A New Beginning - Joshua 1

What is it about?

People have problems with the book of Joshua. Can't blame them, though. With accounts like shouting till the walls of Jericho fell; the sun standing still for almost one day; the river Jordan halted during overflow season... you would think these things should just be kept in their 'proper' places - in myths and fables.


Thus, some have developed a tendency to treat the Bible as a book of good morals, you know, the contents may not necessarily be all true... but useful as a book to base good practices on. Kinda like Aesop's fables. The dog with the bone was metaphorically reflecting mankind's greed and insatiable hunger for what is perceived to be greener on the other side of the pasture.


But we are not going to get away so easily. 2 Tim 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness...." Which means, if you are going to accept the Bible as true, then it is all true. Likewise the opposite.



No compartmentalising, friends. Anyways, back to Joshua.



It has been a while. Forty years or so, since Moses had led Israel out of Egypt. Even longer then, had God's promises been made to Abraham (Gen 12). Since then, Israel's family had grown from a pre-Egypt band of 70-odd people, to a couple of million in post-Egypt; had a few hiccups and spent a long 400-year hiatus in slavery. But God's plan and promises are still moving along.



We had journeyed with the Israelites in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy - the Pentateuch or first five books of the Bible (the Jewish holy book, Torah bears similarity). And now, in Joshua, Israel is finally perched on the verge of the fulfillment of God's promise made so very long ago. Many generations had lived and died since then. But that has not stopped God's promise from fulfillment. God sees in millennias, whereas humans see in years. We need to tweak our perspective to God's. That is why the heros of faith in Hebrews 11 are lauded. Their belief outlived them.



You would be forgiven for thinking that Joshua is the 6th book of the Pentateuch. It follows in immediate succession the (mis)adventures of Israel from the last event in Deuteronomy. This is where God called Joshua to lead and invade in the conquest of possessing the enemy's land. But more than that, this has issues that touch our lives and faith today.

Joshua marks new beginnings for God's people, and many believers today need a new beginning.

Observations

Chapter 1



The book begins by God informing Joshua, Moses' aide, that the latter is dead. The past is gone. Along with that, came God's charge to Joshua as the new leader. V2 - 5 God reassures Joshua of his promises. The thing to note however, is that God said, "as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you." This must have meant a lot to Joshua, who had personally witnessed the LORD's dealings directly with Moses, and was wowed and awed. God graciously encouraged His servant and reminded him of obedience. The same thing is still true today - true success in life cannot occur apart from knowing and doing the will of God.





The words "be strong and of good courage" appear four times in this chapter. Walking by faith and not by sight needs the potent combo of strength and courage. After all that's been said and done... there is only one way to go - obedience and trust in God, even in the face of impossibility.



Thoughts

I wonder if we need a new beginning today, in our lives, careers, finances, relationships? If so, the way is still the same - via obedience, faith and trust in the Lord through Jesus Christ, our Joshua.



..