Joshua as a leader

Joshua took over the mantle of the mantle of leadership of the Israelites from Moses .  he was chosen by God as a replacement to Moses because he was a man who had faith and courage in God.  As a leader, he led the people faithfully in obedience and trust.  He was a kind of leader that sought and followed good advice.

JOSHUA SUCCEEDS MOSES (Numbers 13:16-14:10)

When Moses grew too old, he requested that God to appoint a successor in his place to lead His people, (the Israelites).  Moses was instructed by God to ordain Joshua, the son of Nun, a man who  had the Holy Spirit in him.  Moses laid his hand upon Joshua and ordained him before the people.  Joshua was chosen as a successor to Moses because God had earlier said that Moses would not get to the promise land.  This was because Moses had earlier disobeyed God at the water of Meribah (Exodus 17:1-7).

THE FALL OF JERICHO (Joshua 6)

Under the supervision of Joshua, the children of Israel surrounded Jericho so that none of it inhabitants could go out or come into the city. God had already assured Joshua of Victory and had already given Joshua the plan to conquer the city.  God commanded that the priests should carry the Ark of covenant and seven priests should carry seven trumpets made of ram’s horns.  Armed men should lead the processions, the priests with the trumpets, should follow and then the priest with the Ark should follow respectively.  The rest of the people were of the people were ordered to form a rear guard.  The people were instructed not utter a word or shout until they were ordered to do so.  They were commanded to march round the city of Jericho once everyday, for six days.  On the seventh day, they were ordered to march round the city seven times and shout to the city.

THE FALL OF JERICHO

Early the next morning, the procession marched round the city once as they were instructed.  They matched round the city once for six days and after each round they retreated.  On the seventh days, the people marched round the city seven times then Joshua ordered them to shout for God and given them the city.  The Israelites were commanded to destroy everything in the city except Rahab the harlot and her family.  All the precious things found there should be set aside for God’s treasury.  According to the instruction given, the people shouted and the trumpeters blew their horns and the walls of Jericho fell.  The people entered the city and destroyed it.  They only spared the harlot (Rahab) and her family.

JOSHUA’S FAREWELL ADRESS (Joshua 24:1-34)

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, he gathered the elders, the heads, judges and the officers of Israel before God.  Then Joshua delivered his farewell speech to the congregation.  In his address, Joshua outlined the history of Israel right from Abraham to Moses.  According to him, the forefathers of the Israelites lived in Mesopotamia where they served gods.  He narrated how God called Abraham to the land of Canaan and made his offspring many.  Abraham gave birth to Isaac and Isaac gave birth to Jacob and Esau.  Esau settled in hill country of seir, but Jacob and his descendant went to Egypt.  God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses and Aaron, and saved them at the Red sea by destroying the Egyptian Army.  God also delivered them from the Amorites, Perozzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites.  God also provided for them a good land which they did not labor for.

Joshua then called on the children of Israel to fear God and serve him sincerely and faithfully.  He urged them to put away the gods which their ancestors worshipped in Mespotamia and serve the lord.  He then ask them to choose between God and other gods.  He told them he and his household would serve the lord.

The people of Israel assured him that they would also serve the lord.  Joshua reminded them concerning their pledge telling them that God was a jealous God who could punish them whenever they defaulted.  They said that they themselves were witnesses to their pledge.  Joshua again admonished them to be faithful to God.  Then Joshua wrote down the laws of God.  By so doing, he renewed the covenant.  He then set up a stone to be a witness against the people in case they break their vow to God by deserting Him.