leading His people to the goal. Let's not be content for a wilderness experience such as Romans chapter seven.
The Holy Spirit takes us over into Romans eight. We don't have to stay in the wilderness. He brought us out so that He might bring us in to Canaan. Are we content to stay on the easy side of Jordan? God has the best for those who will walk by faith and enter into His abundant life. Good, or second best is for those who will not take His best. God has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Every believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, but how much of our inheritance have we appropriated by faith? How much have we claimed? How much do we enjoy in our daily Christian life?
The Lord wants us go to go on and receive all that He has in store for us. God intends for every Christian, every day to walk on conquered ground and experience victory, not occasionally, but every day. Now there is balance here in that we will endure trials, and suffering, pain, disappointment, occasional loss, and the like. However, we are the winners. Read the back of the Book, we win. Jordan is not a picture of death; it is a marvelous picture of crossing over into the life of fullness and allowing the Holy Spirit to possess more and more of the believer. This is the Christian life the way God intended it to be lived.
What is your attitude toward His purpose in your life? What is your response to the Word of God and the promises He gives to us?
The book of Joshua opens up with a change of command. The great giver of the Law, Moses, is dead. God brings about a change in leadership for the new nation. Moses was a great lawgiver, statesman and founder of the nation. Joshua is a great commanding general, a fearless conqueror and warrior. Moses was a patient leader of the people. Joshua was a take charge leader who commanded the people to "rise, go over this Jordan." Moses formed a discovery committee; Joshua gave a command to take the land.
Joshua's original name was Hoshea (Numbers 13:8; Deuteronomy 32:44) which means "salvation." Moses changed Hoshea's name to Joshua or Yehoshua. Joshua means, "Yahweh is salvation." Joshua will deliver God's people buy the power of Yahweh. Yahweh alone is our salvation. The Greek form of this name is "Jesus." "You will call His name Jesus, [Yehoshua, Joshua], because He will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
GOD'S PLAN FOR ISRAEL
God's plan for Israel was to go in and take the Promised Land. Israel did not conquer the land for forty years because of unbelief. Numbers Chapters 13 & 14, contains the tragic story of unbelief. Two of the twelve spies said, "God gave us the land; let's go take it!" Caleb said, "We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we shall surely over come it" (Numbers 13:30).
If the Shekinah glory of Yahweh had not appeared in the Tabernacle, "all the congregation of Israel would have stoned them with stones." The minority report was ready to claim the promises of God and take the land. The majority report was evil. They were faithless having lost the vision in a few days time. The minority report measured the giants in the land against God. The majority report could only see their own frail humanity against a land of giants. Ten of the spies evaluated God by their circumstances and only two interpreted the circumstances through the eyes of a sovereign God.
After forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the children of Israel found out that the inhabitants of the land were scared to death of them. Can you imagine that? Rahab the harlot informed the two spies forty years later that the people of the land had for forty years been afraid of the Israelites. They had heard of God delivering them at the Red Sea and other feats. The giants whom Israel feared at Kadesh-barnea had been afraid of the people of Israel for forty years.
Moses had to die before they could enter the Promised Land. G. Campbell Morgan said, "Moses had to die. The death of Moses was necessary to progress into the land. Moses led you out, but he could not lead you in. Joshua led you in but he could not give you rest. Now there is one greater than Moses and Joshua who leads out, and leads in and gives rest. We must discover Him in spiritual communion."
"Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel" (Joshua 1:1–2).
Moses was allowed to see the land from a distance, but he was not allowed to go in and possess the land "because you broke faith with Me . . . because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel" (Deuteronomy 32:51). Moses threw a fit and lost the opportunity (Numbers 20:12; 27:12-14; Hebrews 3:16-19).
"Moses is dead" but God's work is not going to end. The LORD is their leader. He issues the command. "Now therefore, arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land, which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel." (Joshua 1:2).
It is time to go in and take the land (v. 3). It is their land. God gave it to them. "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory" (vv. 3-4).
