Joshua 1:1 in the Aleppo Codex A medieval bound manuscript of the Hebrew Bible. The codex was written in the 10th century C.E., and was endorsed for its accuracy by Maimonides
Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, once quipped, “Promises and pie-crust are made to be broken.”
We’ve all heard enough political promises in our lives to share his cynicism. But the theme of Joshua tells us that God is utterly faithful to His promises, for His Word cannot be broken.
As Joshua himself said late in life:
“There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass” (Josh 21:45).
Joshua was born and raised in Egypt. He was a young man when he watched the contest between Moses and Pharaoh and the parting of the Red Sea.
Moses later appointed Joshua head of the Hebrew army; and after the death of Moses, Joshua assumed leadership of Israel.
The book of Joshua is the story of how he led God’s people to possess the Promised Land.
Jericho is found low down in the Jordan Valley, about 16 miels (27km) East of Jerusalem and 6 miles (10km) North west of the Dead Sea. The town lies some 250 miles (402km) below sea level, which makes it the lowest on earth. Although Jericho is surrounded by the scorching hot desert it is well watered by freshwater springs.
Joshua’s book tells this story in four phases:
Chapters 1-5: Entering the land.
Chapters 6-12: Conquering the land.
Chapters 13-21: Dividing the land.
Chapters 22 -24: Beginning life as one nation under God.
The theme through it all is: Yahweh is a promise-keeping God, therefore we’re to live courageously.
I don’t know about you, but I’m strengthened whenever I read the opening chapter of this book, as the Lord tells us:
“There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Josh 1:5).
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Frank Turek stands at a small section of the northern wall of Jericho that didn’t collapse during the conquest.
Most sections of the wall fell outward as the Bible says allowing the Israelites to walk up and into the city.
Frank Turek stands at a small section of the northern wall of Jericho that didn’t collapse during the conquest. Most sections of the wall fell outward as the Bible says allowing the Israelites to walk up and into the city.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Josh 1:8-9).
Key Thought:
Yaweh is a promise-keeping God who leads His children through warfare to victory, just as He gave the Israelites the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.
Key Verse:
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest” (Josh 1:7).
Key Action:
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15).
