God Can Use Our Mistakes To Accomplish His Purposes

 The various groups in the northern part of Canaan had united against Israel, but there was no such alliance of the southern tribes.  Fearing Israel would turn to the south to avoid conflict, the inhabitants of Gibeon had made a treaty with Israel.  The Southern kings were already worried about Israel’s power, and they feared an alliance with Gibeon would make them almost impossible to defeat.  They decided to wipe out Gibeon before the two armies could get together, in Joshua 10:1-5.  “Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

 

Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.  Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.”

 

With an agreement in place whereby the Gibeonites were to provide water and fire wood in exchange for keeping their land, Israel was obligated to protect them.  Joshua and the Israelites went to their aid, as described in Joshua 10:6-7.  “And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.  So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.”

 

The treaty with Gibeon violated God’s command, and had been made without consulting him, but he had forgiven them,  and would bless in the battle, as Joshua 10:8- 11.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.  Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.  And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.  And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.”

 

This was a coalition of all the different groups in southern Canaan.  God intervened on Israel’s behalf, not only causing he army to flee before them, but also causing a huge hailstones to fall, that killed more than Israel’s army killed.  Fearing they would escape in the darkness and regroup, Joshua asked God to stop the sun from setting, in Joshua 10:12-14.  “Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.  And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.”  God apparently stopped the earth’s rotation for about twelve hours, giving Israel time to wipe out almost the entire army.

 

When it finally got dark, the Israelites returned to their camp in Gilgal, but within a few hours learned that the leaders of the attack were hiding out in a cave.  Joshua instructed his army to seal off the cave and catch as many of the enemies as possible before they could withdraw into the fortified cities, in Joshua 10:15-21.  “And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.  But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.  And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

 

And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them: And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.  And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.  And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.”

 

With the coalition army defeated, Joshua took the time to execute the leaders, in Joshua 10:22-27.  “Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.  And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.  And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.  And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

 

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.  And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.”

 

Though Israel had been wrong in making the treaty with Gibeon, God used it to break the power of the southern coalition and kill its leaders.  It is important that we understand God already knows what we will do, and can use even our worst mistakes to accomplish his plan.  We don’t have to worry about interfering. 

 

Making A Treaty With Gibeon

The various groups in Canaan had heard about Israel’s victories on the east side of Jordan, and they had seen that Jericho’s walls were not an effective defense.  They had also hear how the people of Ai had defeated them in a preemptive strike against a small force, but had been defeated by the main force.  While the Israelites were at Mount Ebal setting up their monument, the inhabitants of the northern areas formed a coalition they hoped would be able to defeat Israel, as Joshua 9:1-2 describes.  “And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.”

 

The southern groups did not yet see Israel as a serious threat, but the people of Gibeon, a few miles to the southwest, were too close not to be concerned.  Knowing they could not expect to defeat Israel, the Gibeonites decided to see if they couldn’t make a treaty.  Since Israel was hunting for a land of their own, it was obvious they would not want to give up land to make an agreement with the people who already held it.  The Gibeonites decided to pretend to be from far off so Israel would be more willing to make such a treaty.  Joshua 9:3-6 describes their subterfuge.  “And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.  And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.”

 

The Israelites were suspicious, but examination of their supplies and equipment convinced they to agree to the treaty, sa Joshua 9:7-15 describes.  “And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?  And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

 

And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.   Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.  This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.  And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.  And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.”

 

Depending on their own intelligence, Joshua and the leaders did not ask God for wisdom.  They knew that in Deuteronomy 7:2, God had commanded, “And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them,” but they believed these people were from a far country so they didn’t worry about it.  Three days later, they learned they had been lied to, in Joshua 9:16-17.  “And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.  And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.”

 

Some of the people were angry and wanted to kill them for having lied, but the rulers refused, as Joshua 9:18-29 tells us.  “And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.  But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.  This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.  And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.”

