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CHAPTER 3:
Chapters 3 & 4 are best read as one unit which describes the crossing of the Jordan River. The time has come to cross the river Jordan, but there’s some preparations that must be done first. Israel sets up camp near the river, and waits three days before receiving further instructions from Joshua. (v.1-2) (Joshua 1:10-11) The people are to watch for the priests as they take up the ark of the covenant and begin marching towards Jordan. (v.3) The officers also remind the people to keep a safe distance between them and the ark – about a thousand yards – so that they know where to go since this is new territory for all of them. (v.4) The other reason for this is that they remain at a respectful distance due the holiness of the ark and the presence of God that accompanies it. (Exodus 19:12) Verse 5: Joshua commands the Israelites to sanctify themselves in preparation for crossing the river, “…for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Exodus 19:10, 14-15, Leviticus 20:7, Numbers 11:18, Joshua 7:13, 1 Samuel 16:5, Job 1:5, Joel 2:16) This is a familiar command throughout the OT whenever the children of Israel are preparing for a major event such as this. Sanctification before God is necessary because of His holiness, because of who He is and who we are. Before the perfect blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, the only method of mankind cleansing and sanctifying themselves before God was the high priest and the animal sacrifices. Believers today are once and for all sanctified and cleansed by accepting the shed blood of Christ for their sins. (Hebrews 13:12) The definition of “sanctify”, according to Strong’s Concordance, is “to separate from profane things and dedicate to God.” That’s what Joshua is commanding the people to do here in preparation for crossing the Jordan and fulfilling God’s command for them to conquer the promised land. Even we today have a need to continually separate ourselves from sin and other profane things that hinder our walk with the Lord. (Ephesians 5:25-26, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 1 Peter 3:15) Another definition of “sanctify” is “to purify, or to cleanse externally.” That’s what is needed daily as we remain in this wicked flesh for the rest of our time here on earth. Only when we are at last reunited with our Lord and Savior in eternal glory will we receive that perfect, incorruptible body and never again have to worry about the need for sanctification. Verses 6-13: God reaffirms for Joshua his divinely appointed leadership of Israel. (v.7-8) As He was with Moses, so is the Lord with Joshua. The priests that bare the ark of the covenant are to step into the river and then stand still. Joshua summons all the congregation in order to deliver to them God’s commands. (v.9) He also reminds them of the promise of God regarding their conquering of the promised land. (v.10-11) Each tribe is to select one man as a representative who will, presumably, follow behind the priests as they cross the Jordan. (v.12) The moment the priests step into the river the water flowing from the north will be cut off and stand as a wall a great distance from the crossing point. (v.13) There is a deliberate echo here of the crossing of the Red Sea. God is demonstrating His power and might for His chosen people, just as He did for the first generation that came up out of Egypt. When Joshua’s instructions are followed precisely, the priests stand in the midst of the dry riverbed, bearing the ark, as the children of Israel cross to the other side. (v.14-17) Note that it’s not just the Jordan river that is halted, but also all the streams and tributaries below the point of the priests’ entrance that are dried up as well. When all is said and done, God and His name are glorified by this miracle, just as He was after the crossing of the Red Sea. Joshua, the servant of the Lord, is also honored for His obedience and leadership. The lesson here for us today is obvious. When we exercise our faith and trust in God, He will make a way for us to fulfill whatever calling He has chosen for us. All that is required of us is simple humility and prompt obedience. God will remove whatever obstacles stand in our way as long as we rely solely on Him and are patient to wait for His timing and will. CHAPTER 4: Verses 1-8: After all of Israel has crossed over the Jordan Joshua commands one man from each tribe to choose a stone from the exposed riverbed, near the spot where the priests that bear the ark are still standing. The purpose of this is to build a pillar on the west bank of the Jordan that will serve as a memorial for future generations. Here again we see an echo of the same instruction given by God to Moses as the children of Israel prepared to depart from Egypt. (Exodus 12:26, 13:14, Deuteronomy 6:20) Just as the annual passover feast and ritual would serve to remind their descendants of God’s providence and salvation, so will this monument serve the same purpose. This also hearkens back to the various altars that were built and/or places that were given special names by Abraham and Jacob after specific moments in their lives when they encountered God. (Genesis 22:14, 28:18-19) It was a common custom in the cultures of the ANE to construct such memorials to mark important events, people, and/or places of great significance. Verses 9-10: After