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15. The Promised Land

When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. Joshua 6:20

The Story

When the Israelites reached the promised land, they sent a leader from each of the 12 tribes to spy out the land. When they returned, they reported that the land was good, but 10 of the leaders felt that the inhabitants of the land were too strong for them. Only the leaders Caleb and Joshua believed that they could conquer the inhabitants. [1]

Again the Israelites complained, and they even went as far as to threaten to kill Moses. Because of this rebellion against God, they would wander the desert for 40 years, leaving behind an entire generation. Only Joshua and Caleb would survive their generation to enter the promised land. [2]

Forty years later, they came back to the Promised Land. Because of Moses’ disobedience in hitting the rock instead of speaking to it, he would not enter the Promised Land, but God allowed him to see it before he died. Moses’ leadership then passed on to Joshua. [3]

Under God’s instruction, Joshua led the people to the Jordan River. The priests went ahead, carrying the ark of the covenant, and as soon as they touched the water, it stopped flowing, and the people of Israel walked across on dry ground. [4]

When they came upon the city of Jericho, God instructed him to march the army around the city once a day for six days. Then on the 7th day, they would march around the city seven times blowing trumpets. Finally, they would give a loud shout, and the walls would come down. Joshua did as God had instructed, and the walls of Jericho fell just as God has said, and they conquered the city. [5]

Under Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites fought many battles to drive out the inhabitance of the land, and God gave them victory after victory.

The Significance

The name Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, both of which mean “savor.” Joshua is the savior of this nation, bringing them into the promised land, much like Jesus became the savior of the world, bringing the world into an even greater promised land: Heaven.

[1] Numbers 13; [2] Numbers 14:1-35; [3] Numbers 20:12, Deuteronomy 34, Joshua 1:1 -2; [4] Joshua 3; [5] Joshua 6:2-21