Hi, I am one of the Israelites who journeyed under the leadership of Joshua, the successor of Moses. I want to tell you our story as we crossed into the land promised to our ancestors—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The journey was not just a physical conquest but also a profound spiritual experience, revealing God's power, His faithfulness, and the need for our unwavering trust in Him.
The day we crossed the Jordan River is etched in my memory as a testament to God’s miraculous power. As the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the river, the waters ceased to flow, piling up like a wall far upstream, leaving the riverbed dry for us to cross. Just as our fathers had crossed the Red Sea, so we crossed the Jordan, reaffirming that the God who delivered us from Egypt was still with us. The stones we took from the riverbed now stand as a memorial at Gilgal, reminding us of what the Lord has done.
Jericho was the first city in Canaan that we encountered, a fortified city with walls that seemed impenetrable. But Joshua, following God's command, led us in a strange battle plan. For six days, we marched silently around the city (once each day), with the Ark of the Covenant and the priests leading the way. On the seventh day, we circled the city seven times, and when the priests blew the trumpets, we shouted with all our might. The walls of Jericho collapsed, and we took the city, dedicating it and all its contents to the Lord.
Rahab, a woman from Jericho who had helped our spies, was spared along with her family. Her faith in our God had saved her, and she became part of our community—a powerful example that God’s mercy extends to all who turn to Him.
Our next target was the city of Ai. But our initial assault failed because one of our own, Achan. He had sinned by taking some of the devoted things from Jericho, and unfortunately his disobedience brought defeat and death to many. After Achan's sin was exposed and dealt with, we attacked Ai again, this time with God’s blessing, and the city became ours.
Even when the kings of Canaan banded together to fight against us, the Lord fought for us. At Gibeon, He even made the sun stand still so we could complete the battle in daylight. City after city fell before us, not because of our strength, but because the Lord delivered them into our hands. The victories we experienced were proof that God is faithful to His promises.
Once the major battles were over, Joshua began dividing the land among the twelve tribes of Israel. We each received our inheritance from the land flowing with milk and honey. Cities of refuge were established for those seeking protection, and special cities for the Levites, who were set apart to serve the Lord.
As Joshua grew old, he gathered us all at Shechem. There, he reminded us of all that God had done for us, from our ancestors' journey out of Egypt to the conquest of the Promised Land. He urged us to serve the Lord faithfully and reject the gods of the nations around us. We renewed our covenant with the Lord, declaring, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua’s death marked the end of an era, but the stones at Shechem stand as a witness to the covenant we made that day.
Reflecting on these events, I see in Joshua a foreshadowing of a greater leader to come—the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Just as Joshua led us into the Promised Land, Jesus leads us into the land promised to all who trust in Him. While Joshua won battles against earthly enemies, Jesus has conquered sin and death through His sacrifice on the cross. His resurrection is the ultimate victory, opening the way for us to enter into a greater rest in the heavenly Promised Land.
The story of our conquest under Joshua is not just a historical account; it is a picture of the spiritual conquest Jesus achieves in our hearts. As we placed our trust in Joshua to lead us to victory, so we place our trust in Jesus, who leads us into the eternal Promised Land. Through His gospel, we find forgiveness, freedom, and the hope of everlasting life.
Our journey from the wilderness to the Promised Land was a testimony to God's faithfulness and a call for all to remain faithful to Him. In Jesus, we see the fulfillment of God’s promises, offering not just a land, but a kingdom that will never end. Just as we declared in Shechem, so today we declare: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