Don't miss it; the land was theirs. It had been theirs for forty years! Because of their unbelief, they had failed to take the land. "I have given it to you." The original is in the perfect tense. Notice the words explicitly state, "I have given" meaning it was already done. It is a completed action. It is a prophetic perfect meaning the action is so sure to come to pas that it could be written as if it had already happened. It was already their land. God gave it to them.
Likewise, God has given us everything in Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him" (Ephesians 1:3-4). Are we entering in and conquering the land?
Stake your claim. Go in and take possession of all God has given you in Christ. All of the Lord Jesus Christ is mine at conversion, but I possess only as much as I claim by faith. The great saints were all receivers. Go ahead take possession by faith! The Promised Land is typical of what we have in Christ. Alexander Maclaren reminds us, "God gives more than we take, and we are content to occupy but a corner of the broad land which He has given us." It is only as we take this place of identification with Christ practically that we enter into and enjoy our present inheritance with Him.
GOD'S PROMISE TO ISRAEL
Yahweh says, "I will be with you." The promise hasn't changed in forty years. He is the same God; it is still His word. When God spoke, He didn't stutter. He said precisely what He meant and He meant what He said. If God had not meant what He said, He would not have said it.
The LORD God said, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them" (vv. 5-6).
God's promises means God's provision. Ask the Lord for strength and encouragement. He will make you strong. Obey His message and instruction as you find it in His Word. The Lord is with you. He has promises to go before you. Commit yourself to Him in full surrender and watch Him guide and provide. Make a commitment to follow Him in every area of your life. This is His money back guarantee. The LORD guarantees success. "I will be with you." Our part is to take Him at His word, and act upon it.
Remember that there are giants in the land! The giants are still there, and in forty years, there are more of them. God says, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life." Not even giants. Not even idolatrous giants.
Do you have any giants in your land? You are no different from the children of Israel. Hebrews 13:5-6 is a direct application for you and me. "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you," so that we confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age." Also, "He is the same yesterday, today, and forever." He changes not. His promises abide because He abides. God is faithful. God is able. God is going to do it!
Who is the giant in your life? "No man will be able to stand before you." What is your giant? It may be a person, may be your job, coworker, the circumstances in your face, a difficult situation at school, or in the home. Why will your giant not be able to stand? "Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you [put your own name here]; I will not fail you or forsake you" (v. 5). Just as I have been with Moses I will be with you and I will not fail you or forsake you.
It is a walk of faith. Verse six reminds us to "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their father to give them." The message is repeated in verses 7, 9, 18. "Be strong and courageous" (v. 6). "Only be strong and very courageous" (v. 7). "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go" (v. 9). "Only be strong and courageous" (v. 18). It is hard to miss, is it not.
God requires faithful obedience from us. "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go" (v. 7). If we love Him, we will obey Him. In fact, here is the where Joshua found his courage and strength. Verse eight says, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." When was the last time you got into God's Word and just chewed around on it like a dog gnawing a bone, or a cow chewing her cud. That is what this word "meditate" means. It is like an old dog chewing away on a bone. You can hear him off in the distance gnawing away. He makes noises as he chews. The word for "meditate" means "to speak with oneself" in a low voice as is often done by those who are musing, to contemplate, to have in mind, to purpose." It comes form the idea of "murmuring or muttering." It is the low voice of persons talking to themselves. When we meditate, we read over the texts to ourselves in half aloud reading and re-reading. This is the way you get to the good stuff in God's Word. It settles down into the mind and you begin to think biblically. You think the way God thinks.
Nowhere in the Word of God are we allowed to cut our minds free and let them float away to meditate upon whatever might enter into them. It is always an objective meditation upon God's Word. Let your mind run loose and Satan will give you a great meditation! One you will forever regret. You will never be strong and courageous in the Christian life if you do not spend time meditating on God's Word. You have to get into it and wrestle with it, meditating and memorizing it and making it as your own. Confident faith comes from meditating on God's Word. Paul said, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God."
ISRAEL'S PREPARATION
How do you go in and possess the land? There is only one way; it is by faith. Joshua commanded the people to get ready (vv. 10-11). "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, to possess it’ " (v. 11). Joshua didn't sit there and whine, "Well it's been forty years, so what is another month or two?" Joshua has been waiting for forty years! He has been ready and patiently waiting all these years. Let's go! Head 'em up and move 'em out the old cowboys would say in the old west.