 

Even though they had been lied to, they were obligated to keep their agreement, as Proverbs 6:1-2 tells us.  “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.”  Because they had lied, the Gibeonites would be cursed, but Israel would keep their agreement, as Joshua 9:22-23 states.  “And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?  Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.”

 

The Gibeonites accepted Joshua’s terms quickly, agreeing to provide firewood and haul water for the people as a condition of keeping their land, because even being slaves would have beaten being dead, and this was much better than being slaves.  Joshua 9:24-27 describes their response.  “And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.  And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.  And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.  And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.”  

Preparing For Victory

Shortly before his death, Moses had spent a great deal of time reviewing what how God had blessed Israel, and reminding them of what he had commanded.  While the last few chapters of Numbers contains much of what he said, the book of Deuteronomy gives a far more complete account.  In Deuteronomy 27:1-13, he had instructed them to build a monument and inscribe it with all the laws so that the people could readily check what God’s commands were.   “And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster: And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law, when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey; as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

 

Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal, and thou shalt plaster them with plaster.  And there shalt thou build an altar unto the LORD thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them.  Thou shalt build the altar of the LORD thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD thy God:  And thou shalt offer peace offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the LORD thy God.  And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly.

 

And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.  Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.  And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,  These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.”

 

After defeating Ai, Israel was only a short distance from Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, so Joshua led the people there to fulfil Moses’ instructions, in Joshua 8:30-35.  “Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal, As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.  And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

 

And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.  There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”

 

To many people, stopping to build such a monument and worship God right in the middle of a military campaign, would seem to be taking an unnecessary risk, but Joshua was acting in faith, believing God would give them the victory.  Having seen what happened at Ai when they violated God’s law, he didn’t want to take a chance of the people unknowingly violating God’s commands again.   He made sure they knew exactly what God had said before such a situation arose again.  It is very easy to become complacent in the excitement of victory.  If we really believe God will keep his promises, we need to make a similar effort to be ready when it happens so that we don’t sin against the Lord.   

  

Don’t Give up When You Mess Up

 After their easy victories over Sihon and the Amorites , Og king of Bashan, various Midianite cities, and Jericho, the defeat by the tiny village of Ai shocked Joshua and the Israelites.  They obeyed God in addressing the sin that caused their defeat, executing Achan, but there was still some concern whether God would bless them again.  What if it happened again?  They were hesitant to try again.  Over the Years, I have seen many Christians in similar situations. 

 

When they obeyed, God reassured them that he would bless them, in Joshua 8:1-2.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land: And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.”

 

The first time they had just sent a minimal army in the expectation that the people in ai would retreat inside their walls like the people at Jericho had done and God would miraculously give them the victory.  This time Joshua made strategic plans, as described in Joshua 8:3-9.  “So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.  And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready: And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them, (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.  Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.  And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.  Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.”

 

Because their rushing Israel had been so successful, Joshua expected the men of Ai to try it again.  He sent thirty thousand men to hide around the city that night, instructing them to rush into the village and take it over when the troops rushed out to chase the main army.  Once they were in control, they were to burn the village, leaving the people of Ai nowhere to go.   He set another five thousand men between Ai and Bethel to prevent any survivors getting to Bethel, as Joshua 8:10-13 describes.  “And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.  And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.  And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.  And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.

 

Things went exactly as Joshua planned.  When they were attacked, the Israelites fled and the men of
Ai chased them, leaving the city open to the thirty thousand hidden behind the city.  The people from Ai came ot help out leaving Bethel open as well, as Joshua 8:14-17 describes.  “And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.  And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.  And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.  And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.”

 

When the defenders had been lured away from the city, God commanded Joshua to stretch out his spear toward the city, promising him victory.  The hidden troops invaded the city, setting it afire and the fleeing Israelites turned against their pursuers, as Joshua 8:18-21 describes.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.  And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.  And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.  And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.  And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.”

 

Trapped between the main army and the thirty thousand who had set the city on fire, the men of Ai had no chance and were killed, as Joshua 8:23-29 describes.  “And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.  And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.  And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.  For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.  Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.  And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.  And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.”

