Previously on "History of the Word," we discussed the importance of the father of Western religion, Moses of Canaan. Now I will move my focus to his successor, Joshua son of Nun, who inherited the responsibility of leading a distressed people into the promised land.
His Hebrew name was Yehoshua (which means "Yahweh is Salvation" or "Jehovah is Salvation") but was renamed similarly to the story of Abram being renamed to Abraham (by God) and how Jacob was renamed to Israel by the Angel of God (believed by some to be Jesus Christ).
It would seem that unlike Moses, who got his start as a simple Shepard tending to his Father-in-law's flock (Jethro), Joshua was one of the 12 Spies sent out to scout & gather information on the promised land (Canaan). Then he was chosen as a Warrior to fight for Israel: "8The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands."" in Exodus 17: 8-9. According to the Holy Bible, Joshua was a very accomplished youth even before he took up leadership of God's chosen people Israel.
Similarly to Moses, there are scholars who will debate that the accounts of Joshua are not written by Joshua himself, and that it is part of a "Deuteronomistic History"; this is basically an explanation of one of the 4 writers believed to be the main contributors to what we call the Old Testament. One such argument is that Joshua was completed in the Babylonian Exile (around 606 B.C) because of the similarities found between the writings in the Book of Joshua and the later writings of the Minor Prophets in the Babylonian Exile.
One thing that is very interesting to note is that the 10 Commandments given through the predecessor to Joshua is believed to have been written in stone. Much like the stone tablets that were written by the very hand of God Himself, there was a stone given as a gift to the Pharoah of Egypt called the "Merneptah Stele" This is archeological evidence of Israel being mentioned by an Egyptian Pharoah which has many scholars having to re-evaluate their stance on the historical accuracy of the Holy Bible, including the story of Moses and Joshua.
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Spiritual Corner: As you may, or may not know, this is the segment of the Blog dedicated to those who truly believe that the Word of God, a.k.a the Holy Bible, is a Living Word that speaks to us... This is for those who are willing to listen.
"13 Now it happened that while Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and much to his amazement, he saw a man standing in front of him, holding a drawn sword in his hand! Joshua approached him and asked him, “Are you one of us, or are you with our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he answered. “I have come as commander of the LORD’s Army.”Joshua immediately fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, saying to him, “Lord, what do you have for your servant by way of command?”
15 The commander of the LORD’s Army replied to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you’re standing is holy.” So Joshua did so." - Joshua 5: 13-15 (International Standard Version 2011)
Jericho was a mighty city with fortified walls, and trained soldiers who thought themselves to be invincible. The people in the land of Canaan, if you believe the scripture is the Word of God and is truth, were very sinful and wicked in God's eyes. In fact he promises Israel that it is ONLY for that reason that He has chosen Israel to conquer these mighty nations who rejected God, not because they are special.
The great thing about the Lord our God, is that even despite the circumstances, God rewards people according to their heart (birth place of thoughts) and actions. Now who did Joshua see when he looked up? To his amazement he saw a man standing right in front of him. Though he had a sword drawn, and could have easily killed Joshua, the "man" instead chose to speak. Joshua, being confused and frightened, then approached asked him (overcoming his own fear) if this man was for, or against Israel.
The man responded "Neither" and this confirms that God does not go back on His Word. He promised us that: "For the LORD your God is the God of all gods, the LORD of all lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show favoritism or take bribes." - Deuteronomy 10:17. This means that despite Israel being chosen as Holy, and Joshua being a Holy man among the Holy people, that even a man as respected as Joshua was not spared from lowering himself before this "man" from God.
This "man" came "as" the commander of the LORD's Army - That word 'as' indicates that He is not always the Commander of the Lord's Army. What is seen through the Revelation of the Holy Spirit, is that Joshua was obeying God enough to recognize that this was no ordinary "man." He fell to his face (showing complete humility) and worshiped him (Something that God strictly commands his children not to do to ANY thing/one/place/etc. that is not God) ~ This shows us that he recognized that this wasn't just a simple "man", but this "man" was God Himself the Lord of Hosts. Yet when we have a personal experience with God, we try to stand in His presence as if He was a "man." Joshua is teaching us here how to communicate and behave with God (being a great leader but remembering that he is but a servant to God's eyes), and how to gain favor from the Lord, because He didn't come to be on Israel's side, nor on Jericho's.
