Revisiting the Book of Joshua

“The Bible is a history book, but it’s also a book of historical art. Our generation has an abundance of historical writing, but a poor sense of historical touch and concept. There is an urgent need for this book.” – Hesse

In the Bible, the Book of Joshua serves as an indispensable bridge, connecting the Pentateuch with the history of the Israelites’ entry into the land of Canaan. Both ancient Hebrew writings and modern Christian faith place Joshua as the sixth book of the Old Testament. For Christians, it is the first of the twelve “Historical Books” (Joshua through Esther). For Jews, it is the first of the “Former Prophets” (Joshua through Ezra and Nehemiah, with Ruth and Chronicles placed at the end of the Hebrew Old Testament’s Writings). As Jensen emphasized, “The Book of Joshua is a climax in Israel’s progressive history and the beginning of a completely new experience. Therefore, its historical connective role establishes this book’s pivotal position in the Old Testament.”

In the Book of Joshua, we see God’s faithfulness; His words never fail. We also see His power, as millions of Israelites were delivered from the rule of the Egyptian pharaoh, wandered in the wilderness for over forty years, and finally entered and received the land God had promised them.

In the Book of Joshua, we first see that God gave them a lot of help. They heard God speak and saw His actions, and the promises He made were surely fulfilled. His covenant with the Israelites was never broken. He swore by Himself, “I will be with you. I will punish when punishment is due, and I will bless when blessing is due. I will surely be with you, whether in good times or bad, in poverty or in wealth, I am your God.” God told Joshua, “I will fight for you. If you are on My side, I will be on yours.” So many miracles occurred: the Jordan River parted, the walls of Jericho fell, the manna ceased to fall, and on one occasion, they won a battle because of a great hailstorm. On another, the daylight was extended in the Valley of Aijalon, and God even used hornets to help the Israelites defeat two Amorite kings. These were all the works of God, which left them amazed. But the other side of the story is equally important: God works through human cooperation; He does not fight alone. The Israelites had to go to the battlefield themselves, and then God would fight for them.

There is nothing God cannot do, but if we do not rely on Him, He chooses not to act. He calls us to trust and obey Him, to partner with Him in His work. If Joshua and the Israelites had not received God’s call at that time, they could not have received the Promised Land. But without God and His grace, they also could not have done it. It is easy for us to go to extremes, either pushing all the responsibility onto God or taking all the credit ourselves. The Bible reveals a beautiful balance: we cannot do it without God, but at the same time, God accomplishes His work through people.