 

God is a forgiving and merciful God, and he did not hold Israel’s sin against them when they repented.  As Christians we need to understand he is just as forgiving today and learn not to sit around and pout when we get into trouble but to get up and put it behind us, as Hebrews 12:11-13 describes.  “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

Sin Prevents God’s Blessings

 God had worked miraculously, giving Israel victory over the city of Jericho.  Both the children of Israel and the enemies around them were convinced that there would be no problem conquering the rest of the cities.  If they could take such a heavily fortified city as that in a week, what chance did less well fortified cities have?  What no one knew was that one man had disobeyed God’s commands, as Joshua 7:1 tells us.  “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.”

 

Unaware of Achan’s sin, Joshua sent a couple of spies to the village of Ai.  Learning how small the village was, he sent just a small group to attack it, in Joshua 7:2-4.  “And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.  And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.  So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.”

 

Rather than locking the gates and depending on their walls for protection, the men of Ai attacked the Israelites, killing thirty six of them.   The Israelites were so shocked they panicked and fled in terror, as Joshua 7:5 describes.  “And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.”

 

Joshua was dumbfounded by the defeat.  If their enemies could defeat them so easily, what chance did they have of taking the land?  Joshua 7:6-9 describes his despair.  “And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.  And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!  O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!  For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?”  How could people trust God if he didn’t always keep his promises?

 

God had not broken his promise.  In Deuteronomy 11:26-28, He had promised to bless them if they obeyed and to curse them if they did not.  “Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.”  Deuteronomy 28 lists the curses God would send if they disobeyed.  One of those curses was that they would be defeated and terrified by their enemies, according to Deuteronomy 28:25.  “The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.”

 

God had done exactly what he promised.  As God pointed out, the problem was that the Israelites had not done what they were supposed to do, in Joshua 7:10-12.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?  Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.  Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.” 

 

God would not bless them until the sin was dealt with.  He told Joshua what they would need to do to resolve the problem with the sin in Joshua 7:13-15.  “Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.  In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.  And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.”

 

Still having no idea what had happened, Joshua followed God’s instructions.  As a result the guilty party confessed, in Joshua 7:16-23.  “So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken: And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.  And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.

 

And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.  So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.  And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.”

 

Achan’s disobedience had resulted in the deaths of thirty six men.  He and his family were executed because of what he had done, as Joshua 7:24-26 tells us.  “And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.   And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.  And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.”

 

God never breaks his promise but frequently sin, whether our own or that of others keeps us from receiving the blessings God promised.  Until those sins are dealt with, we cannot expect God to bless what we are doing, even when we are doing what he has called us to do. 

 

God Removed The Walls

The people in Jericho were sure the Israelites were going to attack them and had made every effort to protect themselves, as Joshua 6:1 tells us.  “Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.”  It was a fortified city with thick almost impregnable walls and massive gates.   Those walls might range from a couple of feet to more than twenty feet thick, and Jericho’s were thick enough Rahab’s house was built on the wall.  It usually took months and sometimes years to tear down the walls with the defenders shooting to keep the attackers at bay.  The Israelites would be too busy finding food and places to stay to lay an effective siege against the city, making it almost impossible to win.

 

God promised to give them the victory miraculously, in Joshua 6:2-5.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.”

 

Logically, God’s plans made no sense.  Even if they causes enough vibration to cause the walls to collapse, they would still form great mounds of rock and earth that could be used for defense.  Joshua did not question God’s instructions, just directing the people to follow the instructions, in Joshua 6:6-11.  “And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.  And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.

 

And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.  And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.  And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.  So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.”

 

They did the same thing for six days according to Joshua 6:12-14.  “And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.  And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.  And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.”  Human nature being what it is, by the seventh day, the people of Jericho no longer worried as much about Israel’s approach, and were less alert. 

 

On the seventh day, they didn’t stop after marching around the city, going around it seven times, as Joshua 6:15 describes.  “And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.”  The people of Jericho must have been on pins and needles, worrying about what Israel would do next.  They didn’t have to wait long to find out. 

