Joshua 12:7-24. As I said yesterday this chapter 12 is a summary of the war to take over the promised land.  It started by retelling the story about the land east of the Jordan River.  This land was taken over by Moses and given to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of the tribe of Manasseh.  The rest of the chapter, today’s reading, gives a detailed summary (is that a contradiction?) of the land which Joshua took over west of the Jordan.  If you didn’t read yesterday’s post you might want to read it first.

As I mentioned yesterday we see the faithfulness of God in this chapter.  God had said he would give this land to the Israelites starting way back with Abraham.  Now more than 800 years later the promise becomes a reality.  That may seem like a long time but God is not slow about his promises he just has a plan that he is working out for the greatest benefit of the most people (See 2 Peter 3:9).  The land taken by Moses in the first part of the chapter was about 150 miles North to south by about 30 miles east to west.  The land described in today’s reading is about 200 miles north to south and 50 miles east to west.  From the description of the kings we get the impression that the land west of the Jordan was more populated.  Only two kings are listed as being defeated by Moses whereas thirty-one are listed as defeated by Joshua.  Another contrast is the fact that 2 1/2 tribes received an inheritance from Moses whereas 9 1/2 received land from Joshua.  Also notice that the writer mentions Moses after the telling of his story but begins Joshua’s conquest by mentioning Joshua.  This puts both men side by side in the story.  I think that the writer wanted us to compare Moses and Joshua.  He wanted us to see that what Moses began Joshua finished.

Twice in verse 6 we are told that Moses was the servant of the LORD.  Although Joshua is not described that way in this chapter in Joshua 5:14 he calls himself God’s servant.  In Joshua 11:15 we see Joshua following in the footsteps of Moses.  And finally in Joshua 24:29 Joshua is called the servant of the LORD. We are all part of God’s ongoing work in the world.  Really what God started God will finish, but God’s work is taking time, centuries, millennia even.  This is not because God needs time we do.  God took six days to create the universe because he wanted us to learn from that too.  God is all powerful and he is consistent.  We will come and we will go in terms of our earthly life, but we can be a part of something that will endure ….. or not.   Back in Joshua 1:9 god commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous.  Why?  Because God was with him.  Joshua has encouraged the people to be strong and courageous.  God was with them too.  But in Joshua 1:8 God told Joshua that he needed to be with God.  Joshua needed to take time to listen to God.  He needed to meditate on the “book of the Law” and do what it said.  God’s plan is for us to return to Him (2 Peter 3:9 again.  Repentance means to turn around.).  But it takes us time.  God is giving us time, over 6000 years so far.  He is waiting.  Someday he will stop and bring it all to a close.  In the mean time we need to pass the good news on.  We are the next Joshua.  I am the next Joshua.  You are the next Joshua.  God help me meditate on your word, the Bible.  Help me learn what it says and be careful to do what it says.  Help me be faithful to what ever it is that you have for me.  Help me be your servant.  And when I die I hope they say about me, Myron, the servant of the LORD.  May you receive all the honor.