Three times in the first chapter Joshua is told to “be strong and very courageous.” As God was with Moses, he would now be with Joshua. God always keeps his promises. It took forty years for Moses to lead them to this day. That took a lot of strength and courage! Now Joshua has been given the task of leading the people. God promises that he will be with Joshua just like he was with Moses. All that God asks Joshua to do, God will provide the way for him to do it. God is faithful. That promise is for us as well. I Peter 1:3-11 says that everything pertaining to life and godliness has been given to us in Christ. God never asks us to do anything he does not gives us everything we need to do it. God is faithful. Even the nations that did not worship Jehovah knew this!
2:11 is the testimony of Rahab from outside of the nation of Israel. All the surrounding peoples had seen how God was with the people of Israel. And their “hearts melted” in fear! Rahab says, “the Lord your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below.” What a confession of faith from an outsider and a prostitute, too! Here again is the evidence of God’s power to save. Rahab believed what she had heard and seen about God and as a result, even though she is not part of the chosen nation, she is saved by her faith. And she is mentioned in the “Faith Hall of Fame” in Hebrews chapter 11 as an example for us to follow! Though God chose Israel ,God was always including others from outside based on his great mercy and their response of belief. Rahab is an excellent example of this grace of God.
Finally the fourth chapter is most amazing in the visual symbolism of the stones of remembrance. God clearly demonstrates that he is with Joshua as he was with Moses. It is almost a repeat of the crossing of the Red Sea! Joshua is no “second” to Moses! And, more important, it is the same God that is with them. The stones became a tool for the Israelites to teach their children about God’s faithfulness.
I wonder what “stones” are in our lives? What events do we need to mark for ourselves and for our children with stones of remembrance?
I remember one time when I was in seminary and our savings were just about exhausted and Drew and I wondered how we would continue to provide for our three children. We believed God had called us to this place but the cirucmstances did not seem to be supporting that fact. Then, just in time, the right employment was offered and some friends and a relative both sent us some financial help without our asking! It was
God providing every bit as clearly as the parting of the Red Sea and the Jordan River. God was with them and God is with us! In memorial of that time I painted five small stones with the word “Ebenezer” on each one. Ebenezer means “God is our help” (1 Samuel 7:12). And I gave one of the stones to each member of our family. The stones served as a reminder that God is always with us and is always prepared to help us. Many times over the years I have taken that stone out of my purse and thanked God. Many times I have faced problems and difficulties and the stone has reminded me that God is faithful. Dios es fiel, siempre!