The Book of Joshua is rightly ‘the Book of Battles’. Under the able leadership of Joshua, the Israelites conquered the promised land and took possession of it. They were not trained and organized as an army for battles. For forty year they were travelling through the desert like a nomadic tribe. They did not have proper weapons or armoury. Even their commander-in-chief, Joshua was not a rough and tough authoritarian leader. He was a pious godly man who did not leave the tabernacle of God. It was not by their might or valour that they conquered the land. It was God who fought for them. The commander of the army of the Lord had come down and appeared to Joshua (Joshua 5:13:14) Joshua and the Israelites had only to obey Him. The commander of the army of the Lord is Lord Himself. That is why when Joshua fell face down before Him in reverence, He accepted the worship. Victory comes by unconditional obedience to the Lord and His word.
Example for Us
What do we the church of God gain by reading the history of Israel’s battles and victory? These things occurred to the Israelites as examples to us. They are written down in the scriptures for our warning and edification. (1 Cori. 10:6,11) we, the church is on a battlefield. “Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12) As the untrained, scantly armed and poorly organized Israelites were before the well-trained, well-armed regular armies who fought from fortresses are we the feeble saints before the crooked and wicked forces of darkness. Just as the Lord of hosts came down to strengthen Joshua, our Lord is with us to strengthen us against our foes. Our past is implicit obedience to the Word of God.
Adventurous Obedience
Joshua did not rely on his strategies and abilities. He just obeyed God. The time they chose to cross the river Jordan was the most unfavourable one. The river is at flood stage all through the harvest season (Josh. 3:15) Ant it was this time that Joshua chose to lead the people across it. When the priests carrying the ark of the Lord put their feet into the river, the flood water parted. The water downstream flowed down to thee salt sea. The flow from upstream heaped up flooding a large area including cities. It alerted the people of the whole land to see what the Lord was doing for the Israelites. The more the obstacles, the greater will be the glory of the Lord. Those who look to God need not fear seeing the problems before them. They will ultimately add to the glory of God and increase our faith in Him. In times of challenges we should not rely on our reasoning. Our intelligence and evaluation should not deter us from obeying whatever the Lord commands us. When their enemies saw the parting of the swollen river and the flooding of the upper land, their hearts melted. On the other hand the hearts of the Lord’s people were strengthened and they trusted the Lord.
Obedience at the Risk of Life
Again another thing Joshua did at the command of God may seem utter foolishness when evaluated rationally. The able bodied menfolk below forty years were not circumcised during the journey through the desert. So God asked Joshua to circumcise them all using flint knives. It would make them disabled for a time. They were already in the land they were to conquer. The enemies could attack them anytime. In such a challenging predicament they made themselves physically maimed as the Lord commanded. The story of Sheehenites was not unknown to them. On the third day after they were circumcised, the Sheehenites had become so weak and helpless that just two men, Simeon and Levi could kill all of them. But in obeying the Lord, Joshua did not give a second thought or give room to his reasoning power. Implicit obedience to the Word of God is the key to victory.
God Worthy of Obedience
Obedience requires submissiveness ad humility. It is acknowledging the benevolence of the one we choose to obey. We trust the one we obey. Only by considering the superior insight, practical wisdom and understanding of another can we obey him. Such as totally submissive relationship can be there only with God. God is infallible, omniscient, all benevolent and good to the core. To facilitate such a relationship with man God manifested His trustworthiness and unconditional love in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. One can love the one who willingly died for him. As He is trustworthy, implicit obedience to His word is the proof of our faith in Him. Joshua could obey God implicitly because he had such confidence in the infallibility, goodness and authority of God.
True Success in Life
Obedience to the Word of God should not be taken as the way to victory. It is acknowledging the godliness of God and honouring Him as Lord. Success in life should not be measured by material standards. Real success in life is attaining eternal life. Faith in God is the only way to eternal life. And faith demands obedience. Apostle James has stated that faith without obedience / works is useless. It follows that obedience that comes from faith is ultimately the way to a victorious life culminating in eternal life.
