The sixth book of Scripture seems to bring to a conclusion what the first book started. In Genesis we see the beginning of God’s chosen people through the Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God’s promise to them and their descendants of a land “flowing with milk and honey”. We follow the story in the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy where God frees this chosen people from slavery in Egypt, gives them the Law, leads them through the wilderness, reminds them of His goodness and their responsibility, and brings them to the boundary of this Promised Land. Moses has died and Joshua is now leading the nation. The book of Joshua hits the high note by God fulfilling His promise to give it to Israel and them seeing that fulfillment.
Yet, the book of Joshua is “holy history” meaning that the story is meant to teach us more about God and His ways as well as our walk with Him. God has shown his faithfulness in the past to Israel and continues to do so in the book of Joshua. He wins them decisive battles against forces much stronger, and under His leadership through Joshua, Israel is a united front. They move as one people under one God and have success in their mission to settle in the land. However, the second half of the book presents each of the twelve tribes going on their own, and because some tribes wandered away from obeying God, many of the inhabitants of Canaan who were wicked were not driven out of the land. Perhaps this was God’s plan all along. Even in Israel’s failure, God is still working and this meant that the Canaanites, the people who were to be driven out because of their wickedness, are being shown mercy by God and being invited to know Him by living with His people Israel. Because God is the only God of all people, there are different “non-Israelites” in Joshua who come to know Him: Rahab and the Gibeonites. The choice for everyone is stark but simple: life or death. The message of Deuteronomy (as we have seen) and all of Scripture is that God loves humanity (that means you!) and is inviting them to choose Him and find life.
Like Israel, God has shown us His goodness and faithfulness despite our “wanderings”. It is because God has been faithful in the past that He asks us to trust and obey Him in the present and future. He asks us to trust Him because He is trustworthy. God does not simply drop obscure and confusing teachings from the sky and says, “obey me now!” He acts and shows us who He is. He asks us to put our faith in Him, but He also gives us the Bible which is a record of His actions and proof that He is good. God has already acted, made the first move, then looks back at us and invites us to take His hand and follow. Like Israel, our responsibility is not simply to say we believe with our words, but also prove we trust Him by our actions. When we act in faithful response to God’s offer of grace, we show the world our faith is true and genuine, which brings honor and glory to Him. Like Israel, we in the church are called to be a united, holy community that faithfully obeys God wherever He leads us, even if it is to face some uncertain trials and enter “lands” we have never traversed. And like Israel, God desires to use us to invite all people to know Him and experience His love and grace. Brothers and sisters, do not fear, for even if God leads us into unfamiliar territory, rest assured He has already done the work and paved the way. All He asks us to do in return is be faithful and trust Him day-by-day and step-by-step.
Your Brother in the Lord,
Craig