DBG - March 12 - Joshua 1-4

The Book of Joshua is the record of the conquest and settlement of the Promised Land by the Israelites after the Exodus.   It is the fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-21.

A few quick facts about Joshua:

In this chapter God readies Joshua for the task ahead and Joshua readies the people for conquest.

vs. 1-9 – These verses hardly need a comment.  God commissions Joshua to lead the people into the land of Canaan and take it.  God will be with them and victory is practically assured.  It is impossible to read these verses without a stirring of confidence.

vs. 10-15 – Joshua sends the command to prepare to cross Jordan.  The 2 ½ tribes that settled east of the Jordan are told to settle their families and be ready to march with their brethren, as Moses had agreed with them in Numbers 32:2-28.

vs. 16-18 – They people reply and pledge themselves to follow Joshua’s command.  In vs. 18 we see that they are willing to put any to death that refuse to follow.

In this chapter we read the story of the two spies sent to spy out Jericho.

vs. 1-8 – There are many things to note in this passage.  First, Joshua’s good military sense in scouting ahead of their movement.  Second, the knowledge and fear of the impending Israelite invasion among the Canaanites.  Third, the description of the legendary city of Jericho.  Its fabled walls made it seem impenetrable.  They are so massive that Rahab’s house is literally on the wall.  Fourth, the person of Rahab.  She is called “a harlot”, who seems to have run a sort of tavern or inn.  It was a good place to hide with so many people going in and out.  She protects the spies when they are hunted. 

vs. 9-14 – Rahab professes faith in the true God because of the stories about what He had done with Israel.  She asks the spies to spare her family when they took Jericho, and they agree.

vs. 15-21 – Rahab helps the spies escape by letting them down by a scarlet-colored rope from the window of her house on the wall.  The spies tell her to mark her house by tying the rope in the window. 

vs. 22-24 – The spies escape and report back to Joshua, who takes courage in their report.

In this chapter Israel crosses the Jordan River.

vs. 1-6 – The people prepare to cross Jordan.  They are to follow the Ark of the Covenant as it is carried by the priests.  They are to stay back 2,000 cubits (3,000 feet) so they can witness how God is going to get them across the river.  In vs. 15 we learn that it is at flood stage.

vs. 7-8 – The priests are ordered to carry the Ark into the river and stand still in it.  I have often marveled at the faith of these priests, who obey without question an unusual command. 

vs. 9-13 – Joshua rallies the people and tells them that what they are about to witness is proof that God is on their side and victory is assured in Canaan.  Here Joshua reveals what will happen when the priests step into Jordan: the waters will pile up and allow them to cross on dry ground.

vs. 14-17 – Just as God had promised, the Jordan River stops flowing as if held back by an invisible barrier.  The water amasses so that it is noticed at a site some 17 miles or so (the location of Adam and Zaretan are not certain) upriver from the place they crossed.  The water that had already flowed by continues and the riverbed is empty below the crossing. 

In this chapter Israel erects monuments to mark the place they crossed Jordan.

vs. 1-9 – After Israel had crossed the Jordan and before the priests bearing the Ark exited the riverbed, two monuments are erected.  12 men are sent to collect 12 large rocks from the riverbed, and these are set in the place where Israel camped at Gilgal.  Joshua has 12 stones also placed in the riverbed where the priests had stood with the Ark. 

vs. 10-18 – All of Israel crosses the Jordan, including 40,000 warriors from the 2 ½ tribes that settled on the east side.  The priests come out of the riverbed, and the river starts flowing again as it had before. 

vs. 19 – The date of the crossing is the 10^th day of the first month.  This is the day that a lamb is selected by each family for the Passover on the 14^th (Exodus 12:3)  We see in 5:10 that Passover was observed at Gilgal. 

vs. 20-24 – The purpose of the twelve stones was to be a reminder of what God had done in bringing Israel into the land.  The river itself would not show signs of the crossing, so these stones acted as a monument to the miracle.

I love the fact that Joshua left a monument to the crossing of Jordan.  While it is unfortunately lost to history today, for generations it stood as a reminder of what God had done for His people.  We ought also to raise monuments to remember God’s mighty hand in our lives.  No, they do not have to be stone.  Our testimony is a powerful monument. 

Our hymn today is an old Black spiritual called “Deep River”.  It was first printed in 1876 and has become on the best-known spirituals today.  I takes the theme of crossing Jordan to a better land, likely Heaven though it is not explicitly stated. 

Deep river, my home is over Jordan,
Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.
Oh, don't you want to go to that gospel feast,
That promised land where all is peace?
Oh, deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into campground.