Follow Joshua, Faithful Follower of God

The first I can recall learning about Joshua is in the song “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” we learned in Sunday School. (We learned it just that way – fit was past tense for fought.) The lyrics of that old spiritual tune are presumed to be the plaintive cry of slaves living under inhumane conditions. (More about this below.)

God’s People Gone Astray

One early illustration of Joshua’s remarkable faithfulness to God is recorded in the Old Testament book of Numbers. To recap the familiar narrative, God had designated Moses to lead the Israelites, His chosen people, to a land He had prepared for them.

However, they strayed far from following His direction and, as a result, wandered for 40 years in the wilderness. Now Moses was moved to appoint 12 men to “spy out” the land of Canaan, the land God had promised them.

After 40 days, the 12 spies returned with their report. Ten of them declared fearfully, “We can never take the land. The men are huge and strong. The cities are highly fortified. We look like grasshoppers beside them. They’ll slaughter us!” (Numbers 13).

Only Joshua and Caleb disagreed. They insisted that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 14:6-9). Why? Because God promised it to them. The narrative in these two chapters is evidence enough to conclude that Joshua’s heart was fully prepared to claim God’s promise.

A Man Called to Lead

Now jump ahead to the book of Joshua, Chapter 1. Before Moses’ death, God moved him to commission Joshua to lead the people on to freedom in their Promised Land. How does Joshua tackle the challenge?

Listen. God said: “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel” (v. 2). Did Joshua listen? Yes. Apparently, there was never a question in his mind.

Believe. God said: “From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life” (v. 4). Did Joshua believe? Absolutely.

Trust. God said, “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (v. 5). Did Joshua trust? Obviously. He never said, “But, God …”).

Be Strong. God said, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them” (v. 6). Was Joshua strong? No question about it.

Be Faithful. God said, “… be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go” (v. 7). Was Joshua faithful? To the nth degree.

Be Grounded. God said, “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (v. 8).

Be Fearless. God said, “ … Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (v. 9).

At every point along the way, Joshua proved again and again that he believed, trusted, and followed the God of his life.

A Child Called to Follow

I was about four years old when I first met Joshua in my Sunday School “card class,” so called because we received a card each week with a picture and the story of a biblical hero or event. At our little country church, we were the kids from ages two to five or six.

“Miss May,” our teacher, introduced us to this biblical hero with that song about him and then told us true stories of how Joshua obeyed God’s directions and served Him wholeheartedly.

In a version simple enough for a five-year-old to understand, she explained that people in the city of Jericho were enemies of God and His people. Jericho was surrounded by huge, strong walls, but God told Joshua to lead his army around the city several times, and the walls collapsed like a miracle without the army firing a shot. (Joshua 6:15-20).

As the old spiritual declares, “Joshua fit the battle of Jericho … and the walls came tumbling down!”

Story on the Big Screen

There’s a reason why Joshua has come back to my mind a lot the last few weeks. I’m eagerly looking forward to seeing those walls tumble down this weekend. A stirring movie depicting Joshua’s life debuts in theaters October 30. The Sight & Sound Theatres live stage production of JOSHUA—Live! is enhanced by camera close-ups of the entire story as first delivered onstage.

Creative Producer Ryan Miller acknowledged that the Jericho Wall scene is high drama. “But before a single brick could fall,” he added, “the Israelites had to first learn to arm themselves with trust in the Lord.” On stage, screen, or DVD, S&S productions consistently stick close to biblical authenticity. For more information, click HERE.