the twelve tribes have built their memorial, Joshua sets up a second one in the midst of the Jordan riverbed, on the same spot where the priests are still standing. Scripture, however, doesn’t give a specific reason for this second pillar, so we can only guess at its purpose. It also seems odd to place such a memorial in the middle of the river where it will probably never be seen unless the river drops to a certain level in the seasons before and after harvest. (Joshua 3:15) The most likely reason for this second memorial is the same as the other one on the west bank: a reminder for future generations of God’s greatness, power, and providence for His chosen people. Verses 11-13: The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh honor their vow to Moses and Joshua by sending their men of war across the Jordan to fight with their fellow Israelites. (Numbers 32:17-18, Joshua 1:13-14) Verse 14: Because of his humility and obedience to the Lord, Joshua was lifted up by God in the sight of all the people, who now revere him as they did Moses. (Joshua 3:7) God will never exalt the proud, the rebellious, or the wicked; those who seek glory for themselves and chase after only the praise of men. However, those who humble themselves, and seek His face, and obey His divine will will God lift up before men in due time. This is the primary reason that Joshua is such a great example of leadership in scripture. He never sought the role as Moses’ replacement, but he was willing to learn while under Moses’ tutelage. When the time came for Moses to pass on, Joshua was willing and ready to follow God’s call and accepted the mantle of leadership without question. Now, after the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river, the people recognize Joshua as God’s appointed leader, and see that the Lord is indeed with him. They are willing to obey Joshua as the Lord’s appointed servant and mouthpiece. Verses 15-18: As soon as the last of the people have crossed over, and after Joshua has erected his monument in the middle of the riverbed, God commands Joshua to command the priests to “…come ye up out of Jordan.” (v.17) As soon as the priests step up onto the riverbank, the wall of water collapses and the river returns to its previous state, overflowing its banks. What a magnificent sight that must have been for all of Israel to witness! Verses 19-24: The nation sets up camp in Gigal, on the tenth day of the first month (v.19), and this is where Joshua erects the monument of their crossing the Jordan with the twelve stones. (v.5, 20) Joshua then commands the people to never forget what God has done for them here. The pillar of stones is to be a memorial for them and all their descendants of the power of God and the miracle that He performed on their behalf this day. Joshua compares this event to the crossing of the Red Sea of their fathers (v.23) and reminds the people of the purpose of such miraculous events: “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.” (v.24) (Exodus 14:31, Deuteronomy 6:2, 1 Kings 8:42, 2 Kings 19:19, Psalm 76:7, 106:8, Jeremiah 10:7)
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CHAPTER 1:
Verses 1-9: Moses is referred to as “…the servant of the Lord…” (v.1-2), a title that indicates his revered status in both the eyes of God and the nation of Israel. Joshua, by contrast is called Moses’ minister (v.1). But by the end of his life he, too, will have gained that honored status of God’s servant. (Joshua 24:29) God reiterates to Joshua His command for the children of Israel to go into Canaan and conquer all the land. (v.2-5) The dimensions and measurements of the promised land are also repeated here. (Genesis 15:18, Exodus 23:31, Numbers 34:3-12, Deuteronomy 11:24, Joshua 11:23) The same promise which God made to Moses also applies to Joshua: “…I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” (v.5) (Exodus 3:12, Deuteronomy 7:24) The exhortation to “…be strong and of a good courage…” (v.6, 9) and “…be thou strong and very courageous…” (v.7) is a recurring theme in the book of Joshua. (Joshua 10:25, 23:6) It was also the last command from Moses to Joshua in the presence of the whole nation. (Deuteronomy 31:7) Here, in verses 6-9, it serves as a bracket for the command of obedience. (v.7-8) The Lord repeats Himself in verse 8, emphasizing the same command He gave to Moses who then passed it on to the whole congregation of Israel. (Deuteronomy 5:32, 17:18-19, 29:9, 31:24, 26, Joshua 8:34, Psalm 1:1) The only path to any blessing of God and any success in this life is complete obedience to God and His word. When God commands Joshua and the Israelites to be strong and a courageous, He is not referring only to physical strength against Israel’s enemies. The Moody Bible Commentary puts it this way: “The root idea is holding firmly to something. It means ‘to be in firm control of one’s faculties.’ Far from the absence of fear, courage holds the energy of fear under control and channels it toward positive ends.” The man of God must practice self discipline and self control in all areas of his life if he is to be a successful warrior and leader of his home, church, and community. The command to “meditate therein day and night” (v.8) appears frequently in the OT with regards to the law of God, especially in the book of Psalms. The man of God must always be thinking of God’s words and His precepts, keeping them in the back of his mind at all times. This will cause him to strive for obedience as he seeks God’s favor and blessing in his life. To always be mindful of God’s commands is to abhor sin and strive for holiness. This is key to the ongoing process of sanctification as we grow in our walk with God. Studying His word and meditating upon day and night – as well as teaching it to our children – is crucial to having a close, personal relationship with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Verses 10-18: Just as Moses was faithful and obedient to pass on God’s commands to the people, so is Joshua. (v.11) The officers that are mentioned in verse 10 are probably the appointed elders of each tribe. Joshua orders the people to make provisions and prepare themselves for crossing the Jordan river. (v.11) He then also reminds the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh of their vow to Moses. (v.12-15) The men respond heartily, promising that if any of them renege on this vow, he shall be put to death. (v.16-18) They echo the Lord’s words to Joshua: “…be strong and of good courage.” This current generation of Israelites had learned well the lesson of disobedience that had cost their parents the promised land. Their fathers had not “…hearkened unto Moses in all things…” (v.17) and they’re not going to make the same mistake. CHAPTER 2: The account of Rahab and the two spies from Israel, as well as the fall of Jericho, is probably the most famous story from the book of Joshua and one of the most well known in the OT. The character of Rahab herself and her saving faith in the Lord God of Israel was referenced by James and the author of Hebrews. (Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25) She became the mother of Boaz who later married Ruth who begat Obed, the grandfather of King David. In this manner Rahab, a gentile prostitute, became a key figure in the lineage of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 1:5) Verse 1: Israel is still camped at Shittim. (Numbers 25:1, Joshua 3:1) Notice the difference here from the last time that spies were sent to scout the promised land. (Numbers 13-14) Joshua sent these “…two men to spy secretly…”, indicating that this was probably not known to anyone in Israel except Joshua himself. He most likely feared a repeat of the previous incident of rebellion and disobedience by this second generation and therefore chose a covert scouting mission rather than a public one. Another possibility for the secret operation was Jericho itself. The previous mission by the twelve spies was for the purpose of scouting the whole promised land, but this one is limited to Jericho specifically as indicated by the fact that Joshua names the city in his directive to the spies. There are some Biblical scholars and theologians who have tried to whitewash Rahab’s true occupation by claiming that she was an innkeeper and that her house was just a hostel. According to the Moody Bible commentary, this effort started with Josephus in the first century and has continued to the present day. But the Biblical text is clear in verse 1. Joshua sent the spies to scout the land, specifically Jericho, and the spies “…came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.” There is no ambiguity in that verse. Two things are clear: 1) the spies come to Rahab for the express purpose of gathering information about Jericho and its defenses, and 2) Rahab is a harlot. In the King James Bible, the word harlot always refers to a prostitute. Therefore, the scripture here is clear: she was not an innkeeper or any other such nonsense. Rahab was an immoral woman who sold her body for sex with many different men. The reason that scholars and historians have tried to downplay this fact or obscure it is because they do not understand – or refuse to accept – that God is capable of saving even the worst of sinners. He accepts the most wicked, the most vile, and the most despicable of us who truly repent and believe, and He uses them for His honor and glory. Time and again throughout history, God has chosen men and women who are the worst of sinners, yet willing to repent and submit to God, to bring about His divine will. Moses is an excellent example of this, as is Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, David, Rahab, Matthew, Paul, and many others. It doesn’t matter if they were merely tax collectors or men who lacked self control or adulterers or harlots. God accepted and used every single one of them to bring about His divine plan for all mankind, and Rahab’s story here in Joshua is a prime example of this. Rahab’s occupation makes her an excellent source of intel on Jericho and its habitants. That’s why the spies go to her. Furthermore, the fact that her house is on the wall suggests her wealth – and possibly her status – among the city’s elite, as is typical for the culture and societies of the ANE at this time. Verses 2-7: When the king of Jericho learns of the presence of the spies from Israel and that they have been to Rahab’s house, he sends his men to fetch them. (v.2-3) But Rahab acts quickly to hide the two spies on the roof of her house by covering them with large stalks of flax. (v.4, 6) She then lies to the king’s men, telling them that the spies have already left the city, and that she doesn’t know where they went. But she encourages the soldiers to go after them, giving the impression that the spies are not