Joshua’s story is an example of faithful leadership. Though not necessarily a biographical sketch it is a powerful witness of someone who was willing to die in service to the truth God proclaims.
In total, Joshua led three military campaigns and defeated more than 30 enemy armies to take possession of the promised land that God originally described to Moses. After Moses’ death, Joshua was installed as leader; the Lord spoke to Joshua and foreshadowed perilous battles by also emphasizing God’s presence every step of the way.
Three times in the first nine verses of the Book of Joshua, God tells Joshua to “be strong and very courageous.”
If courage grows from the assurance of being loved, then courage also enables us to act despite fear – the love and commitment in our hearts triumph over the minds’ murmurings, which warn us to play it safe and keep away from the unfamiliar and unknown.
From his youth, Joshua assisted Moses and walked alongside him through the miracle of the Red Sea and the maze of the wilderness. We can imagine that Joshua had a unique appreciation for the inevitability of God’s plans and frailty of fighting against God, as well as the rare qualities the Lord identifies in His servants.
“More humble than anyone else on the face of the earth,” Moses is the only person whom the Lord knew and spoke to face to face.1 Through his humility, Moses demonstrated to Joshua that all gifts and paths of promise and protection are from God; similarly, proximity and apprenticeship would have allowed Joshua to learn important lessons from Moses, develop skills, and assert his faith.
For example, God told Moses that Joshua had “the spirit of leadership,”2 and after serving with Moses for many years, Joshua “was filled with the spirit of wisdom.”3
Perhaps gleaning from Moses’ spirit of meekness, Joshua was also free to be strong in the Lord and courageous in love.
See What God Speaks
Early on, Moses dispatched explorers to bring back reports from the land God was sending them to claim.4 They observed that the land was fruitful and flowing with milk and honey; however, all but Joshua and Caleb believed the people were too powerful to be overtaken and despaired that they should have remained in Egypt.5
Joshua literally tore his clothes at these claims. “We will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them,” Joshua protested.6
Power of Prayer
Joshua was sent to fight the Amalekites while Moses prayed. “As long as Moses held up his hands to God, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.” Moses found reinforcements and remained steady until sunset, “so Joshua overcame the Amalekite army.”7
Trust & Obedience
God called Moses up to the holy mountain where he would receive and write down the Word of God. Joshua went with Moses and stayed in a tent nearby while Moses spoke with God.8
It’s critical to notice not only Joshua’s nearness to a sacred exchange but also his distance from camp, where the people grew impatient because Moses was “so long in coming down from the mountain,” fashioned an idol, and bowed to the golden calf.9
When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.” Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory; it is not the sound of defeat. It is the sound of singing that I hear.”10
Perhaps Joshua intuitively understood that by indulging in such revelry, the people were indeed fighting against God.
Listen to God & Heed Strange Tactics
The Battle for Jericho was the first of Joshua’s conquests; it’s unlikely to be taught in any war college as a model of strategic advantage, for it defies common reliance on surprise attacks and stealth maneuvers.
Near the securely gated city of Jericho, Joshua encountered the commander of the army of the Lord and fell facedown.
“What message does my Lord have for his servant?” Joshua asked.11
“See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands,” the Lord said to Joshua.12
Then God proceeded to explain how the Lord wins His battles – in the light, out in the open, in plain sight.
With all the armed men and the priests carrying their trumpets of ram horns, “march around the city once,” the Lord said to Joshua. “Do this for six days.” On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the trumpets. Finally, God said, “When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”13
Essentially, God directed Joshua to make sure they were seen and heard by the opposition – and then there could be no doubt who the battle belongs to.
So, on the seventh lap, of the seventh day, as Joshua gave his instructions, he reminded the army of its fighting power. “Shout!” Joshua said. “For the Lord has given you the city!”14
The trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and the wall collapsed – just as the Lord said.
Appeal Earnestly to God & Trust His Provision
The power of the Lord remained with Joshua, and his reputation grew after thoroughly defeating Jericho, destroying Ai, and creating allies with Gibeon. So God rewarded Joshua with an exhaustive test in a battle with the Amorites.
Many kings were seeking revenge on the Gibeonites because of their alliance with Israel, so they appealed to Joshua who agreed to bring all his best fighting men. God said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”15
Joshua and his army marched all night. Surely aware of his army’s fatigue and the enemy’s fervor, and likely remembering how God interceded against the Amalekites, Joshua appealed to the Lord, “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”16
The sun stopped in the sky and did not go down for almost a full day, as God threw the enemy army into confusion – more died from hailstones than swords.17
Never before or since has the Lord listened to and answered a human being in such an unusual way, but as the sun stood still, who could question that the Lord was fighting for Israel? Therefore, the critical lesson of Joshua’s leadership is that victory comes through faith in God rather than worldly superiority.
Joshua shows how God speaks promises, and we claim victory by obeying His voice and command. Yet as people, we are also blessed by human teachers who not only recognize our gifts but also hold us accountable and keep us humble.
For example, Joshua’s original name was Hoshea, which means “Salvation.” Then Moses, in his meek wisdom, changed it to Yehoshua, which means “Yahweh is Salvation,” and also called him Yeshua, the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus. So while Moses believed in Joshua’s ability, he also assured his student of its ultimate Source.
Thus, Joshua’s name is symbolic that although he led his people to victory, the Lord is the conqueror.
- Numbers 12:3; Deuteronomy 34:10-11 ↩︎
- Numbers 27:18 ↩︎
- Deuteronomy 34:9 ↩︎
- Numbers 13:1-2 ↩︎
- Numbers 13:31-32; 14:1-4 ↩︎
- Numbers 14:6-9 ↩︎
- Exodus 17:8-14 ↩︎
- Exodus 24:12-13 ↩︎
- Exodus 32:1-6 ↩︎
- Exodus 32:17-18 ↩︎
- Joshua 5:14 ↩︎
- Joshua 6:2 ↩︎
- Joshua 6:3-5 ↩︎
- Joshua 6:16 ↩︎
- Joshua 10:1-8 ↩︎
- Joshua 10:12 ↩︎
- Joshua 10:11, 13-14 ↩︎
