Joshua: The LORD Saves

Arise, Go Over This Jordan

Joshua was born a slave in Egypt and walked out of it in the Exodus. We first meet him leading Israel's army against Amalek while Moses held up the rod of God on the hill (Exodus 17:9–13; see the struck rock). From then on he is Moses' minister (Joshua 1:1; Exodus 24:13), the young man who departed not out of the tabernacle (Exodus 33:11).

When Moses sent twelve men to search out Canaan, Joshua went for the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8). Ten came back afraid. Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and pleaded with the people: If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land (Numbers 14:6–9). The nation refused, and a generation died in the wilderness. Of the men who came out of Egypt as adults, only Joshua and Caleb would enter (Numbers 14:30).

Forty years later Moses laid his hands on Joshua, a man in whom is the spirit (Numbers 27:18–23). Moses died on Mount Nebo, and the word of the LORD came to his successor.

“Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.”JOSHUA 1:1–3 · KJV

God gave him a promise and a charge: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage (Joshua 1:5–9).

What followed is one of the great stories of Scripture. Rahab hid the spies in Jericho and perished not with them that believed not (Hebrews 11:31). The Jordan stood up in a heap when the priests carrying the ark stepped into it (Joshua 3; see the Ark of the Covenant). At Gilgal the people were circumcised and kept the Passover, and the day after they ate the produce of the land, the manna stopped (Joshua 5:10–12). Jericho's walls fell. Achan's sin brought defeat at Ai, and then victory. Southern and northern kings fell in turn, and the land was divided among the tribes.

At the end Joshua gathered Israel at Shechem, rehearsed everything God had done, and called them to decide: choose you this day whom ye will serve (Joshua 24:15). He died at a hundred and ten, and Scripture gave him the title it had given Moses: the servant of the LORD (Joshua 24:29; Joshua 1:1).