Transcendence 3

Seventeen: A New Leader

Moses had turned over the massive role of leadership of the Israelites to Joshua. God gave Joshua wisdom and power and told him not to be discouraged or terrified for He would be with him wherever he goes.

With Joshua in charge, the Israelites were about to cross over into the promised land. Together they marched, a huge group of millions of people, pushing forward,onward into unknown territory. They were doing it with an untested new leader. They had no horses, they had no chariots. They carried with them very strict marching orders from God. 

The odds they faced were overwhelming. 

Yet they had so much hope. New spirits grew with the new generation. The older Israelites, along with their fearful, slave mentalities, had died off in the desert. All that was left of the original clan was two legendary warriors, Joshua and Caleb. The new generation had declared to trust God no matter what. They believed the people ahead would melt in fear because God was on their side. (That faith pleased God! That kind of faith is the kind that moves mountains!)

Joshua had two main tasks as a leader, first he was to direct a military campaign to take control of the land God had promised. Second he was to parcel out the land as directed by God among all the tribes.

God was really and truly in charge, finally - just as it should be! With God in control, things looked great all around because He takes care of those who obey and have faith in Him. It was easy to see that when the people allowed God to guide unprecedented success followed!

The Lord commanded Joshua to get ready to go into the promised land, God told him He would give them every place they set their food as he had promised Moses. The territory extended from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Great Sea to the Euphrates. No one would be able to stand against them. God told them He would never leave them nor forsake them. He warned them again to obey His commands. They should meditate on the law day and night so that they would continue to be prosperous and successful. He told them to be strong and courageous - He repeated this several times.

Joshua told everyone to get ready. He reminded the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh that they were to leave their wives, children and livestock east of the Jordan while the men were to be fully armed and ready to cross over ahead of their brothers to help take possession of the land. Afterwards they would return to their own land. Everyone agreed to do as he said.

Joshua decided right away to send two spies ahead. He had them go into the land and check everything out, especially the land of Jericho. The spys went and entered into the house of a prostitute named Rahab who allowed them to stay with her.  (Which was a very dangerous thing for her to do. Not only were they foreigners who could have hurt her, but also her own country could kill her for protecting the spies. But she knew God was with them, she knew her only chance to survive the attack that was sure to come was to befriend the spies and beg for protection from them. )

Someone alarmed the king of Jericho there were spies living with Rahab so the King sent men to tell her she should bring out the men who were staying with her. But Rahab hid the two men up on the roof under some stalks of flax. She told the king's men they had left at dusk the night before. She reported that she didn't know which way they went. She told the men to hurry after them. So the men left in pursuit of the spies.

Before the spies lay down for the night Rehab went up on the roof and told them, "I know the Lord has given this land to you and that great fear has fallen on us so that all who live here are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt and what you did to Sihon and Og the two kings of the Amorites, whom you completely destroyed. Everyone has lost their courage, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth. Now I ask that you show kindness to me as I have shown to you. and spare the life of my father and mother and brothers and sisters and all who belong to us from death. "

"Our lives for your lives," the spies assured her. (References to Rahab later in the Bible show that she gained a unique place in Jewish history. She and her family alone survived the battle of Jericho. By marrying a man named Salmon (possibly a relative of the hero Caleb) she became a direct ancestor of Jesus Christ. She is an example of true faith in the books James and Hebrews.)

Rahab told the men to go to the hills so the pursuers will not find them. "Hide there for three days," she said, "until they return, then go on your way."

The spies told her in order for her family to be protected during the impending battle, she was to tie a scarlet cord in the window and keep all her family inside. If they go outside their blood is on their own hands, and if she tells anyone what they are doing they are subsequently released from the oath of protection they promised her.

She agreed and tied the scarlet cord in the window. 

The spies hid for three days as she said, then returned to their people. When they was back with the Israelites they told them what had happened. They brought good news that the people of Jericho were terrified. This encouragement was needed by all.

Early the next morning the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan where they camped before crossing over. After three days they filed out behind the ark of the covenant which was carried by the Levites. They were to keep a distance of a thousand yards, and not to go near the ark.

Joshua told them, "Consecrate yourselves, for the Lord will do amazings things among you."

At Joshua's command, the priests took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

The Lord told Joshua that He would exalt them so that everyone would know He is with them. He also told Joshua he would stop the flow of the Jordan when the priest who were carrying the Ark, got to it. At God's command its waters flowing downstream would be cut off and would stand up in a heap. At that time the Jordan was at flood stage because it was during harvest. Yet as soon as the priest who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the waters edge, the water stopped flowing, it piled up in a heap a great distance away at a town called Adam. So the people were able to cross the Jordan east of Jericho. The priest who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the river while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing. (This crossing was very close to the place where Jesus would later be baptized.) 

(Life question: Do you have faith to allow God to guide? Are you believing in true unpresented success that can only be explained as God?  When God shows up big things happen. When we allow God to be in control we not only gain peace, but we truly gain amazing protection and guidance.  What a mighty God we serve! )