Joshua

Joshua 

Summary: Moses is gone and Joshua son of Nun is left as leader. Caleb and Joshua are the only ones left who witnessed Egypt with their own eyes. The mantle of leadership has fallen to Joshua who trailed Moses around seeking to see God as he did. If standing in the shadow of Moses was not enough before the Israel laid the walls of Jericho and thirty-one kings with armies and lands promised to them by God. A daunting task for anyone and Joshua felt this weight. So as an spry eighty year old the Lord told Joshua "Be strong and courageous!" and that is where this story begins.

Things I Noticed:

1. Chase after my word and laws follow them sure footed like moses. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may act wisely and have good success wherever you go. 
2. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
3. Rahab a prostitute who had discernment, with deception and cunning saved her family from the sword by saving the spies of Israel.
4.  An overflowing river Jordan is held back by the Lord's hand and Israel passes over on dry land. The Jordan is a large river.
5. When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” (If he came today would he look like a Spec-op soldier fully geared?)
6. It makes no sense that circling a wall for seven days with trumpets will cause walls to fall flat and prostrate outwards, rather then crumble or collapse. Yet, this is what God caused to happen at Jericho.
7. the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword. (The Lord sent a meteor storm to smite and army. AMAZING.)
8. The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
9. And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots.
10.  Joshua did to them just as the Lord said to him: he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
11. And Joshua came at that time and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. (More giants in the land of Israel.)
12. Joshua killed or hung 31 kings.
13. The Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.

14. However, they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived in the midst of Ephraim to this day but have been made to do forced labor.
15.  For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.
16. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge
17. One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you.


The Journey this year had been topsy-turvy as well as rough. I spent all day with Joshua in the murk of battle, the intrigue of Kings, and the hand of God moving. Isaiah and I are taking our times slowly with his strong visual prophecies and harsh words for Israel. I have had to remember to be strong and courageous as well as faithful. Till we meet again next year, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.