Crossing the Jordan
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steadfastness when others wavered, his firmness to maintain the truth
in the midst of danger, he had given evidence of his fitness to succeed
Moses, even before he was called to the position by the voice of God.
It was with great anxiety and self-distrust that Joshua had looked
forward to the work before him; but his fears were removed by the
assurance of God, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will
not fail thee, nor forsake thee.... Unto this people shalt thou divide for
an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.”
“Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I
given unto you, as I said unto Moses.” To the heights of Lebanon in
the far distance, to the shores of the Great Sea, and away to the banks
of the Euphrates in the east—all was to be theirs.
To this promise was added the injunction, “Only be thou strong
and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
the law, which Moses My servant commanded.” The Lord’s direction
was, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou
shalt meditate therein day and night;” “turn not from it to the right
hand or to the left;” “for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and
then thou shalt have good success.”
The Israelites were still encamped on the east side of Jordan, which
presented the first barrier to the occupation of Canaan. “Arise,” had
been the first message of God to Joshua, “go over this Jordan, thou, and
all this people, unto the land which I do give to them.” No instruction
was given as to the way in which they were to make the passage.
Joshua knew, however, that whatever God should command, He would
make a way for His people to perform, and in this faith the intrepid
leader at once began his arrangements for an advance.
A few miles beyond the river, just opposite the place where the
Israelites were encamped, was the large and strongly fortified city of
Jericho. This city was virtually the key to the whole country, and it
would present a formidable obstacle to the success of Israel. Joshua
therefore sent two young men as spies to visit this city and ascertain
something as to its population, its resources, and the strength of its
fortifications. The inhabitants of the city, terrified and suspicious, were
constantly on the alert, and the messengers were in great danger. They
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were, however, preserved by Rahab, a woman of Jericho, at the peril
of her own life. In return for her kindness they gave her a promise of
protection when the city should be taken.