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Joshua
Introduction
We see the story of Joshua primarily in the book that bears his name. The book of Joshua is the 6th in the Bible, coming right after the Pentateuch the five books of Moses and completing the story of Moses. Joshua is introduced as Moses assistant (Joshua 1:1, also Exodus 17:9, 25:13), and was one of the 12 spies sent to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13, 14). In fact, the land of Canaan (the land God promised to give to His people, the Promised Land) is the focus of Joshuas life. He is the one chosen to lead the people into Canaan, and his story Is really the story of how God acted mightily for Joshua and the people to give the Promised Land to them.1 Exodus 20 is an example. The chapter details how Moses received the commandments, but the commandments themselves are prescriptive for the people of God. We must be careful when we read Scripture to be discerning about what is solely descriptive and what is prescriptive. In other words, just because something happens in the Bible does not mean that it is something that Gods people should do. While all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness3, we cannot blindly apply principles that were never meant to be applied.4 This is important in general, and is seen profoundly in the book of Joshua, which deals with difficult subjects such as war, plundering, etc. Though we can learn much from the narrative, we cannot make large generalizations as a result.5 And now, back to the story
Remember that though Moses led the people out of Egypt, he was not permitted to actually enter the promised land due to his disobedience of God (Numbers 20:113). Because of the peoples refusal to enter the land following the reports of the 12 spies (Deut. 1-2 note that Joshua and Caleb both encouraged the people to go up, but were refused), and entire generation was to pass wandering in the wilderness before entering Canaan. Joshua was the leader of this new generation. 2 Ephesians chapter 5 is a good example of a prescriptive text.
1 Timothy 3:16 This deals with the larger question of hermeneutics, which we just do not have space to deal with here. Hermeneutics is the way in which one interprets Scripture. There are sound and unsound principles of interpretation, and a disciple of Jesus will do well to follow the sound ones. 5 A good example is the battle of Jericho in Joshua, God gives specific instructions to his people how to fight: march, blow trumpets, and when the time is right, shout. To make that type of fighting a countrys strategy for all war-fighting would be absolutely foolish. The point of the story is that God was acting and delivering Jericho to Israel, and it was not by their own hand that they gained the city. It was by Gods hand.