 

Before they made the seventh circuit, Joshua gave instructions as to what they were to do, in Joshua 6:15-19.  “And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.  And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.  And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.  But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.”

 

They were to kill everyone except Rahab and those who were in her house because she had helped them.  They were to burn everything that would burn in the city, and the metal objects that would not burn were to be donated to the Lord.  As a whole, the people followed Joshua’s instructions, as Joshua 6:20-25.  “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.  And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.

 

But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.  And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.

 

And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.  And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.”

 

Had the walls just fallen over, they would have still been a huge obstacle for Israel.  Archaeologists tell us the walls sank into the ground, except for one small section, believed to be where Rahab’s house was.  Joshua cursed anyone who rebuilt the city, in Joshua 6:26.  “And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.”  Eight hundred years later, in Ahab’s day the prophecy was fulfilled according to I Kings 16:34. 

 

Jericho had been considered one of hardest cities to defeat, so news of Israel’s victory spread rapidly, as Joshua 6:27 tells us.  “So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.”   Obviously walls offered little protection, so in future battles the kings would join forces in an attempt to defeat them in the field rather than depending on their fortifications.  This would simplify Israel’s occupation of Canaan.  All Israel had to do was trust God.

Correcting Their Failures

 For forty years, the Amorites and Canaanites had known how God delivered Israel from Egypt and had seen their victories over Sihon, Og, and the Midianites, and like the inhabitants of Jericho, they expected to be defeated.  After learning how God had miraculously helped them to cross the Jordan, effectively removing the last natural obstacle, they were in total despair, as Joshua 1:5 states.  “And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.”  They were already beaten in their minds. 

 

God had miraculously shown his support, enabling them to cross Jordan, but before he gave them the victories they were hoping for, he showed them some things they had neglected over the years, in Joshua 5:2-8.  “At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.  And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.  

 

And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.  Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not show them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.  And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.  And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.”

 

Many times when God calls people, there are things in their life that need correcting.  As long as those things are in their lives, they hinder God’s blessings.  When they are addressed it frees them to receive his blessings fully.  God had made the circumcision a condition of Israel’s receiving his covenant in Genesis 17:1-14, and until it was done, they could not receive it.  “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

 

And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.  Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.  And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.  And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

 

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.  This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.  And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.  And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.  He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.  And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.”

 

By circumcising their sons, they corrected all those years of breaking the contract with God, and now he was ready to fulfill his part, as he explains in Joshua 5:9.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.”  Exactly forty one years after leaving Egypt, on the fourteenth day of the first month, Israel celebrated the Passover, and their deliverance from Egypt, in Joshua 5:10.  “And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.”

 

For forty years, they had eaten manna because they refused to follow God into the Promised Land when he led them up to it.  They had griped about it repeatedly over the years.  Just days after they crossed Jordan, they were able to eat some of the remnants from the previous year’s crops.  They would never again have manna to eat, as Joshua 5:11-12 describes.  “And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.  And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.”  When they acted in faith, obeying God, things began to change. 

 

God also gave a special sign to reassure Joshua, in Joshua 5:13-15.  “And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?  And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.”

 

The angel of the Lord reminded Joshua that God’s plans go far beyond the things we want.  God was not bound by what Israel was trying to do but by what He had planned.  Israel would benefit from his actions, but God was the final authority.  As Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, instead of worrying whether God is on our side, we need to make sure we are on his side. 

Laying a Foundation For Faith

Although many people think faith in God is to a blind faith and are afraid to step out, God never asks us to follow him blindly.  Before he led the children of Israel out of Egypt, he repearedly demonstrated his ability to keep his promises with the various plagues he sent.  He had also demonstrated that Moses was the man he chosen to lead them.  As a result, they had every reason to believe God could get them across the Red Sea, though many did not.  For the next forty years, they had seen God’s power repeatedly, with Moses always setting the example for trusting God.  

