Joshua 6:1–5, 12–16, 20

Bible Studies for Life
Adjunct Professor of Biblical Perspectives, Samford University

Stick to God’s Plan

Joshua 6:1–5, 12–16, 20

Do what God tells you to do. (1–5)

The Deuteronomistic History speaks on the long stretch of narrative in which the Israelites receive the promises made to them through the patriarchs — land, descendants and blessing (Gen. 12:1–3; 15:1–7; 17:1–2; 22:15–18; 28:12–15). Spanning the books of Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Samuel and 1–2 Kings, the Deuteronomistic History also outlines the brevity with which the Israelites held on to these promises. By the end of the story much of what they had been promised had been taken away from them. Their nation was torn in two, their peoples exiled and a land of their own was merely a memory (Ps. 137). 

In the end, the last remaining king of Judah sat at the king of Babylon’s table, an ominous picture (2 Kings 25). The Old Testament prophets offer a repetitive refrain — this happened because the Israelites failed to do what God told them to do. They broke faith with their God. Overall the narrative is a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience. For a brief moment, however, the book of Joshua sheds light on the results of obeying God.

The book of Joshua is predicated upon the commands of Deuteronomy in which God mandates the destruction of everyone in the Promised Land (Deut. 7:1–6; 12:2–3). The story of the Israelites sacking Jericho, while well known, is just one of many instances in the book of Joshua in which a town is destroyed. Practicing a military tactic called “the ban,” the Israelites are to destroy everything that breathes — man, woman and child. Not only was the land considered theirs by divine right, the inhabitants of the land were thought to contaminate the Israelites through their non-Yahwistic beliefs. Their destruction was part of the Israelites’ obedience to a God who mandated they be totally committed to Him.

Demonstrate persistent obedience. (12–16)

In looking at the character of God in this story or even in our own lives, it is clear that He will not brook unfaithfulness. It also is clear that it is obedience, more than anything else, that God desires (1 Sam. 15:22–23). This obedience hinges on one thing only — love. Guilt, fear and the need for rescue are all motivators to a half-hearted and temporary obedience. These things can only motivate for so long until selfishness and a desire for our own way overtakes us. 

That is why God calls the Israelites to love Him before they ever enter the land: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:4–5). Jesus also affirms this with a person who struggled to follow God wholeheartedly: “Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And He said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live’” (Luke 10:25–28). 

Real life derives from giving God not a portion of our obedience or a portion of our love, but all of it. Real life comes from a “long obedience in the same direction,” as Eugene Peterson said. We demonstrate a “long obedience” by persisting in obedience each day. Obedience does not take place once or twice, but through little choices that add up over a lifetime.

Reap the victory when it comes. (20)

For the Israelites obedience led to the capture of Jericho. The real victory, however, was an ongoing relationship with God. The real victory was the submission of hearts and lives to the living God.