So God then commands him to remove his sandals from his feet because this is a holy place. Where exactly is this holy place? Did it matter that it was near Jericho, or could it have been near the Great Wall of China, by the Mayan pyramids, or in Easter Island? What God is showing us here is SO important. It is not an area that is Holy, but the area where God has chosen to dwell among His people and where the people have chosen to obey Him that makes it Holy. You may have heard "Oh this is a holy place" in the past, and that's great. However if that place is disobedient to God or hypocritical, why would God come into that place?
The reason that God appeared to Joshua is because he WAS obedient, he was faithful, and he had all the new Israelites circumcised (in accordance to the Law of Moses) at Gilgal the day before.
Let those with eyes see what the Spirit of God has to teach them, and those with ears hear what the Lord has spoken! Amen.
"13 Now it happened that while Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and much to his amazement, he saw a man standing in front of him, holding a drawn sword in his hand! Joshua approached him and asked him, “Are you one of us, or are you with our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he answered. “I have come as commander of the LORD’s Army.”Joshua immediately fell on his face to the earth and worshipped, saying to him, “Lord, what do you have for your servant by way of command?”
15 The commander of the LORD’s Army replied to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, because the place where you’re standing is holy.” So Joshua did so." - Joshua 5: 13-15 (International Standard Version 2011)
Jericho was a mighty city with fortified walls, and trained soldiers who thought themselves to be invincible. The people in the land of Canaan, if you believe the scripture is the Word of God and is truth, were very sinful and wicked in God's eyes. In fact he promises Israel that it is ONLY for that reason that He has chosen Israel to conquer these mighty nations who rejected God, not because they are special.
The great thing about the Lord our God, is that even despite the circumstances, God rewards people according to their heart (birth place of thoughts) and actions. Now who did Joshua see when he looked up? To his amazement he saw a man standing right in front of him. Though he had a sword drawn, and could have easily killed Joshua, the "man" instead chose to speak. Joshua, being confused and frightened, then approached asked him (overcoming his own fear) if this man was for, or against Israel.
The man responded "Neither" and this confirms that God does not go back on His Word. He promised us that: "For the LORD your God is the God of all gods, the LORD of all lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who does not show favoritism or take bribes." - Deuteronomy 10:17. This means that despite Israel being chosen as Holy, and Joshua being a Holy man among the Holy people, that even a man as respected as Joshua was not spared from lowering himself before this "man" from God.
This "man" came "as" the commander of the LORD's Army - That word 'as' indicates that He is not always the Commander of the Lord's Army. What is seen through the Revelation of the Holy Spirit, is that Joshua was obeying God enough to recognize that this was no ordinary "man." He fell to his face (showing complete humility) and worshiped him (Something that God strictly commands his children not to do to ANY thing/one/place/etc. that is not God) ~ This shows us that he recognized that this wasn't just a simple "man", but this "man" was God Himself the Lord of Hosts. Yet when we have a personal experience with God, we try to stand in His presence as if He was a "man." Joshua is teaching us here how to communicate and behave with God (being a great leader but remembering that he is but a servant to God's eyes), and how to gain favor from the Lord, because He didn't come to be on Israel's side, nor on Jericho's.
So God then commands him to remove his sandals from his feet because this is a holy place. Where exactly is this holy place? Did it matter that it was near Jericho, or could it have been near the Great Wall of China, by the Mayan pyramids, or in Easter Island? What God is showing us here is SO important. It is not an area that is Holy, but the area where God has chosen to dwell among His people and where the people have chosen to obey Him that makes it Holy. You may have heard "Oh this is a holy place" in the past, and that's great. However if that place is disobedient to God or hypocritical, why would God come into that place?
The reason that God appeared to Joshua is because he WAS obedient, he was faithful, and he had all the new Israelites circumcised (in accordance to the Law of Moses) at Gilgal the day before.
Let those with eyes see what the Spirit of God has to teach them, and those with ears hear what the Lord has spoken! Amen.
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