If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the LORD is with us. Then Joshua spoke to the LORD . The defeat was attributed to Achan taking an "accursed thing" from Jericho; and was followed by Achan and his family and animals being stoned to death to restore God's favor. Want fresh teachings and disciple making content? Perhaps this seemed like a meaningless exercise to some of them. At the foot of the promised land, when the rest of the community shrank back Gods promise, God gave them their desire. Moses picked twelve men, one from each Israelite tribe, to scope out the land and come back with a report. [30] However, when Moses returned to the mountain to re-create the tablets recording the Ten Commandments, Joshua was not present, as the biblical text states "no man shall come up with you". Great leaders are people who have no problem with serving others. 'Yahweh is salvation')[b][2][3] or Josue,[4] functioned as Moses' assistant in the books of Exodus and Numbers, and later succeeded Moses as leader of the Israelite tribes in the Book of Joshua of the Hebrew Bible. His first name was Hoshe'a the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, but Moses called him Joshua (Numbers 13:16). He was considered a prince or leader of his tribe (Numbers 13:2-3). He was born in Egypt. For when you do, you invite God to transform your heart and equip you to love and serve others well. "[75], Muslim literature includes traditions of Joshua not found in the Hebrew Bible. According to the Bible, he was born in Egypt prior to the Exodus. Unlike the other people groups, the Gibeonites feared the works of God and did not want to fight Israel. As long as the devil is hunting souls, we have battles to fight. Does any of this sound familiar to you? And when you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered (Numbers 27:12-13). [47] Some alternate sites for Ai have been proposed which would partially resolve the discrepancy in dates, but these sites have not been widely accepted. David Baker is a pastor for the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. Joshua was with Moses when he descended from the mountain, heard the Israelites' celebrations around the Golden Calf,[29] and broke the tablets bearing the words of the commandments. Though having been magnified by the Lord himself - Josh 3:7; 4:14 His name was Hoshea ( Ha, lit. The better we know that story, the better our hearts can reflect that of Gods. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess. (Deut. Joshua was the son of Nun ( Ex. Joshua (/du/) also known as Yehoshua (Hebrew: Yhua, Tiberian: Yhua, lit. Character of Joshua 1) Joshua was one of Moses' most trusted disciples. . Theres nothing preventing us from hearing from God except the mental clutter that comes from prioritizing distractions. Tweet M any Christians have learned and sung the song, "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho " when they were younger. 7. Victory at Ai (Joshua 8:1-35) | Bible.org Who was Joshua in the Bible? Joshuas faithfulness had a great influence on those of his generation. Book of Joshua, Joshua also spelled Josue, the sixth book of the Bible, which, along with Deuteronomy, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings, belongs to a tradition of Jewish history and law, called Deuteronomic, that was first committed to writing about 550 bce, during the Babylonian Exile. More importantly, he is a spiritual man. Joshua gives God the glory for their victories, Solomon asks God for wisdom instead of riches and long life, and ultimately Jesus humbles himself to become a servant. How did he become known to Moses? Nehemiah was an incredible leader, and this free study explored his story and 15 leadership principles from his life. 1) Be Strong and Courageous It can be tempting to think of a servant leader as timid, quiet, and unassertive. Moses's legendary miracles before Pharaoh, along with his doubts and insecurities, make him the great mortal hero of the Old Testament. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve theLord. God revealed that Achan had sinned. [85] Alternative traditional sites for his tomb are situated in Israel (the Shia shrine at Al-Nabi Yusha'), Jordan (An-Nabi Yusha' bin Noon, a Sunni shrine near the city of Al-Salt[86][87]), Iran (Historical cemetery of Takht e Foolad in Esfahan[88]) and Iraq (the Nabi Yusha' shrine of Baghdad[86]). He is described as handsome and ruddy with beautiful eyes (1 Samuel 16:12). They have been married for more than 32 years and have two children. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem, translator (2005). Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. 1:1; 3:7; 4:1). Answer Joshua is best known as Moses' second in command who takes over and leads the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses' death. God listened to the request of His faithful servant Joshua and performed an awesome miracle. Similarly, in the narrative which refers to Moses being able to speak with God in his tent of meeting outside the camp, Joshua is seen as custodian of the tent ('tabernacle of meeting') when Moses returned to the Israelite encampment. [67] Several medieval commentators noticed that Joshua's shorter birth name, Hosea, appears in the first few verses of Aleinu in reverse acrostic: , , , . [31], Later, Joshua was identified as one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore and report on the land of Canaan,[32] and only he and Caleb gave an encouraging report, a reward for which would be that only these two of their entire generation would enter the promised land.