Joshua by Peter Chin
Brother Peter Chin of Four Seas Bible College in Singapore has stepped in to write this month’s guest article.
God's Introduction
The character of Joshua is introduced gradually in the Bible, beginning with the book of Exodus. His name first appears in the account of the battle against the Amalekites. The Scriptures depict him as an assistant to Moses and a capable military leader of the Israelites in conquering the Promised Land. His (and Caleb's) great trust in the Lord to deliver victory distinguishes him from the other spies sent out to scout the land.
He was appointed as successor to Moses when the latter was nearing the end of his life. He is again mentioned several times in the book of Deuteronomy as Moses passes leadership to him, charging him to lead the nation into the Promised Land.
God assures Joshua of success in commissioning him and instructs him to be strong and of good courage. The rest of the book of Joshua recounts his leadership in occupying the land of Canaan by the twelve tribes of Israel. God repeats His promises to him, emphasizing the importance of following the Law of Moses and remaining faithful.
Joshua's Identification
Joshua is a Bible character well-known for his unwavering faith in God and the courageous leadership of the Israelites to occupy the land flowing with milk and honey. He is also notable for being one of two spies who brought back a positive report after scouting out the land of Canaan. Despite the adverse reports of most spies, he and Caleb urged the people to trust in God to give them victory if they obey Him.
His task of leading the nation brings immense challenges and difficulties. Despite the overwhelming odds, he is victorious in his feat due to his strong faith and obedience to God. The constant seeking of God's guidance shows his humility and dependence on Jehovah for divine help. He urges his people to remain faithful and never to go into idolatry. In his farewell address to the nation, he challenges them to choose to serve Jehovah just as he declared. The Bible portrays Joshua as a faithful, courageous leader with strength and integrity who obeys God's commands. We remember him as one of the great leaders of Israel's history.
Our Impression
There are great lessons to learn from the examples of Joshua. Firstly, we need to have faith in God's promises. Despite facing formidable challenges and seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Joshua trusts God's faithfulness and believes He would fulfill His promises. We should also trust God's promises, even when circumstances seem uncertain or complex (Numbers 14:8; 1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 28:20).
Secondly, Joshua demonstrates remarkable courage throughout his life, even in adversity. Despite facing stronger enemies and daunting battles, he remains courageous and persistent, knowing God is with him. His boldness teaches us the importance of courageously facing challenges and obstacles, knowing that God is with us (Joshua 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:7).
In the third place, we learn to obey the Lord like Joshua. He faithfully follows God's commands, even if the method or solution seems unconventional or illogical. The victories and blessings enjoyed by the Israelites would not be possible without his strict adherence to the Lord's bidding. Obeying God's commands in our lives brings blessings and favor from Him in our time, as in the days of Joshua (Joshua 1:7-9; 11:15; 1 John 5:3; James 1:25).
Fourthly, leading a nation of people with humility is another learning point for Christians today. Joshua acknowledges God's sovereignty and, in humility, seeks His will above his own. Authentic leadership is rooted in humility and dependence on God today. In leading brethren to a better relationship with God, we must humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord (Joshua 5:13-15; 14:8; James 4:7).
Lastly, we look to Joshua's example as a spiritual leader by his words and example in seeking to do God's will. Today, the Christian leads both the saved to a closer relationship with God and the unsaved to know Him by preaching the word and through godly living for Christ (Joshua 24:15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19; Matthew 28:18-20: 1 Peter 3:1).
Thank you to brother Chin for this excellent article!