Joshua. The next chapter in the history of the Israelites.
Moses has died and their new leader, Joshua, must now lead the people into the
Promise Land. Joshua was a man who must step into big shoes as he led the
Israelites into battle and settle the Promised Land. As I read and studied
Joshua, I realized that this book is about faithfulness to God, obedience to
His calling despite our fears and reservations. There are many lessons and
miracles, reminders and encouragements in the book of Joshua which can
demonstrate this themes. Reminders to be strong and courageous are mentioned
throughout the book of Joshua. Lessons that anyone can be used by God for His
purpose when there is faith. And the conscious and sincere choice to serve God.
First, the phrase “be strong and courageous” repeats many
times in Joshua. In Joshua 1:6-7, God is speaking to Joshua as he takes up his
new role. “Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to
inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very
courageous.” In His first instructions, God tells Joshua to be strong and
courageous twice. God is telling Joshua to be strong and courageous because the
Israelites had proven to be a difficult people to govern. Joshua needed to be a
man of action. To be alert and prompt and ready to act when the occasion called
for it. The phrase is repeated again in Joshua 1:18 and 10:25. The reminder to
be strong and courageous served as a point to remember that the Israelites
successes were not due to their own strength or their leader’s wise actions but
their faithfulness. What lesson can God’s instructions to Joshua be for us?
When God calls us for His purpose and wherever it may take us in the world, He
calls us to be strong and courageous. To be alert, prompt and ready to act when
it is needed. When we are faithful to God and in His promise to go before us,
He will give us the strength and courage we need to get the job done.
Second, Rahab is only mentioned in the second chapter but
her part in this story has a lasting impact. Joshua has sent two spies into
Jericho. When they were there, they stayed at the house of Rahab, a prostitute.
Rahab hid the men on her roof to save them from the king. When it is safe, Rahab
pleads with the spies to spare her and her family when the Israelites destroy
the city. She has heard of the Lord’s power. The men agree and gave her
specific instructions to stay inside during the siege. After the Fall of
Jericho (Joshua 6), Joshua spared Rahab and her family. This could be in the
end of her story but it is not. She is mentioned again in Matthew 1:5 as the
mother of Boaz, making her the great great grandmother of King David and an
ancestor of Jesus Christ. She is also mentioned in Hebrews 11:31, as by her
faith she welcomes the spies and spared her life. In fact, she is one of two
women mentioned in Hebrews 11 Hall of Fame. She is considered righteous in
James 2:25 as she demonstrated her faith by hiding the spies. One single action
placed Rahab among the faithful and becomes an ancestor of two important men in
two religious faiths: King David in Judaism and Jesus Christ in Christianity.
God remembered her because of her faith and not her profession. Even the lowest
people of society can be chosen by God to do great things.
Lastly, Joshua 24:15 is a powerful verse. It is a verse
which states that everyone has a choice. The verse is: “But if serving the Lord
seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods
of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household,
we will serve the Lord.” Chapter 24 is Joshua’s last instructions to the
Israelites. His final words for the people. In verse 15, he is firm: make a
choice. Everyone must choose. Everyone comes face to face with the decision to
serve and follow God. We do not have the power to compel anyone to worship and
follow God. Service to God should be sincere, free and a willing allegiance of
the heart. Joshua pledges that he and his household will remain faithful. As a
follower of God, I take this to heart as I will teach my children about God and
His glorious presence, His power and majesty. I hope that through my
instructions and my life, my children will follow the Lord as well. But it is a
choice they will have to make themselves as well. Following God is a deeply
personal commitment which cannot and should not be dictated by another. You
aren’t born a Christian. You may have been raised in a Christian home. However,
you must make the conscious choice to follow Him.
In conclusion, the book of Joshua is the story of the
Israelites as they take possession of the Promised Land. They finally made it
but they had work to do. It is a book about strength and courage when our fears
tells us to run. But by faith, God will prove the way to get the job done. With
the story of Rahab, we see a great faith in God. She trusted God to keep her
and her family from the destruction of Jericho. He rewards her faithfulness by
making her an ancestor of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What can God
accomplish in our lives if we have the faith of Rahab? The book of Joshua is also
a reminder that fellowship with God is a conscious choice. It is an active
relationship in which God wants us to interact with Him. By faith, we can have
strength and courage from a loving relationship with the Creator of the
Universe. How cool is that?
