That Joshua wrote this book seems evident from chapter 5:1,6, where the writer includes himself in the action. Joshua, meaning “Jehovah the Saviour,” is the same as Jesus in the New Testament Greek.
We first meet Joshua in Exodus 17 leading the army of Israel against Amalek a type of the flesh, an enemy against whom we must always be on guard. We meet Joshua again in Exodus 24:13-14 accompanying Moses into the mount of God.
Moses pitched the tabernacle afar off from the camp. Joshua shared the outside place with Moses (Ex. 33:11). When Moses went into the camp, “his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not from the tabernacle.”
A young man told Moses, “Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp,” and Joshua replied, “My lord Moses, forbid them”! Moses’ gracious answer was, “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets” (Num. 11:27-29).
When Jesus’ disciples forbad someone, “because he followeth not with us,” the Lord told them, “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us” (Luke 9:49-50). We can be thankful when godly men, wherever they are, teach truth.
Confidence in the Lord Joshua had the confidence of his own tribe, Ephraim. He was chosen as one of the twelve spies to search out the land of Canaan (Num. 13:8). Only Joshua and Caleb trusted God, saying, “We are well able to overcome it” (vs. 30). Although faithful themselves, they had to wander forty years in the wilderness with their unbelieving brethren. They only, of all that left Egypt, were promised a dwelling in the land. The Lord said of them, “They have wholly followed the Lord” (Num. 14:30; 32:12).
Walking With the Lord
Before entering the land, Moses charged Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them” (Deut. 31:23).
The Lord Himself spoke to him, “I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Josh. 1:5). We have the same promise in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
If Joshua and the people would keep the law, then “thou shalt have good success” (Josh. 1:8). Our responsibility is on the ground of grace, and faithfulness is required of us. Oh, to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.... Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt. 25:23).
Joshua’s diligence is seen in chapter 3:1: “Joshua rose early in the morning.” It was the same with Abraham (Gen. 22:3) and with the Lord Jesus. “Rising up a great while before day, He went out, and... prayed” (Mark 1:35). If we prayed before the start of our busy day, how blessed our day would be!
Judging the Flesh On entering Canaan, Israel must exercise self-judgment before dealing with the inhabitants of the land. They had not circumcised their children in the wilderness. Now at Gilgal they had to do this. After each battle they returned to Gilgal, the place of self-judgment.
Before the battle at Jericho, Joshua was confronted by a man with a sword drawn in his hand. Joshua challenged him, “Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?” He responds, “Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord” (Josh. 5:13-15). Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did worship. He learned he was under a higher authority and loosed his shoe as the true Captain of the host had commanded.
The Cost of Failure
God brings instruction for us out of Joshua’s failure at Ai in chapter 7. Without instruction from God, he sent spies to Ai and listened to their advice. Israel was defeated. God used Achan’s sin to expose the self-confidence of Joshua and Israel and to humble them.
Joshua and the elders were again deceived because they “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord” (Josh. 9:14). They believed the lie of the Gibeonites. Had they lived so far away as they claimed, there was no need of a league with them, and Israel had been warned not to make any alliances with the people of the land.
Since they had sworn in the name of the Lord God of Israel, the passage of time didn’t alter the vow. Years later, Saul slew some Gibeonites, and during the days of David (2 Sam. 21:1) the Lord allowed a famine until seven sons of Saul were slain.
Steadfast Faith
The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh. There from the presence of the Lord the land was divided to the tribes and cities of refuge were chosen. Joshua encouraged the people not to be slack in taking their inheritance, “though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong” (Josh. 17:18).
When Joshua was old, he encouraged the people to keep the law of Moses and reminded them that the Lord had driven out their enemies. “Not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you” (Josh. 23:14).
Joshua challenged the people, clearly declaring his own position. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.... As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). May this be the purpose of our hearts.
T. A. Roach