Joshua: the Battle Begins

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “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. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand 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. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. (Joshua 1:1-6 NIV)

God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit a land flowing with milk and honey. The trouble is, this promised land already had inhabitants. The inhabitants of the land were strong and entrenched. From the report of the scouts who spied out the land, the Israelites seemed like grasshoppers in comparison to the giants who inhabited the fortified cities. Without God, it would be impossible for the Israelites to have the land they were promised. And to receive this inheritance would mean fighting for it.

And so when Moses died, the Lord appeared to Joshua to encourage him to be strong and courageous. Moses had already told Joshua to be strong and courageous in Deuteronomy 31:7-8. God appears directly to Joshua to urge him to be strong and have courage. Joshua is not encouraged to rely on his own brilliant military mind or the might of his soldiers. It is because Yahweh is with him that he will lead Israel to claim the promised land.

No one will be able to stand 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. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

We can align ourselves for victory over the strongholds of the enemy of our soul by living in strong faith in our God and courageous obedience to Him.

The next thing the Lord gives Joshua to ensure victory is to adhere to their covenant by keeping the Law of Moses diligently.

“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. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; 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." (Joshua 1:7-8 NIV)

The point is not somehow the magical words of the Law. The point is keeping covenant by living within God's moral vision for our lives. We can align ourselves for victory over sin and death by being people of the Book. To live a life that honors the God who created us means studying His Word and living by its truth.

Then, before the nation fights the first battle in the promised land, God orders Joshua to have all the men circumcised to consecrate themselves to Him.

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. (Joshua 5:2-3 NIV)

During the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, they had failed to keep up with the sign of their covenant with God by circumcising their sons at eight days old. Circumcision was an act of consecration and identification with the one, true God, Yahweh. In baptism we consecrate ourselves (or our babies) to Jesus, and God claims us as His sons and daughters, giving us a new identity as the people of God. We can align ourselves for victory by consecration to Jesus, giving Him everything we are.

In a miraculous crossing of the Jordan into their inheritance, God dams up the flooded river so Israel can cross on dry land. They left Egypt by crossing the waters, and they entered Canaan the same way. When God calls us to something, He will make a way through it.

In what might be the strangest battle plan ever devised, God orders Israel to march around the walled city of Jericho one time per day for six days in silence. Then, on the seventh day, they are commanded to march around Jericho seven times, blow trumpets, and shout. They obey God, and when they shout the battle cry on the seventh day, the walls simply crumble, and they are able to take the fortified city.

Five kings of five cities in southern Canaan join together to battle Israel, but God gives them over to His people. To facilitate the battle, God causes the sun to stand still for 24 hours, giving Israel the victory. We may be outnumbered and outgunned in our battles with evil in the world, but God fights for us. The war was won 2,000 years ago on a Cross outside Jerusalem, so we can be strong and have courage as we fight the ongoing battles Satan wages against the Lord and His Church.

Finally, fourteen kings in the north unite to attack God's people. Again, God gives Israel victory, and essentially, the Promised Land is conquered and can be assigned to the tribes as their inheritance. In the conquering of the promised land, God proves that impossible things become possible when we trust Him. What was true for Israel under Joshua is true for us today. To claim the inheritance God wants to give us, we must trust Him in the battle.

When (not if) we face overwhelming challenges in life it can be easy to give in to fear and either run away or become paralyzed. But God says, "Be strong and courageous. I am with you." He can and will fight our battles. As we become more and more mature in our faith and allow scripture to direct everything we are and do, we align ourselves with the One who is able to deliver on His promises. Our ultimate inheritance is not given to us in this life. Our promised land awaits in eternity. In the meantime, in every battle, we can be strong and have courage, because if God is for us, nothing can prevail against us. Thanks be to God!