Do you have a battle plan in your fight against the devil? God has made provision for you in your battle against Satan. Have you followed through? The Apostle Paul had a battle plan that he shared with us and it works. "Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might." Sounds like Joshua. It is not, it is Paul in Ephesians 6:10. "Put on the full amour of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" (v. 11). "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm" (v. 13). Don't go running out to do battle with your enemy without your armor on. Arm yourself with Christ. He is the armor of God. He is truth. You don't find spiritual truth anywhere else. "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, but through Me." He is your righteousness. There is no other righteousness that will satisfy God. He gives you His righteousness in place of your self-righteousness. Christ is my righteousness. He is my peace, my shield of faith, my helmet of salvation, the living Word of God. And don't forget to pray, Paul says.
Joshua commanded his people to get ready to cross over in three days. God says to us get ready to cross over. How do we prepare to go into a more intimate relationship with Christ? Paul helps us in our preparation in 2 Corinthians 10:5–6. "We are to destroy vain imaginations and every lofty thing that rises up against the knowledge of God, and we are told to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
We must reckon as to who we are in Christ. Take a stand on your eternal position in Christ. Paul told the Colossians, "For in Christ all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete" (Colossians 2:9, 10). To the church at Rome he wrote, "Be constantly counting upon the fact that you are dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus." "Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
All of these resources of heaven are available to us today. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. . . and my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." We take possession by taking one step at a time. Did you say, let's cross the Jordan in three days? Man this is flood season. This river is in the spring run-off and it is a mile wide raging torrent. It is muddy, brown, yuck. We'll all get killed. No. Joshua and Caleb had been there at the Red Sea and saw God open up the Sea and let them pass through on dry ground. They could say, "I saw God do it! And I will see Him do it again!"
PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Verses 12-15 are parenthetical. The are in response to a compromise Moses made with half of the tribe of Manasseh, the tribes of Reuben and Gad. They had chosen to remain East of the Jordan and not go in and conquer Canaan. The concession is found in Numbers chapter 32. They appear to be content with their self-interests. They like the fertile, lush cattle land of Bashan, Gilead and Moab. They were content to stay the norm and were not concerned about the abundant Promised Land. They will keep their promise, but will go back to the old life at the first opportunity. History shows they were always getting in trouble with the enemy. When Assyria came calling on the Northern Kingdom of Israel these were the first tribes they defeated.
The land east of the Jordan is a place of indulgence. It is still wilderness. It is not the Promised Land.
They have their kin in our day who would rather remain focused on making a fair living rather than entering into a mature, intimate love relationship with Christ. The cost is too much for them to bear. On what level do you choose to live the Christian life? Some believers enjoy the blessings of Canaan. They go in and conquer the ugly, deceitful, ungodly, selfish sinful territory of the Hittites. However, some chose to live in the wilderness of sin in a half-hearted commitment in an easy land. They remain east of the Jordan and do not enter in and possess the land. They live in compromise with Moses, tolerating sinful flesh and making flimsy excuses for their selfish lifestyle. Christ calls us out of the self-centered condition into our Christ-centered position. On what level do I choose to live Christ?
The Apostle Paul challenges us to "test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourself, that Jesus Christ is in you––unless indeed you fail the test" (2 Corinthians 13:5). "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Colossians 2:6).
Where are you in your relationship with Christ? Are you halting at the Jordan? Are you afraid to trust Jesus for your daily victory? Have you drunk at some muddy, bitter waters for so long you can only wander around in the bitterness of self-defeat? I pray you will not be content to live east of Jordan in a half-hearted Christian lifestyle.
Joshua teaches us that strength comes out of our weakness and dependence. The only think that will keep you is your sense of constant need of God's presence.