[33]. He didnt need to be trendy. Ive seen many leaders start off great. Not only did Joshua read the law himself, he also read the entire thing to the people in Joshua 8:30-35. Although a book in the Bible is named after him, Joshua shows up prior to the book of Joshua, as a disciple of Moses, a spy, and a military leader. Joshua 24:14-15 includes a very famous verse that is often quoted on the walls of Christian homes. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword (Joshua 10:10-11). Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. (Ex. Joshua. We first meet Joshua when he served as an aide to Moses. We likely read about Joshua today largely because of his teachability during the decades Moses spent discipling him. Jericho was an ancient fortified city that guarded the entrance into the land of Canaan from the east. Good leaders dont abdicate the struggle. As Joshua neared death, he summoned Israel together. A Soul-Searching, God-Centered Training in What's True. The Bible doesn't focus on his personal life, but rather on his faithfulness and leadership. After the destruction of Jericho, the Israelites attacked the smaller city of Ai. And Joshua went to him and said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, No; but I am the commander of the army of theLord. He earned by manly vigor a quiet, honored old age and retained his faith and loyalty, exclaiming, in almost his dying breath, As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (The New Ungers Bible Dictionary, Joshua). Joshua plays a role in Islamic literature, with significant narration in the hadith. All rights reserved. [66] Prickly burnet (Sarcopoterium spinosum) and the camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum) could be freely collected as firewood by any member of any tribe, in any tribal territory. The Bible does not give the reason, but we read that Joshua and the Israelites faithfully followed Gods instructions and God fulfilled His promise. There is a fascinating little story towards the end of Joshua 5. We never know what battles each other might be up against on a given day, and we can always use encouragement. Moses mediates between God and the people, transforming the Israelites from an oppressed ethnic group into a nation founded on religious laws. (And of course it was; the question wasnt the strength of their army but the depth of their faith in God.) According to Joshua 24:29,[9] Joshua died at the age of 110. We have a tendency to believe the world revolves around us, but a great servant leader knows this is not the case. [59] That "honor shall uphold the humble in spirit"[60] is proved by Joshua's victory over Amalek. He is the only man ever to know God "face to face." During this transition into the land, Joshua led his men to undergo their peoples rite of circumcision, which this generation had not yet done. When bold men bow their knee to Jesus willingly and vulnerably, it reminds me that Jesus really is the Man. My friend and I were making small talk as he was waiting to be baptized. Perhaps he was afraid more times than the passage tells us. Biography And Character Profile Of Joshua From The Bible An important lesson for Israel and especially Joshua was that victory comes from God and our faithfulness to Him. The Zone of Faith "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6). 6:26; see 1 Kings 16:34). God revealed that Israel had sinned at Jericho. Why not Caleb or someone from the generation born in the wilderness? This means we should worship God, because He is the one who deserves the glory. 3:9). Half of the congregation was in front of Mount Ebal (curses) and half in front of Mount Gerizim (blessings). According to biblical chronology, Joshua lived some time in the Bronze Age. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, The Story of Joshua in the Bible: 7 Principles of Servant Leadership, When your children ask their fathers in times to come, What do these stones mean?, then you shall let your children know, Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground., But all the leaders said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by the, This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them., When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. Why? Got any thoughts on the story of Joshua? Was he married? We are wired to put our own survival and our own needs and desires first, but God calls us to something different. Battle of Jericho According to the Talmud, Joshua in his book enumerated only those towns on the frontier. How was he selected for his unique position? In Joshua 11 we read of Joshua leading the Israelites against the kingdoms in northern Canaan. For more Bible studies on servant leadership, check out the other posts in this series or the pdf study we have available for Nehemiah: And if you want to really go deeper, then you should register for our course on the Story of the Bible. One final time, he called them to remember Gods laws and to commit to follow God. [50] In 1951 Kathleen Kenyon showed that Jericho was from the Middle Bronze Age (c. 21001550 BCE), not the Late Bronze Age (c. 15501200 BCE). As Joshua was nearing the end of his life, he called for the elders of Israel, and they again gathered at Shechem. Continuing excavations have revealed stone towers which are even older. The capital of the confederation was Hazor; a large, wealthy and fortified city along the ancient trade route that connected Egypt, the Mediterranean coast, Syria and Babylon. People love to receive vision. