Eden to Eternity Vol. 1, Joshua 1-12
Come along with me as I complete The Daily Grace Co.’s Eden to Eternity study!
This chronological Bible study requires us to dive into the 66 books of God’s Word while encouraging self-reflection and application. In the following posts, I intend to discuss the content, existing themes, and perceived messages throughout the Bible so we may dwell in scripture together.
I hope we can approach God's word with an open heart and fall more in love with Christ, who had our eternal salvation in mind all along!
6/66 | Author: Unknown | Old Testament | Genre: Historical | 1406-1375 B.C. (estimated)
1: Encouragement and Preparation
Moses has passed away, so Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land. The Lord emphasized the importance of being strong and courageous.
The Lord's words, spoken through Joshua, echo with a powerful reminder. 'This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then, you will prosper and succeed in everything you do. Haven't I commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' (Joshua 1:8-9, CSB)
The Israelites listened intently to Joshua's instructions. They were sure God was with him, as He was with Moses. Regardless of the circumstances, this constant presence of the Lord was a source of strength and courage. They reminded one another of the consequences of departing from His divine guidance.
2: The Spies in Jericho and Rahab
Joshua sent two spies to gauge Jericho's men. When the spies arrived, they stayed with a woman named Rahab. When the king heard that Israelite men were in his town, he ordered them to be seized. She hid the spies and informed the king's representatives that they had departed. Rahab told the spies that the Israelites intimidated everyone in her land because the Lord was with them, and they knew of the great works He had done for His people. She asked them to intercede on her family's behalf to keep them safe, and the men agreed. As a symbol of this promise, Rahab placed a scarlet cord on her window. God had handed this land to the Israelites, and their fear and discouragement served as evidence.
3: Crossing the Jordan
Right at the edge of the Jordan, the Lord instructed Joshua to stand in the water. God would perform another miracle as confirmation that He was with them. "When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, come to rest in the Jordan's water, its water will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will rise in a mass" (3:13).
"But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up in a mass—the water flowing downstream was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. The priests carrying the ark of the Lord's covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan" (3:15-17).
4: Memorial Stones
After everyone had arrived, Joshua selected twelve men from each tribe of Israel to transport twelve rocks from the Jordan to where they settled. These stones, which remain, were placed as a reminder for incoming generations to know what the Lord did for the Israelites in the Jordan (4:6, 9).
"For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the Lord did the Red Sea" (4:23).
5: Joshua's Encounter
The kings of neighboring nations feared the Israelites, for they saw how God delivered their enemies.
When settling into the land, this generation of Israelites under Joshua practiced circumcision to symbolize their lineage's journey with the Lord when they departed from Egypt. Accordingly, the Israelites commemorated their first Passover.
When Joshua was en route to Jericho, a man with a drawn sword stood before him. Joshua asked who this man was allied with, to which the man said, "Neither. I have now come to command the Lord's army" (5:14). Joshua paid his respect by bowing, removing his sandals, and listening intently to what the Lord wanted to say to him.
6: Jericho and Rahab's Family
The Lord instructed the Israelites to march around the fortified city once every six days, with seven priests carrying seven horns. On the seventh day, they were to march around seven times. The troops were to shout during the blasts of the priest's instruments, causing the walls to crumble. When day seven arrived, the men did precisely this, and the walls of Jericho fell. Joshua told the men to spare Rahab and avoid coveting anything from this land. After Rahab and her family were led out of the city, the army of Israelites burned it down. Anyone who attempted to rebuild the city of Jericho was cursed.
"And the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land" (6:27).
7: Defeat and Judgement
Some of the men from Judah's tribe kept plunder from Jericho, which God advised them not to do. This angered the Lord.
More spies went out, this time to a city called Ai. When the spies reported to Joshua, they told him a large army was unnecessary to defeat this nation. However, the number of men sent to Ai was not sufficient, and they turned and fled from their enemy, feeling disheartened. A devastated Joshua fell to his knees and apologized for this stubborn nation. Joshua was concerned that other nations would hear of the Israelites's newfound weakness and seize the opportunity to attack. The Lord responded and told Joshua that the Israelites would continue to run from their enemies because they disobediently stole goods.
"You will not be able to stand against your enemies until you remove what is set apart" (7:13).
Each tribe of Israel was searched. If anyone were found with Jericho's belongings, they would be burned with their newly acquired possessions. Achan, a member of Judah's tribe, was called to confess. The merchandise he snuck for himself was discovered, and he and these items were stoned and burned.