God's promises means God's provisions. God promised the land and He would provide it. You take it by faith. You experience the life of Christ for every living moment in the same way you became a Christian. You believed the death of Jesus Christ for your sins. It was a step of faith. The same faith that got you out of sin and unbelief gets you into the land. "As therefore you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in Him" (Colossians 2:6). You take God at His word. "Abide in Me, and I in you." Learn how to lean on the power of God's Word.
The longer I live and minister the more I am convinced it is not how you and I begin the Christian life, but how we end it. Don't get me wrong, everyone one of us is dead in our trespasses and sins, and no one can enter into the kingdom of God except by a spiritual birth, repentance and the application of the blood of Jesus. Far too many are content just to enter in the Christian life and keep one foot in heaven and one in self. God has something much better. I refuse to be an average Christian. I want to be a member of the company of the committed. It is a choice I made, and it is a choice I hope you will make, too. If you are not satisfied with your Christian life, is it because you haven't really wanted any more. You can have all of Christ you want. "Every place where the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you." Chuck Swindoll wrote, "About the time we are ready to give up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers, 'Don't quit. Keep going,' as He provides His finishing touch of grace, joy, and love at just the right moment. His touch assures that we will be finishing well.".
Joshua 1:3 - I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
Ephesians 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
All of the great saints were receivers. Oh sure, they were givers, cheerful givers, but they were also receivers. They knew how to receive from God! They learned how to receive from God the Father "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." All of the Lord Jesus Christ is mine at conversion, but I possess only as much as I claim and receive by faith. Joshua and his friend Caleb walked across the Promised Land. They had crossed the valleys, plains and mountains and had brought back to Moses samples of its fruitfulness. Forty years later Joshua and Caleb are camped across the Jordan River ready to enter and conquer the Promised Land.
After the death of Moses, God spoke to Joshua and said, "Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you . . ." (Joshua 1:3). Go and take possession. All this land is yours. I have given it to you. Go in and by faith claim it as your own.
God has given every believer every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I got all of Christ when I trusted Him as my Savior. Am I appropriating my spiritual blessings? Am I drawing upon my heavenly resources for my daily life? Do I focus on my self-centered condition, or upon my eternal position in Christ? If I am honest with you and with myself no I am not, and neither are you. It is a continual struggle between the Spirit and the Flesh.
Practical everyday sanctification in the Christian life is not an instantaneous act. It is a steady, day by day growth process. I frequently use the term that God is a farmer not a computer operator. We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit causes us to focus on Christ. The work of the Holy Spirit is to daily deliver us from sin and transform us into the likeness of Christ.
Although we may not be satisfied with the growth in our Christian life, we should be satisfied with what we have in Christ right now, understanding that the more we make ourselves open and available to the Holy Spirit the more like Christ we will become. The secret to growing in Christ is walking in the Spirit. Galatians 5: 16, " . . . walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh." "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (v. 25). The goal of the Holy Spirit is to present us to the Father complete in Christ (Colossians 1:28). He does this by daily transformation into the likeness of Christ. The Apostle Paul encourages us with these words in II Corinthians 3:18. "We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."
As we gaze into the Word of God, the Holy Spirit removes the veils of unbelief, and selfishness, and the eyes of our understanding are opened. We look into the face of Christ and we are gradually being transformed into His character. The more I gaze into His face I see the holiness of God, His divine love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fruitfulness, gentleness and self control. God has provided us with everything we need to live the Christian life. He does it in our vital union with Jesus Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God's Promised Land for the saint is immeasurably rich. You are immensely rich in Christ! You have hidden treasures in Christ ready for your use. What do you possess in the treasure house? What do you find when you search your temple?
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body" (I Corinthians 6:19-20). Have you come to the realization that the Holy Spirit lives in you? Christ Himself lives in your heart by faith. The eternal Spirit of God has made your body His home and He lives within you. The Apostle Paul expressed it when he wrote, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ . . . " (Ephesians 1:3). We are not lacking in any spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus.
There are no second class citizens in His kingdom. Then why do we go about in abject spiritual poverty? Why do we have a haunting fear that we can not be what God wants us to be? We have riches untold. We are spiritual billionaires because Christ indwells our hearts through His Spirit. Many Christians do not realize they are rich. They think and behave as though they were spiritual paupers.