 

Joshua had led the army in the battle with the Amalekites just a few weeks after they left Egypt.  He had served as Moses’s assistant from the time Moses went up on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments until Moses appointed him as his successor.  As a result, they had every reason to believe he was being led of God when they followed him across the Jordan river.  The way God helped them across the river was reminiscent of how god had brought them across the Red sea, reinforcing the conviction that God had chosen Joshua as Moses’ successor, as Joshua 4;14 tells us.  “On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.”

 

Unfortunately people sometimes begin to mythologize what God has happened, denying that it really happened.  God had had them build a pile of stones in the middle of the river, and another on the west bank as proof they had miraculously crossed the Jordan at that point, as Joshua 4:15-24 tells us.  “And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.   

 

Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.  And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.  And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.  And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

 

And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?  Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.  For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:  That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.”

 

I have read that even today, some thirty five hundred years after they crossed the Jordan, the pile of rocks in the middle of the river can still be seen, and that they appear to be cemented together by some kind of natural cement. For centuries, it has born testimony of God’s power and faithfulness.   Future generations would not have to blindly trust God because they had evidence to prove what he had done in the past.  If he has done it in the past he can probably do it again.  Our faith is based on his promises and what we know he has done in the past.  God has deliberately given evidence throughout history to prove he has done the things he said so that we can be assured of his power and truthfulness.  At the same time, he has concealed other things, such as Moses’ grave because people might begin to worship those things instead of God. The evidence he has preserved provides a foundation for us to trust him.  We are not expected to blindly trust him.

God Confirms Joshua As The Leader

Throughout Moses leadership, God had used the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night to direct the Israelites.  If the pillar lifted up it signaled they were to begin to move, but if it settled to the ground they were to stay where they were.  Now they have come to the land where they are to stay, and they will no longer be led with the pillar of fire or cloud.  They are starting a whole new era under Joshua’s leadership.  Joshua had ordered the people to be ready to leave withing three days, but it took longer than that for the spies to get back.  Once they returned, he moved the camp to the bank of the Jordan, where they stayed three days, getting organized, as Joshua 3:1-5 describes.  “And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.  And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host; And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.  Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.  And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”

 

The next morning, by faith, Joshua started the priest toward the river, intending to ford it like the spies had a few days before, as described in Joshua 3:6.  “And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.”

 

When Joshua stepped up by faith, then God began to direct him, as we see in Joshua 3:7-8.  “And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.  And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.”  Instead of fording the river, the priests were to just step into the water and stop. 

 

Joshua then told the people that God would demonstrate his commitment to bless them by cutting off the flow of the river until they were across.  They were to take twelve stones from the east bank and carry them into the middle of the river as a memorial for what God was doing, as described in Joshua 3:9-13.  “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.  And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.  Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.  Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.  And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.”

 

Just as the Red Sea had divided when Moses held out his rod, the waters of Jordan stopped flowing when the priests stepped into them.  Since it was in the flood season, the waters piled up on the upstream side while drying up on the downstream side.  The people were able to walk across on dry ground, as Joshua 3:14-17 tells us.  “And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.  And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.”

 

God had Twelve men to take stones from the middle of the river and carry them to the west bank to build a monument while the stones from the east bank were piled in the middle of the river, as proof that they had actually crossed the river, as Joshua 4:1-11 tells us.  “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.

 

Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”

 

And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.  And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.  For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.  And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.”

 

The similarities to crossing the Red Sea made it very clear, that Joshua had been chosen by God just as Moses had.  

Acting On Her Faith

Joshua had commanded the people to be ready to cross the Jordan in three days.  Since they had never been there, he sent a couple of spies to scout out the land, in Joshua 2:1.  “And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.”  There was only two of them, and they went to a prostitute’s home where it was not uncommon to see strangers going in and out.  It seemed like an idea cover. 