8: Victory and the Reinstated Law
Then, the Lord said the Israelites were to seize Ai and keep whatever they wished. The Ai army fell for the Israelites' plan to lure them out and set their city on fire. Like Moses and the staff, Joshua held a rod for God to hand this city over. All of Ai's inhabitants were defeated.
Following Moses' instruction, Joshua built an altar for God. Joshua recited the words of the law written by Moses to the Israelite community.
9: Gibeon's Deception
When the kings of other nations heard about the recent events, they banded together to fight against the Israelites. Men from Gibeon wore their most tattered clothing and approached Joshua, claiming to need assistance. They asked to make a treaty out of fear of God. Without God's approval, Joshua agreed to protect these men and their tribes. Days later, the foreign tribes were living among the Israelites due to the oaths sworn between their leaders. Once their deception was exposed, Joshua established them as enslaved people. This did not bother the Gibeonites because it meant their lives were spared from God's wrath.
10: The Sun Stood Still
The king of Jerusalem observed the alliance between Gibeon, an expansive nation, and the Israelites. Angered, he led an attack on the Gibeonites. With the Lord's help, the people behind this attack were defeated; "more of them died from the [Lord's] hail than the Israelites killed with the sword" (10:11).
Joshua asked the Lord for the sun to be motionless over Gibeon and the moon to stop over the Valley of Alijalon. According to verse 13, "the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on its enemies."
"There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to a man, because the Lord fought for Israel" (10:14).
The king of Jerusalem and his allies hid themselves in a nearby cave. Joshua instructed men to block the entrance with large stones until their people were defeated. Then, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were executed and buried in the cave where they had previously sought refuge.
Joshua captured and struck Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. As the Lord has said, the whole region was conquered.
11: More Conquests
Joshua defeated the Northern Kings, who tried to unite to overtake his nation. Hazor's leader, who was responsible for turning nations against Israel, was also captured and conquered. Joshua acquired all of the land from the hill country to the Valley of Lebanon (11:16–17).
Fulfilling God's word to Abraham in Genesis 12:7, Abraham's generations received this land.
"So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the Lord had told Moses. Joshua then gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. After this, the land had rest from war" (11:23).
12: East of the Jordan
This chapter details the thirty-one kings that Joshua, guided by the divine hand of the Lord, overcame in battle.
There are parallels between Joshua's and Moses's stories, which makes sense since Joshua is known as the "New Moses." There were miraculous interventions in significant bodies of water (Exodus 14:21-22, Joshua 3:15-17). Moses and Joshua relied on spies to prepare for the next move (Numbers 13, Joshua 2:1). Angels of the Lord offered guidance (Exodus 3:2-4, Joshua 5:13-14). Before Moses, two angels hid when entering Sodom and Gomorrah, just as Joshua's two spies hid at Rahab's house in Jericho (Genesis 19:1-3, Joshua 2:1-6). Passover in Exodus 12 is slightly similar to these encounters, where God granted the Israelites refuge when they stayed in their sanctified residence (Exodus 12:13). God was faithfully on the move with Moses and Joshua for the sake of the entire nation. A plan was constantly in place and provision hung like a safety net.
In terms of language, I believe it is necessary to break down some of the figurative rhetoric used throughout the Bible. My first time reading through the Old Testament came with a shock. When reading about war, famine, and destruction, I would think to myself, this is not the character of God I know! I would not want to turn anyone away from God and the journey of digesting scripture, so let's break down some ominous tones.
First, sin results in death. At this time in biblical history, Jesus had not yet given the ultimate sacrifice. God is and has always been righteous, which makes Him holy. Yes, He is merciful, but He also pursues justice. Since the Garden of Eden, men began to serve themselves, leading to disorder and darkness in God's brightly lit order. If sin was not as destructive, we could all rest in God's presence. Unfortunately, this could no longer be the case for humanity when living with free will, faltering flesh, and an enemy hoping to devour. This is why Jesus' grace is such a sacred treasure to us!
The second reason for reading about obliteration and mass destruction as casually as we sometimes do is to emphasize how Israel was able to acquire land while rebuking undesirable practices, like sexual immorality, demonic worship, and child sacrifices (Leviticus 18). The authors of each book may sometimes exaggerate this language to symbolize the magnitude of what was unfolding. For example, Deuteronomy 20:16-17 says, "However you must not let any living thing survive among the cities of these people the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. You must completely destroy them..." Reminder: this comes after the call for peace in Deuteronomy 20:10, "When you approach a city to fight against it, make an offer of peace." Our good Lord was not itching to start wars and cause strife—it has always been the opposite! Deuteronomy even mentions what should happen if a man desires a woman from a city meant to be 'completely destroyed.' Deuteronomy 21:11-13 states, "If you see a beautiful woman among the captives, desire her, and want to take her as your wife, you are to bring her into your house." God could not literally want the Israelites to annihilate every living thing outside of their assembly when discussing the intermarrying of one another, but instead ensured that the Israelites knew of the dangers of intermixing cultures.