True, we were dead in our trespasses and sins before we were made unbelievably rich by God's grace. "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7). You have been made extremely rich through the exceedingly great poverty of Christ. God did it in His grace (II Corinthians 8:9).
From the moment you were saved, you have had access to everything God has in store for you. You have boundless spiritual resources in Him who has made His home in your hearts. All of His wealth is available to all of us. How sad to think that He has made little difference in the daily lives of so many believers, not because they have never received the Holy Spirit, but because they have not realized they have Him living within them.
The same Holy Spirit who lived in the apostle Paul indwells you and me as spirit-filled believers. The same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Everything that Paul had in Christ you and I have in Christ. Nothing is lacking. We have everything in Christ Jesus.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:20). Paul often uses the idea of dying with Christ (Gal. 5:24; 6:14; Rom. 6:8; Col. 2:20) and burial with Christ (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12). Paul’s identification with Christ has become so complete that his separate personality is merged into that of Christ. It is the same as the vital union of the branch and the vine in John chapter 15.
Christ wants us to exchange our poverty and hunger for the satisfaction He gives. Instead of mourning, He gives indescribable joy. Instead of spiritual slavery, the Holy Spirit gives you freedom. He sets you free to let Christ live in you.
Do you appreciate who you are in Christ? Are you neglecting the resources that are yours in the Holy Spirit? Have you learned by faith how to draw upon His assets? God the Father has blessed you in Christ with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. Weymouth translates, God "has crowned us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ." Could it be that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing that "heaven itself enjoys"? Knox even suggests these spiritual blessings are "higher than heaven itself." Do you need peace? Christ is our peace.
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me." "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:1, 27).
Do you need contentment? It can be found only in Christ Jesus.
"Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst" (John 6:35).
Do you need spiritual power right now? That power is found in Christ.
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).
Do you need wisdom, sanctification or redemption? These are found only in Christ. The apostle Paul reminds us it is "by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30).
Do you need victory over your current situation? Christ gives us victory. "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-39).
The apostle Paul declared from experience, "you are complete in Him (Christ)" (Colossians 2:10). To possess Jesus Christ is to possess all these spiritual blessings in heavenly places.
Do you think for one moment God the Father would short change His own Son? Remember our position; we are in Christ. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3, NIV). It is a completed action. He has already blessed us in Christ Jesus. There is no spiritual blessing that is not mine in Christ Jesus because Christ dwells in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Is there anything lacking? Then perhaps you are not abiding in Christ. If there is any need not provided then it tells me that I am not in God's will. He will provide everything I need if I am walking with Him. My resources in Christ are boundless.
Because the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts, we are never without resources. We have a never failing source of strength. The Lord Jesus who dwells in our hearts by faith can meet every need. And His supply never runs out. We have a constant "provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:19).
I fail to draw from Christ's presence because of my selfishness and unbelief. I must learn the most difficult lesson in the Christian life that without Him I can do nothing.
Major Ian Thomas writes candidly:
God has chosen the weak and the base and the nothing, and the things that are not, to confound the things that are, and all God demands of a man is his availability--to be what man was created to be, the human vehicle of the divine life, inhabited by God for God. That God may be Himself . . . What you are is totally irrelevant--nationality-wise, money-wise, family-wise, education-wise, personality-wise, and any other wise, if only you will recognize the principle that it is God that works in you, to will and to do His good-pleasure.
God takes an old clay pot and fills it with Himself that He may be glorified. We try to fill the pot with self and glory in ourselves and it will never do. We can have no confidence in self. It will mar the glory of God every time. However, when we hand Him our old pots He fills us with Himself and He gets the glory because of "the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us" (II Corinthians 4:7). It is Christ working in us to do His work for His glory.
Are you drawing upon your fortune from Christ by faith? Are you taking possession of the spiritual Promised Land? The Lord stands before us and commands us to go and take possession. All this land is yours. I have given it to you. Go in by faith and claim it as your own.
