As a Leader, Things Stacked against Joshua:
Ø Moses
has just died.
Ø Around
2 Million (20 Lacs) people are waiting for instructions from new leader.
Ø For
40 long years the great crowd of Hebrews were wandering
in the desert.
Ø For
40 years Moses had Joshua as his right hand man. Like an apprentice or
assistant. Joshua now had none, but himself.
Ø The
supposedly promised land by Yahweh with the passage of centuries has now been inhabited
by the Canaanites and it has become, “Occupied land” so to say.
Ø Crossing
the Jordan River is another problem.
Ø Among
2 Million Hebrews, only around 40,000 were foot soldiers.
Ø They
were from a generation of slaves. They never had any exposure to fighting in
battles and absolutely no military training whatsoever.
Ø Their
swords and spears and bow and arrows would not pierce the impenetrable high
walls of Jericho city.
Ø Their
newly appointed leader, Joshua was old too, being 90 years old.
Ø The
high and strong walls of Jericho were a challenge to be overcome.
As a Leader, the only thing that Joshua had with him was:
ü Almighty
Yahweh was on his side.
This is all what Joshua needed to know and
believe and have faith in. That the El Shaddai Yahweh was his Military
Commander. He had to be convinced, convicted and compelled to have unwavering
faith that Elohim was with him. Hence repeatedly as recorded in the book of
Joshua, Yahweh keeps on reminding Joshua to be STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.
Let’s
see the 3 Instances:
1.
“Be
strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an
inheritance the land, which I swore unto their fathers to give them.”
– Joshua 1:6
2.
“Only
be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to
all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the
right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest”. –
Joshua 1:7
3.
“Have
not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither
be thou dismayed: for Yahweh thy Elohim is with thee whithersoever thou goest”.
– Joshua 1:9
Repeated
Reminder
So
Yahweh says over and over again to His servant Joshua,
“Don’t be afraid. Be strong. Be courageous.” Elohim was aware of the inherent
human weakness in Joshua and was thus wanting to infuse Joshua with strength,
the strength of Yah’s Spirit, the strength of Yah’s presence, the strength of
Yah’s promises, the strength of Yah’s Word. Hence he kept on reminding him
that, “Be strong. Be courageous. Don’t be frightened. Don’t be dismayed.”
Why did Yahweh feel it was necessary for Joshua to hear this message over and over again?
Well, Elohim knew what lay ahead for Joshua and for the Children of Israel. Elohim knew that the task to which He had called Joshua was bigger than any human can handle. Elohim knew the task was not humanly possible. Also Joshua was totally new and fresh as a leader, though he was learning under the able guidance of Moses.
There were dangerous enemies
that Joshua would have to face and fight and to overcome in the Promised Land,
and being the Almighty Creator, Elohim Yahweh also knew that Joshua, being human
would be prone to be possibly discouraged, to become fearful in the face of
those challenges. Hence Yahweh like a good commander was right there besides
Joshua always communicating and always boosting his confidence.
Symbolism and Significance of Yahweh repeating 3 times to Joshua to
be brave and courageous:
v Three
Patriarchs before the flood: Abel, Enoch and Noah.
v Three
Patriarchs after the flood: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
v Yeshua
prayed 3 times before he was arrested.
v Yeshua
died at the 3rd hour of the day.
v Yeshua
was resurrected after 3 days.
v Three
people saw the holy transfiguration of Yeshua: Peter, John & James.
v Elohim’s
throne is believed to be located at the "third heaven".
v Three
woes are mentioned by Angels in Revelation.
v Many
times Yahweh repeats and reminds us about his holiness in a set of 3 words.
Holy. Holy. Holy.
Number 3 is one of the most important numbers throughout the Bible; it is a number of harmony, of Elohim’s presence and of completeness. Hence this was a way of Elohim Yahweh telling Joshua, Be Strong and Courageous, as I AM there with you all the way.