Joshua is one of the books in the Bible I like very much. He was the successor of Moses to lead Israelites. Moses transgressed God's commandment at one point so he lost the privilege of leading Israelites in to Canaan, the promised land besides losing his own privilege of entering the land of Canaan. Moses, therefore, gave the charge to Joshua in accordance with the God's commandment. The first chapter of Joshua deals with Joshua advising Israelites repeatedly not be afraid of anything. "Fear not" was the key word that he emphasized on. Later, he asked them not to neglect meditating on the word of God.

Joshua 1:10-15 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you provisions; for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God gives you to possess it. And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spoke Joshua, saying, Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God has given you rest, and has given you this land. Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of Jordan; but you shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them; Until the LORD has given your brethren rest, as he has given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God gives them: then you shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD'S servant gave you on this side of Jordan toward the sun rising.

Joshua spoke to Israelites and declared how our God deserves worship. He reminded them that the LORD fought their enemies and said each one of them was equal to a thousand of their enemies, because the LORD was on their side. The nations they defeated on their journey from Egypt to Canaan, were Amorites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites, Canaanites, Amalekites and Jebusites. In addition, the LORD hurled Pharaoh's army and his chariots in the Red Sea when they were chasing the Israelites.

The LORD gave them light and shade as they traveled and also Manna to eat. He caused darkness to prevail between Pharaoh's army and the Israelites. After crossing River Jordan into Canaan, Joshua full in years asked them to remember the love of God for them.


He asked them to cast out all other gods they worshiped in the land of Egypt. He gave them option to choose either the living God and live happily or choose other gods and lose their lives. Joshua warned them that if they worshipped other gods, they will be destroyed. True, our God is jealous God and does not tolerate worshipping any other god. How pleasant it is to reading the following verse that the people of Israel were in consonance with Joshua's desire.

"And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey". Joshua 24:24

God bless
Leslie M. John