God has displayed grace numerous times, and we are only six books into His story! The second chapter of Joshua introduces us to Rahab, who expressed the Canaanites' fear because of God's might. Ironically, instead of repenting when witnessing these intimidating acts, the Canaanite people continued participating in dark practices, except for Rahab, who respected the Lord and aided the Israelites in their path to claiming back their ancestor's land. God ensures that the corrupt receive justice. He also perfected the art of patience when allowing sinners to repent and flee in the face of death. Let us not misconstrue His love for holiness with a miscalculated temperament.
Reflections based on study material from Eden to Eternity:
How does God call Joshua to be strong and courageous? Why can we pray with the same hope and conviction as Joshua?
Chapter 1, verse 7 reminds Joshua (and us) to digest the commands noted by Moses. Chapter 8 shows Joshua acting on this principle when reading the law to the assembly of Israel. As God reiterated throughout these early chapters, we are not to be discouraged because He is with us! Unlike the people of Jericho, whose "spirit no longer remained" and were "panicked" (2:11, 24). They feared God because they had an outsider's perspective of Him. When his army turned from Ai, Joshua ran to God. And with God, Joshua could receive the direction he needed to overcome Ai.
Hebrews 4:16 says, "Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in the time of need."
Joshua running to God reminded me of a church speaker who shared a message on the power of prayer. She prayed that her audience would receive a word from the Lord. The speaker believed the Lord was nudging her through worship with lyrics inspired by Psalm 34, "I sought the Lord, and He heard, and He answered." ("Trust In God" by Elevation Worship). As she went to read these verses for herself, she noticed that the scripture said, "I sought the Lord, and He answered me and rescued me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy." Why is this important? The message she was praying over in anticipation was our women's conference, notably named Radiant. Meditating on God's word is the source of life as it unlocks spiritual weaponry to defeat all fear and anxiety. He hears our cries for help and is ready to deliver us. When we familiarize ourselves with it, we can even speak His language!
Joshua went into battle, knowing that God had delivered their enemies. In Christ, sin and death have been defeated on our behalf—how does this encourage you?
This question reminded me of yet another message from this weekend's conference: our tendency to ask God, "Why?"
When hardship hits, we believe that we have been left or forsaken. Sometimes, we throw our fists at God in pure frustration, like Joshua when a man in his army coveted goods. What was supposed to be an easy victory became a disappointing roadblock for Joshua. However, in these moments, it is crucial to remember the importance of seeking accountability in our faith. Joshua 7:13 says that we "will not be able to stand against [our] enemies until [we] remove what is set apart."
Often, we cling to relationships and resources that are better left behind as we move forward. We might even identify with things that never truly served us. These attachments can lead to temporary defeats, just as Achan's theft of Canaanite goods led to his downfall. However, we have the power of discernment. We must discern what we carry with us into our calling. After all, how can God bless what is not of Him? He is a God of consistency, not contradiction or hypocrisy.
One of the most comforting aspects of our faith is scripture, a modern-day tool that guides us through our struggles. It's reassuring to know that the Bible is an entire story of adversity that requires belief. At the end of each biblical journey, we find redemption and evidence of God's proximity. We witness Jesus' unconditional love and security. There is always hope and a way forward. Christ got the last word when He conquered death on that cross!
Gratitude List:
A new month and the exciting things that come with it!
Finally finding a way to order a matcha that does not taste like grass
Church conferences introducing me to new Christian speakers, authors, and musicians
Anniversaries
Timely reassurance from God
Patient friends
Seeing people get rewarded for their efforts
Podcasts that speak to the soul
The anticipation of a newborn
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References
Book of Joshua Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (https://youtu.be/JqOqJlFF_eU?si=fNF0sCnqt9O2m9__)
Daniels, K., Dickerson, T., Dickson, K., Hess, A., & Turner, S. (2022). Eden to Eternity (Vol. 1). The Daily Grace Co.
Myers, R., & Williams, A. B. (2020). She Reads Truth Bible. Holman Bible Publishers.
Joshua Summary & Timeline (Joshua 1 Chapter Summary (biblehub.com))
