The book of Joshua Breakdown
In chapters 1-4, Joshua and the Israelites enter the promise land and in doing so we read of an amazing entry. As they arrive at the Jordan River, we find details of an incredible, miraculous crossing. God shows His incredible grace to a prostitute named Rahab, the ancestress of King David.
Then in chapters 5-12, Joshua follows God’s orders and first conquers the central of the promise land. This includes the unlikely manner in which they conquer the grand fortress of Jericho. God alone moved and conquered this impossible achievement. Ai was the next town and although it took two tries, the first due to sin in the camp, on the second attempt God again moved and dominated. Next, the Israelites occupied the southern land and then the northern land to complete the occupancy; however, although they controlled the region, they never did completely conquer it.
Finally, in chapters 13-24, the land is divided up and distributed among the tribes of Israel. Some of the larger cities are placed aside for the Levitical priests who did not receive a portion of land, due to their duties. Lastly, Joshua dies but before he passes he gives one of the greatest challenges that lasts for all generations including our own, “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (24:15).
The second part of the book can be really boring to read. But would like to highlight a few things we can learn from there
The importance of breaking down areas of responsibility so work can begin. I can take the land as a representation of my responsibility. I need to understand the area of my responsibility so I can work to fulfill my duties.
Implementation of resolution of conflicts as outlined by Moses. IE: Cities of Refuge and what would happen if problems arise and how to deal with them, by doing diligent inquiry. I think this is very important in service as we must always be seeking the truth about matters. Many times we could be shoved in the middle of a conflict of which we are a third party or which we are involved directly in the conflict. We need to be truth seekers or else we’ll fall in the mistakes of favoring one side over the other unjustly. This has to be done in humility. It’s not about what will benefit me, or what I’m more aligned with, but rather what is just and what is truth.
Fairness and Justice. The land was divided in fairness and justice. People’s input were taken into account when making the division. Working in teams. Joshua was the commander and chief, but he didn’t break things by himself, but he depended on others: Joshua 14:1. This is very important for us. We tend to work in silos. We are too concerned about what I want to do, about what I think is right. But fairness and justice is never achieved that way. You can see that the land was divided by the priest, who was a livite (IE he was an objective party since he himself will not inherit anything, but will be given lands from the other tribe’s inheritance. He was mentioned first and it could indicate his pre-eminence in the decision making and conflict resolution in the group.) Followed by Joshua as the commander and chief, then all the tribes of Israel who have a stake in the inheritance. So this represents a fair coelition of people that make decisions. This is an interesting breakdown that we ought to follow. Joshua could’ve made all the decisions himself, but he relied on the priest as an objective their party. I do not necessarily think that Eleazor priesthood was necessarily a subject here, but rather his lack of bias in the matter.
Conflict Resolution. A very good example of communication and conflict resolution is given in Judges 22. The tribes of Reuben and Gad took the land on the other side of the Jordan. And after the land of Canaan was subdued, the children of Israel heard that these tribes built a replica of the alter. The rumor mill started working overtime and they thought they committed blasphemy. They then gathered their armies in readiness to fight and annihilate these two tribes. But they went and did a diligent inquiry, with clear coordination and found out the real reason the two tribes built the alter, which was not heresy in the least, but as a reminder for future generations, that the two tribes of Israel belonged to the people of Israel. To avoid any change of alienation in the future.
Communication. Joshua’s final address. He speaks truth clearly. He recounts what happened. He recounts the commandments of the Lord to the people of Israel. And then informs them what will happen to them if they do not obey (very similar to Moses address to the people before he died). He speaks the truth without wavering. He doesn’t let “political correctness” taint the truth. He desires their prosperity and he knows that prosperity will only come if they follow the Lord. And that’s what he tells them.
Commitment. In the same speech he renews the commitment of the people to serve the Lord.
We shouldn’t allow our service to overshadow our commitment to God. This usually has some very bad results. Self-righteousness is one. Justifying bad deeds in the name of service, “the end justifies the means” mentality. But if we put God first, then everything else falls in its proper priority.