Joshua spends the ramaining time of his life speaking to the people at large and challenging them to reject other gods and follow the LORD. Joshua sets up a choice that has only 2 options: Serve the LORD or serve false gods - there is no middle ground. Joshua goes on record to say that he and his house will serve the LORD. That same question is posed to each one of us.
Joshua gives glory to the LORD, even though he has been a very accomplished leader. He challenges the leaders to keep trusting God and continue to claim their inheritance. He reminds them that God's Word never fails and must be obeyed to the letter! Only then will the LORD's favor continue.
We are told in Joshua 14:14 that Caleb "followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly". He is only one of two survivors of the wanderings in the desert (the other is Joshua) as a direct result of his positive report as one of the original 12 spies of the promised land.
The Battle Still Belongs to the Lord Guest Speaker Jim Black Did you ever wonder if the Israelite army was growing tired of the battles? They had been fighting for…
The Gibeonites cry out to the Israelites for help when they are attacked by their neighbors. The result is that Israel is stuck defending a people that they should have defeated in battle! God is gracious to Israel and helps them win the battle despite the fact that Israel got THEMSELVES into this trouble. However, this God-assisted victory opens the way for Joshua to begin his attack on southern Canaan.
In Joshua 9 we meet the Gibeonites. They have been watching their neighbors and know that they fought a losing battle, because the LORD was fighting for Israel, and no army could resist Him. So, they decided to use deception instead of military muscle. If Satan does not defeat you by coming as the devouring lion (1 Pet. 5:8–9), he will try again as the deceiving serpent (2 Cor. 11:3). He never gives up. The humiliating defeat at Ai should have taught Joshua and the leaders to take time to pray and seek the mind of the Lord. After all, the Lord was the Commander of the army (Josh. 5:13–15). But they walked by sight and not by faith, and unbelief has a hard time waiting (Isa. 28:16; 30:1–2).
God speaks to Joshua to let him know that Ai already has been delivered into their hands.
One man, Achan, decides to keep some of the devoted things from Jericho for himself. His choice ends up having dire consequences for Israel and about 36 men are killed as a result.
So, we finally begin the conquest of the Promise Land with an attack on Jericho....Or, do we? What kind of miliary campaign starts with marching in circles? The answer? One that is obedient to Yahweh and His guidance!
In an act of miraculous power, the Israelites walked across dry ground and now stand at the foot of Jericho. Time to attack! Yet God says, "Wait." God asks His people to consecrate themselves for the Passover meal, all before moving into battle, while sitting in the shadow of Jericho's walls! We, too, must place faithfulness above vision, worship above practicality, and God above our kingdoms of self.