Joshua

Joshua

Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." Exodus 17:9

This is the first passage of scripture where you find Joshua. There is a law called the law of first mention. The law of first mention is a principle that requires one to take a fraction of Scriptures where a principle, expression, or act is mentioned for the first time, in the Bible, and to study the first occurrence of this in order to get the fundamental inbuilt meaning of that principle, expression, or act. When this law is applied the simple meaning usually goes before the complex. Throughout the history of a term it may have grown in its meaning and undergone certain changes, yet the basic, original, fundamental thought is rarely lost. The fundamental concept more often than not controls the understanding of any idea expressed by a term in its present-day usage.

Here Joshua is mentioned as a warrior and also a leader in battle. This view does not change throughout the Scriptures. It may add to this meaning, but it is never done away with. Joshua throughout the Bible remains a leader, and a warrior for the Most High God.

How was Joshua such a great leader? He was dependent

on, and faithful to God. He also took the commission given to him by Moses and God, and made it a lifestyle. What was this great commission? You can find it in Deuteronomy.

Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, "Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance." Deuteronomy 31:7

This commission given by Moses to Joshua was reaffirmed by the Lord.

The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you." Deuteronomy 31:23

Now what did that mean to Joshua? Well, take the first part, "Be strong" (Ð*жч). The Hebrew word there is châzaq. The definition is: To strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, and be resolute. 1

Now take the second part, "Courageous." The Hebrew word here is âmats (ÐoоÑ...). The definition is: To be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, and hard. 1

He is telling Joshua to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, trusting faithfulness and relying on God, who goes before him.

The reason Joshua needed such a commission, was because of the task that was given to him. He became the leader of a nation surrounded by hostile people. Look at Joshua 12:8-24. This is what lay before him.

"These are the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir (their lands Joshua gave as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions: the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the desert and the Negev-the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites): The king of Jericho, one the king of Ai (near Bethel), one the king of Jerusalem, one the king of Hebron, one the king of Jarmuth, one the king of Lachish, one the king of Eglon, one the king of Gezer, one the king of Debir, one the king of Geder, one the king of Hormah, one the king of Arad, one the king of Libnah, one the king of Adullam, one the king of Makkedah, one the king of Bethel, one the king of Tappuah, one the king of Hepher, one the king of Aphek, one the king of Lasharon, one the king of Madon, one the king of Hazor, one the king of Shimron Meron, one the king of Acshaph, one the king of Taanach, one the king of Megiddo, one the king of Kedesh, one the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one the king of Dor (in Naphoth Dor), one the king of Goyim in Gilgal, one the king of Tirzah, and thirty-one kings in all."

Thirty one kings laid before him, and that is why he had to remain strong and courageous. He fought not only thirty one kings, but countless thousands of the king's soldiers. Also, every king has a kingdom, and almost every kingdom is fortified. Take for example Jericho. It had a great wall surrounding it. Joshua didn't just have to fight the men of Jericho, but he had to first get past the walls of Jericho. That is when trusting faithfulness really had to show through in his character.

Jericho's fortification techniques were developed in the Middle Bronze period, it included steep earthen slopes (some that could reach 50ft. in height) at the base of the walls and a ditch dug around the outside dug to the bedrock. Theses features held back the approach of siege machines and prevented tunneling. The walls, made of mud bricks on stone foundations, were ten to twenty-five feet wide and around thirty feet tall.

Take this imagery of the walls, and look at Joshua. They came out from captivity, and out from the wilderness. They didn't even have swords. Nor did they have any armor, and now they stand before this wall. Now all that I can think Joshua can be doing at this point is reflecting. Remembering his commission, and, also, remembering how faithful God was to Moses. Even though he was a mighty warrior; He had to remain strong, courageous, and trust in God's faithfulness. He could not rely on his own strength, or his position. He couldn't say, "Because we are God's chosen the walls are going to fall no matter what we do." They had to have faith, and live it out.

There were many other amazing battles besides the battle of Jericho. When Joshua fought the Amorites; he prayed that the sun would stand still until the battle was won. The main thing about a warrior is that you must know where you stand. You have to have a battle plan and see it through. Joshua knew where he stood with God. He did not ask something impossible. He was talking to God. He knew the same thing that Matthew did in Matthew 19:26, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Joshua was mighty in battle, but man has a downfall. No matter how mighty (or spiritual) you are, you are still able to be deceived, especially, when you are not in constant communication with God. In Joshua chapter nine; Joshua is deceived by the Gibeonites. He sees a man (a Gibeonite) who appears weak and tired from much travel.