The Book of Joshua is the first of twelve designated Historical Books in the Old Testament. Possibly written by Joshua sometime between 1450 to 1370 B.C., this book covers a thirty year time span from the death of Moses in the wilderness, to the death of Joshua in the Promised Land. It is a book of transition. It details the account of the crossing over, out of the old wilderness wanderings, into the taking possession of Canaan. It is a book about a new leader, a new day, a new walk, and a new life in God; all of which is significant for us today!It must be remembered when studying this, or any of the other Books of the Bible, that it is not just a history lesson. If we study the Scriptures just to know a historical account; if all we get out of it is just historical facts; then we miss out on what God is saying to us now! God has hidden Truths of Himself all throughout the Scriptures, revealed to us in types and shadows that are able to make His Word more current and relevant to the Christian today than it was to the Jews of yesterday. God is Spirit. All of God’s Word is Spiritual. If we substitute knowing the letter of the Word, for the Spirit of the Word, we will not experience the refreshing, life giving treasures offered in its pages.
Chapter one of Joshua begins where the children of Israel have come to the border of the promised land after the forty years of wandering in the wilderness is complete. Moses has died, and Joshua has been selected to lead the children of Israel across the Jordan, to go and possess the land of promise. Moses represents the realm of life under the law. Joshua is the Hebrew name for the Greek name Jesus, who is a type of Christ that fulfills the law by walking out a new dimension of Grace and Truth. A new order is beginning and a new leader is needed to direct the people in the way that they should go. However, Joshua seems to be a somewhat reluctant leader. Notice, three times the Lord tells him to be strong and of a good courage. Even the people promise a commitment to follow him as their leader, and encourage Joshua to be strong and of a good courage. (1:16-18). This is significant to remember because God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Joshua proves to be an effective leader because, in his weakness God’s strength shines through. It was not in Joshua’s ability; for God has given the land to them; it was just necessary to be obedient, and to go take possession of their inheritance. Our inheritance in Christ is already provided for us, we need to be obedient to walk it out, and take possession of what He has already given to us.
Chapter two details the account of the two men sent from Shittim to spy out the land, even Jericho. Two is the number of witness, and also the two men represent a "firstfruits company" to enter the land ahead of the rest. As they went, they came to lodge in the house of a harlot named Rahab who hid them from being found out. There they learn that the people of Jericho have heard what God has done for the children of Israel, which made the men of that city very afraid. Rahab then makes a bi-lateral covenant with the two spies to protect herself and her family. As long as her house is marked with a scarlet thread in the window, those in the house will be spared. Of course, it is easy to see that the scarlet thread signifies a type and shadow of the covenant God has made with the blood of Christ that spares every one under its covering from His wrath and judgment.
After the two men returned, and reported their story to Joshua, the next morning Joshua rose early and all of the children of Israel moved to the Jordan where they prepared to pass over. (Chap. 3). This text provides a rich source of truths that could easily make this writing extensive. Traditionally, the Jordan River signified death; and entering into Canaan represented heaven—but tradition is wrong. Sure, the Jordan symbolizes death; but it is not the death of our physical life; rather it is the death of our old Adamic nature, and the resurrection of the new creation man! It is a dying to the self life and the raising into the Christ life. Crossing the Jordan means a change of order, leaving the wandering and confusion of the wilderness behind, and entering in, to experience an abundant living in the Grace of God now!
Moreover, crossing the Jordan signaled the transition into a new age; an age of Kingdom Living on earth. When a Priesthood raises the Ark of the Covenant (Jesus) onto their shoulders (government), It becomes all that the people following can see. Jesus must be raised up to a position of authority on the shoulders of His body (we are called to be kings and priests) so that He is all that the world can see, then He will draw all men unto Himself. Our self life must be swallowed up into His Life so that He is all that is seen. When this priesthood (firstfruits) steps into the Jordan, then death rolls back, and the way becomes open for the people to follow clean over on dry ground. This priesthood becomes the first to enter, and the last to leave.
After all the people have crossed over, the Lord tells Joshua to take a man from each tribe twelve men in all and each man to take a stone on his shoulder, twelve stones in all, out from the Jordan where the priests had stood firm. These were set up in Gilgal for a memorial to future generations of what the Lord has done. Twelve other stones were set up in the Jordan where the feet of the priest were as well. Here we have a memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ. We must never forget our Jordan experience with God. We must pass it on as a heritage to future generations, "That the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God forever." (4:24).
Next we see the nation was to undergo the covenant sign of circumcision. The new generation that was born in the wilderness had not been circumcised, and the first principles of this kingdom living must be established before they can participate in entering Canaan. The flesh must be dealt with, but only with the precision of a surgeon. Cut too much flesh, and it harms reproduction; don’t cut enough flesh, and it will cause trouble with their walk of obedience. Just as the flesh of our heart must be circumcised, so that we can walk in obedience to commands and statutes of God. To cut away too much flesh can inhibit our personality and stunt our ability to reproduce the likeness of Christ in others. If not enough flesh is removed, then we will be troubled with the flesh that remains inhibiting our walk of obedience to the voice of the Spirit. Once the circumcisions were complete, they celebrated the Passover feast and from then on their diet changed. The manna stopped, signaling a new beginning of their partaking of the fruit of the land.
