Joshua - The Mentee

Bible character study

Joshua

The mentee

Some nowadays scoff at mentorship wondering what impact it has. Joshua is first example of spiritual mentorship in scriptures and his sobriquet is Moses' assistant.

He did not have the burning bush experience nor did he kill Goliath yet his impact was..so monumental that Jesus was named after him (yes, Jesus is Joshua in Hebrew).

Beloved, submit to your mentor, it shortens your journey. 

The LORD said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction." Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.[Exo 24:12-13]

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.[Exo 33:11]

But your assistant, Joshua son of Nun, will enter it. Encourage him, because he will lead Israel to inherit it. [Deut 1:38]

God's choice

It can almost be argued that Joshua made himself God's choice. He kept doing the next best thing until it was apparent that he was the best man.

Several times, young believers sit around idly for years waiting for the divine call. Of course, for some, calls do come like that but for the majority of us, it is found in the place of service. Purpose revealed in the process of assisting others wholeheartedly. Beloved, what can you do now?

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered.[Exo 17:8-10]

Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. He said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them."[Exo 24:13-14]

*The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. [Exo 33:11]*

So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority..[Number 27:18-20]

Believing God

As a member of the 12 spies sent to spy on the promised land, he alongside Caleb came back with a good report. Their report was simply a confession of faith in God's ability.

While it was true that the inhabitants were huge and strong, they chose to focus on the God who delivered them from Egypt with a strong hand.

Beloved, that challenge might be really huge, don't focus on it rather let your attention be on God who has brought you thus far, his word to you and his abilities.

Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." [Numbers 14:6-9]

Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.[Numbers 14:30]

Courage to enter the promised land

A central theme of the old testament is the promise land, promised to Abraham, started by Moses, reminisced by David and the prophets. Yet the actual conquering of Jericho was devoid of human strength.Joshua parted the Jordan and then walked round the city for seven days and the people shouted.

It takes a lot of courage and obedience to be the leader to make that happen. People wanted action but Joshua offered obedience and he prevailed.

So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. [Joshua 6:15-16]

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." [Joshua 1:9]

Taking responsibility

Joshua owned both his successes and especially his mistakes. When Gibeon lied and Joshua believed the evidence before him instead of asking God, he made amends by acknowledging his errors yet honouring his words. 

You will not be right all the time, don't excuse yourself rather learn from it. Take responsibility for your actions (errors) and make amends.

So the Israelite leaders examined their bread, but they did not consult the LORD.* *Then Joshua went ahead and signed a peace treaty with them, the leaders of Israel ratified their agreement with a binding oath*. *3 days later, the facts came out* *–these people of Gibeon lived nearby. But the leaders replied, "We have sworn an oath in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel*. *We cannot touch them. We must let them live, for God would be angry with us if we broke our oath. Let them live*...  *So the Israelites kept their promise to the Gibeonites.* *Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodchoppers and water carriers for the people of Israel and for the altar of the LORD – wherever the LORD would choose to build it. That arrangement continues to this day.[Joshua 9:14-27]

Integrity

Do you know the deadliest war ever fought? It was fought by Joshua; the Israelites dominated, God sent hailstones from heaven and the sun stood still at the request of Joshua for total destruction. Yet it was not fought to defend Israel.

After the pretentious pact gotten by Gibeon, the other nations gathered to destroy Gibeon and Israel came to defend them as stipulated by the agreement. Now, Joshua could have easily called it Karma and turned the other way, but not the man. He stood by his words regardless of  how it was gotten *[Joshua 9:14-27]*.The same with his treatment of Rehab the harlot whose family was the only one saved from Jericho because the spies promised on behalf of Joshua. *[Joshua 6:25]

Beloved, your words matter. Be like your heavenly father who only says what he means and means what he says.

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us." So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army [Joshua 10:6-7]

As they fled before Israel  the LORD hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.[10:11]

Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel: "Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies... There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! [Joshua 10:12-14]

Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, " Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and bring her out, along with all her family." [Joshua 6:22]

A life of grace

Of all the major leaders in scriptures, Joshua is one of a select few without any scandal to his name. He was trained for the role and anointed to it. Competence and anointing

His leadership was exemplary, God helped him and he also did not become big in his eyes, he had a listening ear without feeling threatened (by Caleb) and above all, his family was not left behind. *Beloved, get the anointing and develop yourself*. 

I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said." So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.. [Joshua 14:11-12]

But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." [Joshua 24:15]

The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the Lord our God. We will obey him aloneness." So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the Lord.[Joshua 24:24]