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters Gods rest also rests from their works. At the end of Joshuas life, the following statement is made about him: Now it came to pass after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred and ten years old . Not everything will be as clear cut as choosing to serve the Lord. Instead of taking glory for themselves, they give it to God. [70], The story of Joshua and the Canaanite kings is also alluded to in the 2 Meqabyan, a book considered canonical in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Here's what I learned by studying Joshua. [55] The story of the conquest perhaps represents the nationalist propaganda of the eighth century BCE kings of Judah and their claims to the territory of the Kingdom of Israel,[41] incorporated into an early form of Joshua written late in the reign of king Josiah (reigned 640609BCE). Even as a leader, he was willing to serve. 13:22). So, when God called Moses up to Mount Sinai to receive the law, Moses took Joshua with him (Ex. The principle to follow the law comes from Joshua 1:7. Before we get started, its always a great idea to read the book of Joshua in the Bible to better understand the story. Some leaders, however, make the mistake of glorifying themselves to get that appreciation. It can be tempting to pick and choose what we follow, but God calls Joshua (and us) to be careful to do according to all the law and to not turn from it to the right hand or to the left. It is in the nature of man to try and replace Gods wisdom with our own wisdom. We do know that Joshua was from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8). This idea was first cited in the Kol Bo of the late 14th Century. Those chosen for this mission are described as leaders of their tribes. God appeared to Joshua near Jericho in the form of the Commander of the army of the Lord with a sword in His hand (Joshua 5:13-15). It was a major obstacle in the path to Israels inheritance of the Promised Land. Joshua is the story of the kingdom of God breaking into the world of nations at a time when national and political entities were viewed as the creation of the gods and living proofs of their power. What is the significance of Gibeah in the Bible? Joshua 9:19-20 says this, But all the leaders said to all the congregation, We have sworn to them by theLord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 1. The Commissioning of Joshua (Joshua 1:1-18) | Bible.org Joshua, Judges and Work | Theology of Work But every once in awhile we get a different version of the story. He is currently serving as regional director for the Philippines, Asia and Australia. [44] Given its lack of historicity, Carolyn Pressler in her commentary for the Westminster Bible Companion series suggests that readers of Joshua should give priority to its theological message ("what passages teach about God") and be aware of what these would have meant to audiences in the seventh and sixth centuries BCE. The Leadership Qualities Of Joshua Joshua 24:29-31 He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses (Joshua 11:15). God promised to deliver this vast multitude and their cities into the hands of Joshua and Israel. [10][11], The English name "Joshua" is a rendering of the Hebrew Yehoshua, and is mostly interpreted as "Yahweh is salvation";[12][13] although others have also alternatively interpreted it as "Yahweh is lordly". If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. It helps prepare to them to lead B. 26:65). They engage the struggle knowing that God is the victor. 11:28) from the tribe of Ephraim ( Num. He pointed to two sets of archaeological findings that "seem to suggest that the biblical account is in general correct regarding the nature of the late thirteenth and twelfth-eleventh centuries in the country" (i.e., "a period of tremendous violence"). Be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left (Josh. Thirty-six men were killed, and the hearts of the people melted and became like water (Joshua 7:5). 33:11, Num. In Numbers 13 we read that Joshua was selected as one of the spies to survey the land of Canaan. [14] The theophoric name appears to be constructed from a combination of the Tetragrammaton with the Hebrew noun (Modern: ya, Tiberian: y), meaning "salvation";[15][16][17][18] derived from the Hebrew root (y--), meaning "to save/help/deliver". There is no better example of this than Jesus. They asked for help, protection, and peace. He is considered a prophet and a type of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. He then backs his decisions up with action. He is described as a man of valor and learning, strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-7), well-informed about and obedient to God's law (Josh. They sought after a peace treaty, but went about it in a cunning way. Never miss a post! Bible: The Old Testament: Character List | SparkNotes So Joshua was selected to lead the children of Israel after the death of Moses. If you are true believers, put your trust in God. Seek to understand it, know it, and teach it. A local tradition combining three versions of three different Yushas, including biblical Joshua, places the tomb inside a cave in the Tripoli Mountains, overlooking the coastal town of el-Minyieh near Tripoli, Lebanon.