Joshua: Conquest and Rest
"Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them"(1:6).
The book of Joshua describes the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua, who succeeded Moses. God commands Israel to be strong and courageous in entering the Promised Land because it is not about their own strength and wisdom, but because it is God who fights the battle for them. Since God is faithful to keep His promises, all they have to do is remain faithful to Him alone.
After crossing the Jordan River into Canaan, the city of Jericho fell when the Israelites fully obeyed God's direction. However, when they failed to devote themselves to God, they were unable to continue the victory, particularly against the city of Ai. Having renewed their commitment to God, they were able to finish their campaign to conquer Canaan and possess it in the end. The land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, and Joshua reminded the Israelites to follow God's commands, leading them in renewing their covenant with God.
Joshua, whose name means "Yahweh saves," is a type of Jesus, who saves His people from their sins. Both Joshua and Jesus lead their people to victory in battle. However, while Joshua only led his people in battle, Jesus won the ultimate victory for His people and gives His triumph to those who follow Him so that they can participate in it. Therefore, Jesus is the one who gives His people victory and rest in Him, calling them to come to Him and find eternal rest for their souls.
The key to Israel's victory was their total devotion to God. Just as the Israelites were able to conquer the land only through their faith and obedience to God, Christians today can overcome sin and death only through faith and obedience to Christ, who has conquered sin and death through His life and death devoted wholly to God. Christ is the angel of the LORD and our captain, who fights for us and with us. If He is with us, who can be against us?
The Canaanites deserved their total destruction because of their corruption. In fact, God had been patient toward them until He gave Canaan to Israel in due time. However, whoever hears the news that the divine judgment is at hand has the hope of salvation. Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, turned to the God of Israel with faith and was saved with her whole family. She is gloriously and graciously recorded in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. The Gibeonites are another example of the recipients of gracious salvation. When they came to God and humbly begged for mercy, they could become servants of the Lord among His people. Jesus did not come to call the righteous in this world, but sinners to repentance so that they might be saved.