Now we come to one of the most familiar passages in the Book of Joshua. The first battle in the promised land for the children of Israel at Jericho. From this passage we can glean many wonderful truths for today. Jericho is seen as symbolizing the world system that is delivered into the hands of Joshua (Jesus). The king of the world system, and the mighty warriors have built a thick wall in the land of promise (mind). The people were to march around the city once a day for six days, and then seven times on the seventh day. Six is the number of man, and each day represents a thousand years. Priests were assigned to carry the Ark of the Covenant. Seven more priests, speaking of a perfected priesthood, carrying seven trumpets, speaking of a perfected message, were to lead the procession blowing their trumpets. On the seventh day at the end of the seventh march around the city, the priests bearing trumpets were to sound out a long blast. When the people of the Lord, after remaining silent up until now, heard this they were to shout, at which time the walls of the city of Jericho fell flat. When the walls of the city came down, the people then ascended up to take the city. When the walls of our carnal mind fall flat, we are able to ascend up to a higher level in our walk with God.
Of course, victory at Jericho is just the beginning of our walk in Kingdom living. Continued obedience to every detail of God’s instructions is necessary to remain victorious in battles against the enemy in the land of promise. It is so easy to take for granted the victories God has given us, and to presumptuously move ahead in our own strength. Joshua inquired of the spies he sent to Ai and did not inquire of the Lord. If he had he would have prevented their initial defeat in that city. God is a God of principles. To violate the principles of God, such as Achan did by taking and hiding that accursed thing is to bring the judgment of God on yourself and others who are affected by that disobedience. Be sure your sin will find you out. When the sin is cleansed, and order and obedience are restored, victory can then be assured.
After this, to avoid certain death, the Gibeonites purposed to deceive Joshua by pretending to be from a far land (worldly system). They loaded donkeys (beast nature) with worn out sacks and wineskins (soul had no fresh spirit). The men put on patched sandals (Gospel) and wore old clothes (salvation). Their bread was dry and moldy (no fresh Word). These Gibeonites wished to make a treaty with Joshua. Many have learned to walk the walk, and talk the talk, and will deceive us if we are not careful. Without inquiring of the Lord, an oath was struck between the two nations. We must be careful with whom we strike an agreement because, after three days when it was found out they were deceived, they were still bound by the oath they had taken.
Now when the five kings of other nations heard about the treaty between the Gibeonites and the people of Israel, they decided to wage war on this newly converted nation. This is much like the "five senses" that will wage war with our Spirit. We believe what we cannot see, or hear, or touch, or smell, or taste in the natural senses, because we learn to develop our Spiritual senses. "TASTE and SEE that the Lord is good!"
When the Gibeonites came under attack, they sent word to Joshua to come and help them. Immediately Joshua came with his best fighting men to their aid. As the Lord caused the sun to stand still during the battle, and sent hailstones on the enemy, never was there a day like this before or since. Early in our Christian experience we face the enemies of doubt and reason, and the "kings" of our five senses wage war in our mind. If we will, with the help of those more mature, not stop until we put them to death, we can gain control of that "land" in our mind.
Chapter 11 describes the greatest test for Joshua. One or two "battles" on our journey to possess the land is not all that it is going to take. More than a couple of victories is necessary to be an overcomer. It is a progressive walk. Each battle we face gives us the experience we need to fight the next one, and each one that follows is greater than the one before. Ten kings now joined together to do battle with Israel, but God was with Joshua all the way. "If God is for us who shall be against us?" (Rom. 8)
Far to often we blame our troubles on the devil, or some evil forces against us exempt from the hand of God, but many times it is precisely the hand of God that brings it to pass. For it was even the Lord who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that He might destroy them totally. (11:20). God is careful to not place more on us than we can bear, but He will also with that battle provide the means whereby we can have the victory if we will continue to be obedient to His ways. Once these battles are won; once the land is taken; then that land has rest from war. (11:23b.). By experiencing the battles in our flesh in our walk with the Lord, and having the victories in our trial and temptations, we too can gain ground in that area and our "land" can rest from war.
Although the Lord tells Joshua there is still much land that is left to possess, he is also old and he has been walking in this land for many years. Joshua is told to allocate the land to Israel for an inheritance. Future generations will get to reap the freedoms and benefits of battles we have fought. Others can live in the liberty of spiritual lands we have battled to possess. Many have believed this Word of Present Truth for years against much opposition, and while there is still much land left to explore and possess, there are many now who can enjoy what they fought so hard to proclaim.
And now, don’t forget your history, don’t forget where you came from or what you went through to get here. Don’t lose what victories you fought so hard to keep. Don’t look back except to be thankful for how far you have come. Don’t go back. Choose to serve the Lord.
Amen.
