Possessing the Promised Land Joshua 1:1-9

“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel” (Josh. 1:2, NASB).

This week we continue our series of four articles in celebration of Black History Month. We are following the journey of the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt to their conquest of the Promised Land; the land of Canaan. This week’s article compares the conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua to the advancement of civil rights for Blacks in America. The most influential leader during the civil rights period is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Under his leadership civil rights efforts become not just isolated local events. Instead, the work of Dr. King brings attention to the nation on the injustices in America.

As the sons of Israel wander in the wilderness they grumble against Moses, and they turn from the Lord to worship other gods. During their wandering in the wilderness the Israelites are learning about the God that is leading them to the land of promise. On their journey they learn to fight war against their enemies. At Arad the Israelites suffer defeat, but they vow to the Lord to destroy their cities (Num. 21:1-3). The Lord delivers them and gives them victory, but they complain that they have no food and water (v. 5). They have to fight against Sihon king of the Amorites (Num. 21:21) and Og king of Bashan (Num. 21:33).

In like manner Blacks in America must fight against discrimination in all area of society as they wander in the wilderness. Laws such as the Supreme Court ruling in Plessey vs. Ferguson uphold the separation of the Negroes and whites in public education. The court rules that separation does not mean inequality in public education. In addition, there are Jim Crow laws that limit their access to the same rights and freedoms enjoyed by white America in the public square. It is during their wandering in the wilderness that both Israel and black Americans that a new generation rises up that is willing and able to fight the battles necessary for them to take possession of the Promised Land.

In 1954 the United States Supreme Court makes its ruling in the case of Brown vs Board of Education. The court’s ruling reverses the ruling made in Plessey vs Ferguson. While Plessey vs Ferguson upheld separation in public education, the court rules in Brown vs Board of Education that separation is inequality. This ruling of the Supreme Court sets the stage for other court rulings that lead to repeal of many of the Jim Crow laws. Blacks are beginning to have hope of taking possession of the rights that are granted to all citizens.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown vs Board of Education can be compared to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh settling on land east of the Jordan River. The other tribes must take possession of the land west of the Jordan River. Moses commands the two and one half tribes to cross over the Jordan to help their brothers take possession of the land of Canaan.

Under the leadership of Joshua the sons of Israel fight against the people that possess the land. Joshua 1:1-9 records the charge that the Lord gives to Joshua. He must be courageous and strong. In these nine verses the Lord says to Joshua three times, “Be strong and courageous.” We may ask, how does Joshua remain strong and courageous when he is faced with fighting against armies that are more numerous, stronger, better trained, more experienced, and better equipped than the armies that he leads?

Joshua 1:1-9 tell us how Joshua is to remain strong and courageous. First, he must believe that he is God’s chosen leader. He must believe that the Lord is able to give him victory over his enemies. He must be careful to obey the law of the Lord. He must stay focused on the Lord’s commandments by meditating on the law night and day.

Now that Joshua is leader of Israel, he must prepare his people for the battles that lie ahead. First, the tribes of Israel are commanded to stand together. Next, they must wait until the Lord divides the waters of the Jordan River before they can cross into the Promised Land. Before they cross the Jordan River Joshua sends spies to Jericho. It is important that they know what they are facing so that they are knowledgeable of what they are faced with. This time the spies bring a favorable report. “They said to Joshua, ‘Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us’” (Josh. 2:24, NASB).

The Lord divides the waters of the Jordan and the people cross over on dry ground. There are some things that we cannot do for ourselves. Sometimes we must wait on the Lord to act on our behalf. This does not mean that we should expect the Lord to do everything for us. There are some things that we must do ourselves. Joshua does two significant things to give strength to the people as they engage their enemies. First, they erect a memorial to the Lord using stones taken from the River. This memorial reminds future generations of how the Lord divided the waters of the Jordan and the people crossed on dry ground.

Secondly, Joshua circumcises the men that were born in the wilderness. These had not been circumcised during the nation’s forty years of wandering. The people celebrate the Passover and “the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land” (Josh. 5:12, NASB). Now that the nation stands in covenant relationship with the Lord they are ready to do their part in taking possession of the land.

The people experience victory at Jericho, but they suffer defeat at Ai. Ai is a smaller city and offers less resistance than Jericho, but the people fled before the armies of Ai. It is discovered that their fear comes because the Lord is not pleased with them. One of the soldiers, Achan, violates the Lord’s covenant by taking some of the devoted things for himself (Josh. 7:19-26). The people learn that the Lord gives them victory only if they keep His covenant.

Under Joshua’s leadership the sons of Israel take possession of the land. However, they fail to totally eliminate all of their enemies as the Lord commanded them to do. When the Israelites are satisfied that they have enough land for themselves they allow their enemies to remain in their places. In time the sons of Israel forsook the Lord and they served the gods of the peoples of the land. Because of their failure to do all that the Lord commands them to do they continue to suffer oppression from the same people that they make alliances with.

The challenge of the people in the Promised Land is to decide if they will remain true to the Lord and keep His covenant. Or, on the other hand, will they continue to disobey the Lord and struggle to live in the land that God gives to them. As we, African Americans, do we remember that it is the Lord that gives us victory? Are we faithful to the Lord? Do we keep His covenant? This writer believes that Black Americans and all of America are facing hardships because we fail to honor the Lord and keep His covenant.