Rahab and the Spies
Joshua 2: 1-18
1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land." 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land." 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 Now she had said to them, "Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way." 17 The men said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
"I'm so glad that God chose me before the foundation of the world, because He never would have chosen me after I was born!" wrote the famous Baptist preacher from England, Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
The God whom we worship is the God of grace. No where is it more evident than in His Word. In Joshua chapter two we see the grace of God in action in the life of a prostitute.
GOD AT WORK IN JERICHO
Jericho was in the heart of hell.
The Canaanites in Jericho were pagans. The city of Jericho was established around 8000 B.C. and it is located six miles west of the Jordan on a rich oasis. Archaeologists have discovered that the city was surrounded by double walls twelve feet between them. Simple houses were built on top of the timbers laid on top and spread between the two walls. When the city was destroyed by Joshua the walls fell outward and down.
The inhabitants were immoral, they offered child sacrifices, priestesses served as temple prostitutes, Sodomites served as male temple prostitutes, etc. The Temples of Baal, Ashtoreth and other Canaanites were centers of vice. Baal was the principal god of the Canaanites, and his wife Ashtoreth was their goddess. She was the personification of the reproductive principle in nature. Her Babylonian name was Ishtar, Astarte her Greek name. What made Canaanite worship of Baal so appealing to Israel was it was held to be the god of the weather and fertile crops. The worship of these Canaanite gods consisted of extravagant sexual orgies in vice-centered temples. Immoral indulgence was a means of worship for the pagan Canaanites. They were also guilty of murdering their first–born children as a sacrifice to these same false gods. One archaeological find revealed a number of jars containing the remains of children and new born babes who had been sacrificed to Baal.
God sends spies to Rahab's house
God sent the spies into the heart of hell, to the house of Rahab. There is an important spiritual principle we need to lay hold of here. There are times when God will direct us to go to a place we would not normally go. That principle we need to abide by is to be "led of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit". "Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, 'Go, view the land, especially Jericho.' So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there." Rahab was a prostitute. It is possible she was also the owner of an inn. Keil and Delitzsch in their reference work refer to the Hebrew zonah as "a harlot, not an innkeeper." That would have been the best place to find out the latest gossip and tidbits of information spies are interested in. No one would have been even vaguely suspicious of men coming and going from there. Even in modern espionage, the best information is gathered at the "black tie" parties at Embassies, high brow social events, gentelmen’s clubs, and the like.
The New Testament references to Rahab clear up all misunderstanding or misinterpretation about the lady. Simply stated she was a prostitute! That is the only way you can translate the Greek porne. The writer of Hebrews in the chapter on the great Hall of Faith says, "By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace" (Hebrews 11:31). James 2:25 also mentions "Rahab the harlot" when referring to this same woman. We are dealing with a sinner and the God of all grace.
God at work in Rahab's heart.
God was at work in this pagan woman's life. God's grace always meets us right where we are in whatever condition we are in. God does not tell us to get our life straightened up and then He will accept us. He doesn't say clean up your act and then I will save you. God comes into our sinful lives and changes us from the inside out. God's grace is for those who need it. Sinners qualify. Self-righteous people need not apply. Remember the words of Jesus that is was the sick and infirmed in need of a physician, not those who were well.
The king of Jericho also had his spies around Rahab's place (vv. 2-7). The people of Jericho can see Israel off in the distance camped across the Jordan.
It was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land." And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land." But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them." But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
The spies God sent were not interested in her "professional" services; they were interested in the Promised Land. They were on the roof, not in the bed. Verse eight, "Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof . . . " Flax stalks, three or four feet in length, were piled up on the roof to dry in the sun. They were used to weave linen. Perhaps her family made their living by agriculture. If so they had a marginal lifestyle.
Rahab the Spy
Rahab has been spying herself! She has also been hearing the rumors. The king of Jericho and the people did not want to know the LORD God. Rahab was different. She had heard about the God of Israel (vv. 9-11). Rahab's conclusion was God had given Israel the land of Canaan. Listen to the reasoning of her faith in vv. 8-12. She said to the men,
"I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath."