 

Unfortunately, the king was very aware of the Israelite encampment across Jordan, and their victories over the Amorites and Og the king of Bashan, and the destruction of the various Midianite cities.  He also knew how Pharaoh and his army had been destroyed, so any strangers were closely watched and their actions reported back to the king.  As a result, the king heard about the two spies within a short time, as Joshua 2:2-3 describes.  “And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.  And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.”

 

Instead of turning them over to the king, Rahab hid and lied, sending the king’s men on a wild goose chase, as Joshua 2:4-7 describes.  “And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.  But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.  And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.”

 

After the king’s men left, Rahab explained that the entire city was on high alert, convinced that Israel would attack and defeat them, in Joshua 2:8-11.  “And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.  For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.  And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

 

Because she believed God would give Israel the victory, Rahab asked the spies to spare her family, in Joshua 2:12-13.  “Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.”  As she described it, most if not all the people believed God would give Israel the victory, yet she was the only one who acted in accordance with that belief.  The others joined forces with the king in an attempt to stop god from giving the victory.  Because of her willingness to help them escape, the men promised to protect her family, warning that since the Israelites didn’t know them, they would have to stay inside the house , marking it with the red cord so that they would know who to save, in Joshua 2:14-20.  “And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

 

Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.

 

And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.  Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.  And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.  And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.”

 

Agreeing to their instructions, Rahab immediately tied the rope in her window as a marker so it wouldn’t get forgotten.  Following her advice the spies went to the mountains for three days so they didn’t risk running into the kings men who were looking for them. as Joshua 2:21-24 tells us.  “And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.  And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.  So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.”

 

After talking to Rahab, the two spies were convinced God was going to give them the victory.  Their positive report undoubtedly encouraged the people and made it easier for Joshua to gain their confidence. 

  

A Change In Leadership

 Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “…it is appointed unto men once to die…”  Moses had faithfully led the children of Israel for forty years, but he died before they crossed the Jordan.   Sometime before his death, at God’s instruction, Moses had designated Joshua to be the next leader, but he was still there for guidance.  After his death, Joshua would have to step up and take on the full responsibility.  A change of leadership always raises some questions, for both the new leader and those who follow him.  There is concern whether the new leadership will build on what previous leaders have done or tear it down and start over.   Will he consider his advantage of his position to seize power and enrich himself?  Will the people follow him or rebel?  Will his policies make things better or worse?  We face the same questions today in America that Israel faced after the death of Moses. 

 

For forty years, Joshua had demonstrated a deep love and concern for pleasing God, and now God would step in to assure him that he would bless Joshua’s leadership just as he had blessed Moses’, in Joshua 1:1-5.  “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.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.  There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”

 

God promised that they would one day own the land from the wilderness where they had spent forty years to Lebanon, and from the Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates River, because God would be with him just as he had been with Moses.  They would obtain that land if they would trust God completely, obeying all his commands.  It would be up to Joshua to set the example as the leader, as God explained in Joshua 1:6-9.  “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.  Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. “

 

Some of the commands of the Law would seem counter-intuitive, or irrelevant and they might be tempted to ignore them, but God said they needed to follow them completely and trust him with the outcome.  If they would do so, God would bless Joshua and the nation of Israel in everything they did. 

 

With that assurance from God, Joshua stepped boldly into the position of leadership, directing the people to prepare to go into the land, in Joshua 1:10-11.  “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.”  Joshua’s command to get ready to cross Jordan had to reassure the people that he was going to continue to follow God and not some idea of his own.  While they would be doing things they had never done under Moses’ leadership, it was a continuation of what Moses had begun. 

 

Joshua further reassured the people with his acceptance of Moses’ agreement with the Trans Jordan tribes in Joshua 1:12-15.  “And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.  Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them; Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.”

 

Confident that Joshua would not disrupt everything, the trans Jordan tribes committed to follow Joshua just as they had Moses, in Joshua 1:16-18,  “And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.  According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.   Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.”

