If you happen to stumble upon our website, welcome! While you are perusing around our site, you may be wondering what is Joshua’s Outpost? Who’s this Joshua character? Well let me explain. Joshua is a pivotal figure in the Old Testament’s Book of Joshua.
According to the books of Exodus, Numbers and Joshua, he was Moses’ assistant and later became the leader of the Israelite tribes after the death of Moses. Joshua was born in Egypt as a slave prior to the Exodus. His name was Hoshe’a the son of Nun, of the tribe Ephraim, but Moses referred to him as Joshua (Numbers 13:16). The English name “Joshua” is a translation of the Hebrew language “Yehoshua”, meaning “The Lord is Salvation”.
According to the Old Testament, Joshua was one of the 12 spies of Israel sent by Moses to explore the land of Canaan. In Numbers 13:1-16 and after the death of Moses, God chose Joshua to be the leader of Israel because of his faithful obedience. Joshua followed God’s instructions for the Battle of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-27). Israel set about to conquer the land of Canaan, under the Lord’s guidance. God said to Joshua:
Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9. NIV).
God commanded Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the center of the Jordan River, which was a flood stage. As soon as they stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing. It piled up in heaps upstream and downstream, so the people could cross on dry ground. God performed a miracle for Joshua, just as he had done for Moses, by parting the Red Sea.
God told Joshua to have the armed men march around the city once each day, for six days (Joshua 6:3). The priests were to carry the ark, blowing trumpets, but the soldiers were to keep silent. On the seventh day, the God commanded they march around the city of Jericho seven times, with the priests blowing their trumpets. Joshua told the soldiers that by God’s order, every living thing in the city must be destroyed, except Rahab and her family.
At Joshua’s command, the men gave a great shout, and Jericho’s walls fell down flat! The Israelite army rushed in and conquered the city (Joshua 6:20). Only Rahab and her family were spared. He would led the Israelite tribes in the conquest of Canaan, and assigned a portion of land to the each of the 12 tribes.
The lessons from the Battle of Jericho story showed how Joshua felt unqualified for the monumental task of taking over for Moses, but God promised to be with him every step of the way, just as he had been for Moses. This same God is with us today, protecting and guiding us. Joshua spared Rahab and her family in the Battle of Jericho. In the New Testament, we learn that God favored Rahab by making her one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World. In Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus, Rahab is the mother of Boaz and great-grandmother of King David (1:5).
Joshua’s strict obedience to God is the key lesson from the Battle of Jericho. At every turn, Joshua did exactly what God commanded of him and Israelites prospered under his leadership. As Moses’s apprentice, Joshua learned firsthand that he wouldn’t always understand God’s ways. Joshua is an excellent example of humility before God. His strong faith in God led him to obey, no matter how illogical God’s command might be.
Of the 12 spies sent to scout out Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb had confidence in God, and only those two survived the 40 years of wondering the desert to enter the Promised Land. Joshua’s greatest accomplishments in life was his unwavering loyalty and faith in God. Some Bible scholars view Joshua as an Old Testament representation, or foreshadowing, of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.
Read: Where’s A Place that God Can’t See Us?
What Moses (who represented the law) was unable to do, Joshua (Yehoshua, “The Lord is Salvation”) achieved when he successfully led the people of God out of the desert to conquer their enemies and enter the Promised Land. His accomplishments point to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross—the defeat of God’s enemy, Satan, the setting free of all believers from captivity to sin, and the opening of the way into the “Promised Land” of eternity.
What can we learn from Joshua?
Obedience, faith, and dependence on God made Joshua one of Israel’s strongest leaders. He provided a bold example for us to follow. If we live according to God’s Word, like Joshua, we will receive God’s blessing. One of the main themes of the Book of Joshua is this: “Be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 18).
God inspired Joshua with courage and faith to lead Israel to meet the enemy face to face, trusting God to give them the victory. Joshua was a warrior in his faith. He demonstrated great strength and courage. Today, as Christian men, we need to demonstrate the very same courage and faith Joshua exemplified to meet the enemy face to face, trusting God to give us victory over our enemy.
About Joshua’s Outpost:
This is where we derived our name for our website. The aim of Joshua’s Outpost is to encourage Christian men to be warriors in their faith. We are about learning to be obedient, faithful, and dependent on God and to live according to his Word, to build a generation of strong and courageous Christian men. We value strength, courage, leadership and faith, all characteristics that Joshua demonstrated.
References to Joshua in the Bible:
Exodus 17, 24, 32, 33; Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges 1:1-2:23: 1 Samuel 6:14-18; 1 Chronicles 7:27; Nehemiah 8:17; Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:7-9.
Joshua’s Outpost is a source for men to find encouragement to be bold in their faith and walk with Jesus Christ.