Rahab concludes: "the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth" (vv. 11b-12). Rahab committed her soul to the true and living God of Israel. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." God was at work in the heart of this pagan woman before the spies arrived! God strangely moved her heart. Where was God at work in Canaan? Right there in Rahab's heart. He set up His camp in the heart of a prostitute. This is a marvelous word picture of what God's grace does. There is nothing strange here. God chose Rahab! Would you have chosen her? No one is good enough for God, the way he or she is.
"Should any here, supposing themselves to be the children of God, imagine that there is some reason in them why they should have been chosen, let them know that as yet they are in the dark concerning the first principles of grace, and have not yet learned the gospel" (C .H. Spurgeon).
God had transformed this woman's heart with a growing spiritual attitude sensitive to His work in her life. "If God had painted a colored stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since He didn't I must preach `whosoever will' and when `whosoever' believes I know he is one of the elect," C. H. Spurgeon.
If you have an intimate love relationship with God, He will show you where He is at work all around you. How do you know God is at work around you? Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). Rahab didn't choose to get up and go to God. He chose her. No one seeks God on his own initiative! Period! That is the great premise of the Gospel Message. When a man or a woman begins asking spiritual questions listen because you know the Holy Spirit of God is at work in that person's heart. If someone asks you spiritual questions, ask yourself what is God doing in that person's life. Give your undivided attention to that person! Listen to the Holy Spirit. He is drawing that person to Himself. God works in people's hearts to cause them to seek after Him. When they ask questions about God, or make observations about Him you know that He is at work. When men come under conviction of sin, the righteousness of God, and eternal judgment you know God is doing something in their hearts.
GOD CHANGING LIVES IN JERICHO
Just like the children of Israel, God insists that we depend wholly upon Him. He opens the doors to sinner's hearts, and He will lead us to them if we are yielded to Him. Rahab was willing to help the spies escape (vv. 4, 12-16).
Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death." So the men said to her, "Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you." Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. She said to them, "Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way."
The word "kindness" and "kindly" is Chesed in the original Hebrew and means covenant love, loyalty or love, faithfulness (v. 12). It is a pledge of faith, faithfulness, steadfast love.
Saved by grace through faith
The scarlet rope is tied in her window (v. 18). The spies told her, "We shall be free from this oath to .you which you have made us swear, unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household" (vv. 17-18). This was probably the same rope with which they were let down the wall. Her response, "According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window" (v. 21). The people of the land had no idea what that piece of rope was for in her window.
All believers are protected and sheltered from the wrath of God by God's scarlet cord that symbolizes the blood of Jesus. The world sees the cross every day and does not understand the meaning of it. There is cleaning power in the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse every sin (I John 1:7-9). Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away our sins (John 1:29, 31), and not only our sins but also the sins of the whole world. He gave Himself as a ransom for our sins, (Titus 2:14) "knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Romans 10:9-10 sounds like Rahab in Joshua. Paul wrote, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Rahab committed her soul to the LORD. Trusting in Jesus Christ alone saves you. You confess because you already believe. How do we know she was saved by grace through faith? Rahab exhibited her faith in the LORD to save her and her family. It was demonstrated by the fact she tied the rope in the window, hid the spies, and helped them escape. It is faith in action. She acted on what she knew to be true. The scarlet rope in the window anticipates the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross to atone for the sins of the world.
Evidence of Rahab's salvation
In Hebrews 11:31 Rahab, not Joshua is the person whose faith is honored. Matthew 1:5, 6 informs us she married Salmon. She is the great-grandmother of King David! She was ancestor of Joseph, husband of Mary the mother of Jesus. Wow! What a savior! James 2:21, 25 reads: "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? . . . In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?" Keep in mind the context of both Joshua chapter two and James two. Harry Ironside made this keen observation:
When she hid the spies, she showed that real faith that was in her heart. Her faith was manifested by her works in hiding them and sending them away safely. Whenever there is genuine faith in God it will always be accompanied by good works. We are not saved by works. Let no one make a mistake as to that. Scripture is absolutely clear that we are saved by grace alone through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." "Not of works, lest any man should boast." But on the other hand, where there is genuine faith, where people really believe God, where they truly receive His testimony, their faith will be manifested by their works, and that is what the Apostle James stresses
God doesn't say clean up your act and then I will save you. That is legalism. God approaches the lost sinner and begins working in his heart. God seeks the lost to save them. God is interested in sinners, not self-righteous people. Rahab is a sinner. I am a sinner. What matters is who Jesus Christ is, and what He has done for the sinner. Will I humble myself and trust in Christ alone to save me?
