Tied Together: A One-Year Journey Through the Bible | Day 62 | March 14, 2026

 

Introduction to Joshua

The book of Joshua marks a turning point in Israel's story. Moses has died, the wilderness wandering has ended, and a new generation stands ready to enter the land God promised to Abraham more than five hundred years earlier. Joshua, Moses' faithful assistant and one of only two spies who trusted God at Kadesh Barnea, now leads the nation into Canaan.

Joshua himself wrote most of this book, with the final portions recording his death added by the high priest Eleazar and later by Eleazar's son Phinehas—both descendants of Aaron. The events take place around 1400 BC, as the Israelites prepare to conquer and settle the region that today includes Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

This book contains some challenging content. The conquest of Canaan involves warfare, and warfare brings death. Readers sometimes struggle with the violence and wonder why God commanded it. Understanding the context helps: the inhabitants of Canaan had become deeply corrupt, practicing child sacrifice, idol worship, and other practices that grieved God's heart. The conquest was an act of divine judgment against centuries of accumulated wickedness—and even then, God's mercy appears throughout. Boundaries were set, peace was offered, and many inhabitants fled with their lives. Yes, there was destruction, but there was also restraint.

One theme appears repeatedly throughout the book: be strong and courageous. God knew the conquest would not be easy, and He reminded Joshua repeatedly that divine presence would make the difference.

The story opens with two spies entering Jericho, where they're hidden by a prostitute named Rahab. She had heard of Israel's God and His miraculous power, and she wanted His kindness extended to her family. God did far more than spare her life—He placed her in the genealogy of Jesus, transforming a Canaanite outsider into an ancestor of the Messiah.

Before the battles begin, God parts water once more. The Jordan River stops flowing as the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant step into it, and the entire nation crosses on dry ground. This miracle echoes the Red Sea crossing and demonstrates to the new generation that the same God who delivered their parents will fight for them.

The first battle at Jericho reveals God's unconventional strategy. For six days, the army marched silently around the city once each day, with only the priests' trumpets breaking the silence. On the seventh day, they circled seven times, then shouted—and the walls collapsed. The victory belonged entirely to God, accomplished in His way rather than through military tactics.

After Jericho, God commanded that nothing from the city be kept. When a man named Achan disobeyed and hid plunder for himself, his sin caused Israel to lose their next battle. Only after dealing with this disobedience could Israel continue in victory—a sobering reminder that one person's choices affect the entire community.

The battles continued, and God's power remained evident. At one point, Joshua needed more time to defeat a coalition of five kings, so he asked God to make the sun stand still—and it did. For an entire day, the sun remained in the sky. Nothing is impossible for the God who commands creation.

After years of conquest, the fighting subsided and Joshua divided the land among the twelve tribes. Each tribe received an inheritance, a place to call home, and rest from their enemies.

In his final chapters, Joshua—now very old—gathered the leaders for a farewell address. He pleaded with them to remember everything God had done. He urged them to keep evil out of the nation they were building. He reminded them that God was with them and they had nothing to fear. The people renewed their covenant, promising to serve God alone and never turn to other gods. Sadly, as subsequent books reveal, that promise would not hold.

The book of Joshua demonstrates God's faithfulness to His promises. Through Joshua, God's people were delivered and given rest in a new land. But this points to an even greater fulfillment: through Jesus, whose name shares the same Hebrew root as Joshua, God's people find ultimate deliverance and eternal rest.

Before the conquest began, Joshua encountered a mysterious figure who identified himself as the commander of the Lord's army. This was no ordinary angel—many scholars believe this was Christ Himself, appearing to lead the spiritual battle against evil. He came to assure Joshua of divine presence and infinite provision, no matter how impossible the circumstances seemed. That same assurance extends to everyone who follows Christ today: the Supreme Commander still leads His people into battle, and with Him, there is nothing to fear.

Scripture:

Joshua 1