far outside the city and the soldiers should be able to easily catch up with them. (v.5) The king’s men believe her, and they depart the city. Frequently in scripture we find spiritual conundrums such as the one in this scene where Rahab lies to protect the men of God. The ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16) clearly forbids lying, yet it seems that God also rewards those who do so in order to carry out His will. (Exodus 1:17-19) The simple truth is that when men and women of faith defy evil men in order to serve God, God rewards him or her. In all the examples in scripture, the believers who lie are doing so because the orders of men are in direct opposition to the will of God. In this case, Rahab is protecting the two Israelite spies from the king who wishes to kill them. The city of Jericho and its people are enemies of God whom the Lord has condemned to death for their pride and disobedience. Rahab is acting out of faith to protect the spies, and therefore her lying is excused. It’s also worth noting that the author of Hebrews is extolling Rahab’s faith, not her specific act of lying. Her faith is what is more important, not her sins. Verses 8-13: After the king’s men depart, Rahab retrieves the spies and then gives a simple yet profound confession of faith. The mighty acts of the God of Israel in His deliverance of His people from their bondage in Egypt has been heard by the people of Canaan. Rahab describes in detail the parting of the Red Sea and the conquest of the kings Sihon and Og, and how this news made the people of Jericho sore afraid and utterly faint of heart. (v.10-11) She then concludes with a simple declaration of truth: “…for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.” Rahab’s words reflect her genuine belief and faith in God, and this is why she is saved from the judgment and utter destruction of Jericho. But Rahab doesn’t stop there. She demonstrates even greater faith in God by asking the spies to show her kindness because of her kindness towards them in saving them from the king’s men. (v.12) (1 Samuel 20:14-15, 17) Rahab recognizes her current state and her complete inability to save herself, and she throws herself upon the mercy of the God of Israel whom she has only heard about from the words of others. (v.13) This is the essence of eternal salvation for all believers – past, present, and future until the second coming of Christ. It is this simple, childlike faith that earned Rahab her place in the genealogy of Christ the Messiah as well as the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11. Verses 14-21: The spies answer Rahab’s faith with assurance that she and all who are within the walls of her house will be saved from death when Israel launches its attack on Jericho. (v.14) Notice that Rahab’s salvation also depends on her keeping her secret about the spies until the day of judgment. Because she showed them mercy and kindness, she will receive mercy and salvation in return. (Matthew 5:7) After helping the spies to get safely outside the city wall via her window, Rahab instructs them to flee into the nearby mountains to hide for three days until the king’s men have given up their pursuit of them. (v.15-16) There is one further condition for Rahab’s deliverance from the coming judgment: she must hang in her window a scarlet cord. (v.18) The exact reason for this is unclear. Perhaps the men thought it was necessary in order to distinguish which house was Rahab’s after the conquest so that she would not be harmed by Israel’s soldiers. Or perhaps it was merely one more test of her saving faith as it would undoubtedly draw the attention of the king and his men later on. Whatever the case, the color of the cord is a beautiful picture of the salvation of the New Testament believer who is saved by his/her faith the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary. The two spies also remind Rahab of the necessity of being inside her house at the time of the battle. (v.18-19) Only those physically inside the house will be spared. Anyone who steps outside will most certainly die. Furthermore, if Rahab betrays the spies to the king before they are able to escape back to Israel, then she and her household will not be saved from the coming judgment. (v.20) Rahab affirms once more her promise to keep this oath, and then she binds the scarlet cord in her window. (v.21) “According to your words, so be it.” Rahab takes the spies at their word, with no other proof than her faith that they will not betray her when the day of judgment comes. Verses 22-24: The spies return to Joshua with the good news that God has already delivered Jericho into their hands. How do they know this? “…for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.” (v.24) When God is on the side of the righteous, no man or woman can stand against them. Israel was but a tiny nation compared to all the nations of the promised land that were entrenched behind the fortified walls of their great cities such as Jericho. Yet, the spies, too, displayed a faith as great as Rahab’s because they believed her word about the fear in the hearts of Canaan’s people. They knew by faith that God had kept His word to Moses and Joshua, that He would deliver Israel’s enemies into their hands and the land promised to their father Abraham would be theirs. (Exodus 23:31, Joshua 21:44) |
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