Day 77: Joshua 12-13

 With the benefit of knowing the rest of the story we understand what God is anticipating in Joshua 13:1-6, when pointing out Joshua’s age and the great number of Canaanite nations remaining to be driven out. Joshua had led the defeat of 31 kings (Joshua 12) and Ussher estimates the book of Joshua to cover 27 years. Judges follows and covers 305 years of rapid decline. The Canaanites and Philistines figure prominently in the stories of Judges. Joshua is so devoted to the Lord, so courageous and industrious… if he fell short, what do we need to learn from this?

  1. First, to see the great example of Joshua’s instant obedience: he left nothing undone of what God through Moses had commanded him. (Joshua 11:15) It wasn’t because he was disobedient or reluctant to do what he was called to do. (Compare with Jesus’ statement in John 17:4)
  2. We must learn also from the great devotion of Joshua. When the Tent of Meeting was set up, Moses had to go in and out, to convey God’s directions to the children of Israel. That was his calling. But the young Joshua was unwilling to depart from the tent. (Exodus 33:11)
  3. We can learn from the planning of Joshua. He clearly had an overall plan for victory, with three distinct campaigns. But he was willing to execute at God’s direction, and changed his plans in the conquest of Jericho after meeting the Captain of the Lord’s host (Joshua 5:14) and at Ai at the direction of God. (Joshua 8:1-2)
  4. We should learn, as Joshua was alerted here by God, to number our days (Psalm 90:12-17). Planning should really take into account our own mortality and limited ability and resources.
  5. By implication the actions of others can affect our opportunities greatly. What if Joshua and Caleb had been able to persuade the other spies at Kadesh-Barnea? (Numbers 13:25-33) Theoretically they’d have arrived in the land 40 years sooner, Joshua wouldn’t be about 92 years old, and would not be well-stricken in years. (Joshua 13:1) Caleb is 85 (Joshua 14:10) and still ready to take on the giants in the mountains. Surely a faithful Israel of the Exodus would’ve had abundant time to thoroughly subdue the land, and the entire history of Israel would’ve been different. The rebellion affected the success of not only the generation that died in the wilderness, not only Joshua and his generation, but every Israelite since. What a lesson about a democratic decision and its susceptibility to passionately and persuasively-stated error.
  6. What we’re talking about is falling short of fully accomplishing all the positive works assigned. We’re not talking about the struggle against temptation, something we pat ourselves on the back for resisting. Giving in to temptation is not forward progress but backsliding (Deuteronomy 32:5).  If I tend to despair at comparing ourselves to Joshua and realize he didn’t reach his full potential, who I'm really supposed to emulate. Joshua was present when Moses gave the command to "love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29)
  7. This passage begins the inheritance of the land. Every implication here has bearing on the inheritance of the Israelites, just as my backsliding and shortcomings do.

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