Go and sin no more!
Jesus was teaching in the Temple one morning when the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in the very act of adultery. The Jewish law said such a woman should be stoned to death. They wanted to know what Jesus thought. It was a set up. They wanted to trap Him. Jesus stooped down and began to write on the ground. God was writing. What would He say? They "persisted in asking Him." It was push, push push. We'll get you yet. Jesus stood up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her" (John 8:7). Then He stooped down and wrote on the ground again. His listeners began and continued to go out one by one until Jesus was alone with the woman. Jesus stood up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?" She answered, "No one, Lord." Jesus responded, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way; from now on sin no more" (John 8:10-11).
That woman could also go out saying to herself, "No condemnation! Sin no more! What grace!"
You and I say with all our heart, "I am secure because of the scarlet thread in the window. I am secure in the precious blood of Jesus. Saved by grace!" Salvation is by grace through faith. Rahab the sinner was saved by placing the rope in the window. The rope was a symbol of her faith. It pictured the blood smeared above the door in the home of Israelites on their last night in Egypt. It is a marvelous picture of what God has done for us in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
CONFIRMATION OF GOD'S WORK
There are some beautiful spiritual principles in this great chapter.
It is a reminder of our spiritual depravity and the grace of God for all sinners. " You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[1] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2:1-10).
Who are the names of members of your family who are lost? Will you make a commitment to pray over them everyday until they are saved? Rahab was concerned about others in her family. When God shows mercy to one person in a household, it is an indication that He wants to save every member of that family. Acts 16:31 is a promise for all of us to claim. Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer and his family, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." No the family was not saved automatically when the jailer was saved. He put his faith in Christ and then one by one all the rest of the members of his family trusted in Christ. Where is God at work in your Jericho?
Rahab made a commitment of her life. She made a decision to side with Israel against the king of Jericho. She would have been guilty of treason in his sight if he knew what was going on. Where do you stand in your commitment to Christ? Have you sided with Him? How do you know? Do you have the security of knowing that if you were to die today you would be saved from the judgment of God? Why? There is eternal security only in the redeeming blood of the Lamb of God who gave Himself for our sins. A scarlet cord runs through the Scriptures. His blood and nothing else will save us.
"Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands" (v. 24a). On which side of the Jordan do you chose to live? If you know Christ as your personal Savior please do not be content with just being saved. Let's go on into a mature intimate love relationship with Jesus Christ.
"All the inhabitants of the land, moreover, have melted away before us" (v. 24b). That is what happens when God is at work in your heart. Are you ready to go across this Jordan and take Jericho? You are not ready if you have never come to Jesus Christ. That is where the new life begins. However, if you know Jesus as your savior let's cross the Jordan in our lives, defeat Jericho and go into Canaan and kill some giants.
Christina lives in a small dusty village in Brazil. Her heart was empty and she felt like society had cheated her of its joys. She longed for the excitement of the big city of Rio. One morning her mother Maria found Christina's bed empty. Maria knew immediately where her daughter had gone. She also knew immediately what she must do find her. She quickly threw some clothes in a bag, gathered up all her money, and ran out of the house. On her way to the bus stop she entered a drug-store to get one last thing. Pictures. She sat in the photograph booth, closed the curtain, and spent all she could on pictures of herself. With her purse full of small black-and-white photos, she boarded the next bus to Rio de Janeiro. Maria knew Christina had no way to earn money. She also knew that her daughter was too stubborn to give up. When pride meets hunger, a human will do things that were before unthinkable. Knowing this, Maria began her search. Bars, hotels, nightclubs, any place with the reputation for streetwalkers or prostitutes. She went to them all. And at each place she left her picture--taped on a bathroom mirror, tacked to a hotel bulletin board, fastened to a c