[89][90]. However, they were defeated with thirty-six Israelite deaths. . 17:8-14). Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed Josue (H.404 and H.404 a), an oratorio for soloists, double chorus, double orchestra and continuo, in 1680. to commemorate Joshua having led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Land of Israel while carrying the Ark of the Covenant. His life is a good example of the spiritual growth that is experienced by every young believer who walks with the Lord. Among the early Church Fathers, Joshua is considered a type of Jesus Christ. Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land and is known for his military campaigns to conquer and settle the land. In the days of Joshua, when the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh built their own altar east of the Jordan River, the other tribes used the story of Achan as a warning: "Do not rebel against the . Book of Joshua | Summary, Analysis, & Facts | Britannica The other 10 spies viewed the land without faith in God or His promises.Next, we read of Joshua accompanying Moses up Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:13). "[37] The LORD also fought for the Israelites in this battle, for he hurled huge hailstones from the sky which killed more Canaanites than those which the Israelites slaughtered. In the same way, we should not look to our own glory or fight for people to give us credit. He was Moses faithful servant and assistant. He had served under Moses for some time, and when Moses laid hands on him, Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom ( Deuteronomy 34:9 ). "[80], Baroque composer Georg Frideric Handel composed the oratorio Joshua in 1747. God referred to them as a stiff-necked, rebellious people. He later accompanied Moses when he ascended biblical Mount Sinai to commune with God,[28] visualize God's plan for the Israelite tabernacle and receive the Ten Commandments. A Character Analysis of Joshua - Hope-in-Jesus.com He needed to be clear, because too much was at stake. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for theLordyour God is with you wherever you go.. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version ( 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). The memorial still stood when the book of Joshua was written (Josh. Together, they returned to camp and discovered to their heartache that the people were worshiping a golden calf they had crafted. Ultimately, the foundation of Joshua's leadership is not his own strength, nor even Moses' tutelage, but God's guidance and power. For one thing, the Hebrew name Yehoshua or Yeshua (Joshua in English) translates into Greek as Iesous (Jesus in English). According to Jewish religious tradition, upon making Aliyah by crossing the Jordan River to enter the Land of Israel, Joshua composed the Aleinu prayer thanking God. Joshua in the Bible - Faithful Follower of God But on the other hand, it is really devastating to realize that the leadership who cast the vision actually has no intention of acting in a way that will deliver or support that vision. The land of Canaan was now open for Israel to settle. He is the editorial director for Renew.org as well as a part-time professor of philosophy for Ozark Christian College. This is why Joshuas refrain throughout the book of Joshua was be strong and courageous. How could they have courage as a nation of ex-slaves being told to conquer dozens of fortified kingdoms? So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. Ten spies gave an evil report of the land: The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. No care, no advantage, no duty was neglected by him. Putting others first does not equal being passive or insecure. We are not given the reason for the change in name, but Moses understood clearly that it is the Lord who saves, not man. 24:13). And then he challenged them: And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. [45] Richard Nelson explained that the needs of the centralised monarchy favoured a single story of origins, combining old traditions of an exodus from Egypt, belief in a national god as "divine warrior," and explanations for ruined cities, social stratification and ethnic groups, and contemporary tribes. If we want to lead well, weve got to be willing to dissent from lies that are popular to believe and pleasing to hear. The reason was that God will be with you wherever you go (Josh. The Battle of Jericho, as described in the Biblical Book of Joshua, was the first battle fought by the Israelites in the course of the conquest of Canaan. 34), it was Joshuas leadership as a military strategist that he is most known for.
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