Commentary on the Book of Joshua

The book of Joshua is the 6th book in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. It tells the story of Joshua, who has been appointed as the ruler of the Israelite nation after the death of Moses. Moses was the leader who led the people out of slavery in Egypt and then led them during a 40-year journey through the desert.
Now, Moses has died and a new leader, one with different skills and gifts than Moses, has been appointed as the leader. Joshua and Moses have one thing in common, however: a deep trust in the Lord God.
This commentary offers a select verse or two from most of the chapters of Joshua and a few comments about that verse and how it can be applied to our own lives.

Joshua 1
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. -- God, providing instructions to Joshua. (Joshua 1:7)

God calls us to be strong and courageous. He has given us the law, the Spirit, and the comfort of knowing that Christ has won victory over death. Still, fear is a natural part of life.
Are there things you are afraid of? Have you talked with God about these things? Have you looked at his law (Scripture) to see what guidance is available?
We are ALL afraid of something, but God promises in Joshua 1:5 that he will never leave or forsake us.

Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 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. -- the people respond to the commands that Joshua has given to them. (Joshua 1:16-18)

Sometimes we like what our leader/manager/parent/pastor/etc. tells us to do. Sometimes we don't. Sometimes we understand his/her reasoning and sometimes we don't.
All that we can really ask of a person in authority is that they attempt to listen to what God has told them to do and then be truthful to that call he/she has received from God.
If we put our faith and trust fully in God and seek to align ourselves, to the best of our ability, with those who have done likewise, we can be confident in the results.
Unfortunately, in our work lives and even in our personal lives, we are not always able to associate exclusively with those who have put their faith and trust in God.
It is in those moments, we are called to be the most loving we can be, to let the light of Christ shine through us. It is easy to be nice to the nice, it is when we are faced with the rude, the negative, the unGodly person that we are most called upon to be Christians.
Lord, help us in such moments of trials.

Joshua 2
"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." Rahab, a prostitute, talking to two spies sent into Jericho by Joshua. (Joshua 2:9)

Despite great risk to herself, Rahab cast her lot with the Lord. Are we willing to do the same? What risk have we taken?

Joshua 3
Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. -- Joshua 3:10

The Israelites were faced with a monumental task. They were outnumbered, but they were charged with driving out their enemy from the Promised Land.
From a purely military point of view, it was a task that probably should not have even been attempted, the odds of success were so low.
Joshua, however, was spending a great deal of time in prayer, listening closely to discern the directions of God. Before he would allow the people to take any actions, he ordered them to make preparations by consecrating themselves to service to God. He gathered them together and shared the word of God with them.
Is there any task that we should take on that we shouldn't first place before the Lord? And, if it is something we are hesitant to share with God, should we even be doing it at all?

Joshua 4
He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' -- Joshua 4:21-22.

Just as the Lord parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to leave Egypt, he next parted the Jordan River for the Israelites to finally enter the Promised Land.
In doing so, at the Lord's command, Joshua had the people place some stones at the site where the waters had been parted, as a way to help remember what the Lord had done for the people.
In the same way, we use memory aids to tell our story. The cross that hangs in the church is one such device. It is there to remind us not only of the sacrifice of Christ, but of his ultimate victory over death.

Joshua 5
"...as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." -- a man identified as the commander of the Lord's army, speaking to Joshua outside the walls of Jericho. (Joshua 5:14)

But God did not send Joshua out to fail. Joshua put his complete trust in the Lord. When Joshua went out to attack Jericho, God met Joshua as a military force. God is healer, creator, judge and source of strength. He provides us what we need to complete the tasks he has assigned to us.

Joshua 6
Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. -- Joshua, telling his soldiers what to do after the walls of Jericho fell. (Joshua 6:17b)

Remember Rahab, who cast her lot with the Lord way back in chapter 2? The Lord remembered her. And so did Joshua.
What will you be remembered for?

Joshua 7
Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. -- The Lord, speaking to Joshua (Joshua 7:11-12)

After Israel defeated the city of Jericho, the people were given very specific instructions from God on how to treat the city. Basically, they were told not to plunder, loot and steal. The people did not listen to these instructions however. Many of them kept some of the plundered loot for themselves. Then, later, when they were faced with another military challenge, the army of Israel was defeated.
Did God turn his back on Israel? No. He still loved the people. But there were consequences for their disobedience.
We are called to obey God in all things -- not just in times of challenge, but also in times of celebration.

Joshua 8
Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law-the blessings and the curses-just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them. (Joshua 8:34-35)

At the conclusion of a major event, in this case a military battle, Joshua calls all the people together and read the Scriptures to them.
It is such a simple thing and yet, it almost leaves me speachless to consider it.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city." (Joshua 8:18)
God has the ultimate power. Why do we so often think we can accomplish things on our own?

Joshua 9
"Who are you and where do you come from?" -- question posed by Joshua to the people of Gibeon.

In Joshua chapter 9, the story is about how the people of Gibeon lied to prevent the people of Israel from killing them in a battle.
I am struck, however, by how simple and yet how deep Joshu'a question is.

Joshua 10
The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." (Joshua 10:8)

Even faced with overwhelming odds, Joshua keeps his faith in the Lord.

Joshua 23
...you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. ... Joshua, now growing older, offering farewell comments to his people. (Joshua 23:8)

After several chapters of details about more battles and the administrative details of diving up the land, the book of concludes with two chapters in which Joshua gives his final comments and thoughts to the people.
Joshua is now an older man, having spent a lifetime in service to the Lord, is full of wisdom and insight.
Though the events described in the book of Joshua are believed to have taken place somewhere around 1,400 years before the birth of Christ, his words are just as wise today.
Joshua tells the people to read and live by the law that God has handed down through Moses, turning neither to the left nor to the right (v. 23:6).
Joshua goes on in chapter 23 to remind the people all that they have accomplished through obedience to the Lord.
He also warns them that there are consequences if they do turn away from God's law. Joshua does not say this as a threat, but because he loves the people and wants them to prosper -- and he wants them to praise God, as Joshua believes God deserves to be honored.
Sadly, Joshua's warning goes unheeded. Throughout the Old Testament, we see time and again where the people turn either to the left or the right and stop following God and fail to live up to their end of the Covenant.
And -- we continue to see things like that today, where we ourselves don't keep our focus & attention on God and the Call He places on our lives.
Perhaps a periodic reading of chaps. 23 & 24 of Joshua should be required for all those who seek to walk in the light?

Joshua 24
"But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." -- Joshua, final address to the people. (Joshua 24:15)

....And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him." (Joshua 24:24)

After recalling their history together -- and how God had interacted with the people at every point of their history -- Joshua urges the people to follow the way of the Lord.
But he acknowledges in his speech, that he cannot compel anyone to do so, but in dramatic fashion, he states: "As for me & my my household, we will serve the Lord!"
Is there any doubt here where Joshua stands?
After years of service and, yes, more than a few trials and troubles along the way, Joshua still realizes that following the Lord is what he is called to do -- it is what we are created for. He sees no alternate path for himself. And why would he? We are created as God's people!
Joshua, son of Nun, is truly deserving of the title "hero of the faith.