 

People naturally distrust change, not knowing how it will turn out.  While the leader may be sure he is doing what God wants, he needs to reassure his people of that.  If the previous leader was following God, major changes in policy and practice raise legitimate concerns about the new leader’s agenda because God’s agenda has not changed.   Changes need to be based on God’s commands, not the leader’s desires   If the leader will take the trouble to spend time seeking the Lord and set the proper example, God will cause the people to follow him. 

 

Sometimes God Changes Our Plans

 For forty years, Israel had looked forward to taking possession of the land of Canaan, but because Edom refused to allow them to cross their land, they had been forced to go East around the Edomite and Moabite land, and approach from the east side rather than the south.  When they did, The Amorites attacked them and were defeated, with Israel taking a vast area east of the Jordan River.  It was an area that was more suitable for raising livestock than for farming. 

 

Some of the people saw the value of the land and asked Moses to let them have their part there rather than in the Land of Canaan, in Numbers 32:1-5.  “Now the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle: and when they saw the land of Jazer, and the land of Gilead, that, behold, the place was a place for cattle; The children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congregation, saying, Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon, Even the country which the LORD smote before the congregation of Israel, is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan.”

 

Forty years before, ten of the twelve spies had chickened out at the thought of fighting the Canaanites and caused so much fear the people refused to go into the land as God directed.  Moses was concerned that this group was going to do the same thing and stop them again, as he explains in Numbers 32:6-15.  “And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?  And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?

 

Thus did your fathers, when I sent them from Kadeshbarnea to see the land.  For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.  And the LORD'S anger was kindled the same time, and he sware, saying,  Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD.  And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.  And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of the LORD toward Israel.  For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye shall destroy all this people.”

 

The people had no such intention.  Instead, they requested permission for their families to move into the cities they had conquered and to build corrals for their livestock while the men went across Jordan to help the others conquer Canaan, in Numbers 32:16-19.  “And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones: But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel, until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities because of the inhabitants of the land.  We will not return unto our houses, until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance.  For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.”

 

Moses realized that they had already conquered this land, and that if left unoccupied, the other countries would move in and take it over.  He agreed to let them have the land if they would go and help the rest of the people get theirs, in Numbers 32:20-24.  “And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the LORD to war, And will go all of you armed over Jordan before the LORD, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him, And the land be subdued before the LORD: then afterward ye shall return, and be guiltless before the LORD, and before Israel; and this land shall be your possession before the LORD.  But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.  Build you cities for your little ones, and folds for your sheep; and do that which hath proceeded out of your mouth.”

 

The people committed to helping the others, so Moses gave orders that they were to receive that land, in Numbers 32:25-33.  “And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben spake unto Moses, saying, Thy servants will do as my lord commandeth.  Our little ones, our wives, our flocks, and all our cattle, shall be there in the cities of Gilead: But thy servants will pass over, every man armed for war, before the LORD to battle, as my lord saith.

 

So concerning them Moses commanded Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel: And Moses said unto them, If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over Jordan, every man armed to battle, before the LORD, and the land shall be subdued before you; then ye shall give them the land of Gilead for a possession: But if they will not pass over with you armed, they shall have possessions among you in the land of Canaan.

 

And the children of Gad and the children of Reuben answered, saying, As the LORD hath said unto thy servants, so will we do.  We will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, that the possession of our inheritance on this side Jordan may be ours.  And Moses gave unto them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and unto half the tribe of Manasseh the son of Joseph, the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, the land, with the cities thereof in the coasts, even the cities of the country round about.”

 

With that settled, the group that was planning conquered other areas and built homes and facilities for caring for their livestock while they were away.  When God described what their boundaries were to be in Numbers 34, he included this region as well.  While many had complained about having to go the long way around to the east, it resulted in them getting almost half again more land than they would have otherwise had.  Frequently what we see as a problem turns out to be a blessing from the Lord.  Sometimes, when people want to do things differently than we had planned, God is leading them to resolve a problem w had not considered in our planning.  If the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had not been given that land the effort to conquer it would have been wasted as the other countries moved in and took it over.  As our faith grows, we will become less concerned about changes to our plans.