As Moses' second in command, Joshua is known for leading the people of Israel into the promised land following Moses' death. He is regarded as one of the most influential military leaders in the Bible, and he is a source of practical leadership advice and inspiration. In this context, let’s take a look at his life from a different perspective.
Although Joshua is regarded as one of the most skilled military leaders in history, it is not possible to credit Israel's victory solely to his abilities as a leader. In the first instance, in the Exodus 17 battle, we see him leading the forces against the Amalekites. According to the story in Exodus 17:13, Joshua overwhelmed the Amalekites. It's tempting to believe that his military expertise helped save the day.
In verse 11, it states that Israel won whenever Moses raised his hands, and whenever he lowered his hands, Amalek triumphed. However, due to his tired arms, his companions Hur and Aaron had to carry a stone to restrain him.
According to Joshua, God told the people of Israel to destroy everything that they could. In addition, Achan prevented some of the loot from going to the battle of Jericho. This was why, despite their victory, God decided not to give them the victory at Ai.
The goal of this concept is to show that victory can only be achieved through the program and agenda that God has set. In the case of the battle of Ai, God decided to redeem the situation and gave the people of Israel the victory. However, it took them until the end of the object lesson to receive the victory.
In addition to his leadership abilities, Joshua's rock-solid faith in God also shows through his actions. In the 13th century, God gave Moses the task of sending out a group of tribesmen to scout out the land. After they returned, ten of them reported that the land was being held by powerful and well-equipped forces.
The other notable individuals who visited the promised land during this period were the giants from the tribes of Israel. One of the most significant factors that set Joshua and Caleb apart from the other individuals in the Bible is their belief in God's promises.
The people of Israel were not afraid of the large armies and the strength of the cities. They were also aware of God's ability to deal with Egypt, which was the most powerful nation in the world at that time. If God could take care of Egypt's army, He would be able to provide for the various tribes of the country.
God rewarded Joshua and Caleb's faith by not allowing them to go through the generations of the people who would perish in the wilderness.
Throughout his life, Joshua has shown his consistent faithfulness by repeatedly consecrating the people before and after the invasion of the promised land and the defeat at Ai. However, it is his last book that most clearly demonstrates his commitment to God. In it, he talks about the deeds of God that he has performed on behalf of the people.
In response to his message, Joshua urged the people to abandon their idols and stay faithful to the covenant made with God at Sinai. He also told them to choose the gods of their choice, such as those from the Amorites living in the land of Israel.
What can we learn from Joshua's life? Although God gave him the victory over Ai, it does not diminish his abilities as a leader. He was still able to effectively lead the people of Israel. However, his skills in leadership are not the main lesson that we should learn from his life.
