Joshua or Hosea was the central figure in the Book of Joshua in the Hebrew Bible. And based on the books of Exodus and Numbers, he was the assistant of Moses and the leader of the Israelite tribes after Moses died. Let us know more about Joshua and the major events that happened in his life.
Name: Joshua
Meaning of Name: Joshua means “Jehovah is generous”.
Family: Nun (Father)
Personality:
- Obedient
- Humble
- Brave
- Devoted
- Honest
- Diligent
Major Events in Joshua’s Life
Joshua first appeared when Moses called him to select men to go fight the Amalek who were coming to fight the Israelites. He won the battle and he was aided by God who had told Moses to hold his hand up and as long as he held up his hand the Israelites would be winning, Moses was supported by Aaron and a man named Hur who helped hold his arm up.
After that, Moses was called up upon Mount Sinai for a second time, he took Joshua with him as his minister to help him. Joshua proved his devotion not only to Moses but also to God as he continued to serve as a minister. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai after receiving law engraved stones by God, Joshua accompanied him and Joshua first noticed the noise coming from the Israelite camp. They were singing and dancing while they worshiped a golden calf.
Joshua proved himself again when asked by Moses, along with 11 other men, to go into the Promised Land and scout it out for danger. Joshua, along with another man named Caleb, were the only ones of the 12 to report that they should enter the Promised Land. The other 10 said that while the land was prosperous and fertile, it was full of people who would crush the Israelites and they should not enter. Joshua and Caleb rebuked the people and were almost stoned and killed.
Moses almost destroyed the Israelites because of their disobedience, but they were spared because Moses begged God to have mercy. God decreed that all those 20 and up who had rebelled would die in the wilderness. The Israelites were set to wander until this had come to pass. Those who had not rebelled and all those who were young would be led by Joshua and Caleb into the Promised Land. Joshua was brought before Eleazar the priest and was appointed in front of all the people like the man who would lead them into the Promised Land.
After 40 years, Joshua was told by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Joshua and the Israelites faced many difficulties and fought many battles after entering the Promised Land.
The greatest victory of the Israelites was the conquest of Jericho. Joshua met the commander of the Lord’s army who told him God had delivered Jericho into his hands. The angel told Joshua to march his army around the city once a day for six days with seven priests carrying trumpets made of ram’s horns in front of the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the trumpets; when the priests sound a long note, the whole army was to shout and the walls of Jericho would come tumbling down.
Joshua and the Israelites did this and as God said, on the seventh day after the sound of the trumpet and the cries of the army, the mighty walls of Jericho fell and the Israelites took the city. They dedicated the city to the Lord and destroyed every living thing in it. God decreed that the land of Jericho was cursed and any who tried to rebuild the city or take anything from its ruins would be cursed.
Joshua and the Israelites destroyed the land of Ai with only 36 Israelite deaths because their king, Achan, had taken an accursed object from Jericho.
Another great victory came with the Israelites fighting five Amorite kings at Gibeon. God sent the army of the Amorites into a great panic at the sight of the Israelite army and they struck a grievous blow against them, scattering them. They pursued them and God struck the Amorites with huge stones from heaven (hailstones). These hailstones killed more of the enemy than the Israelites killed with their swords. The battle went on for so long that Joshua asked God to make the sun stand still in the sky so the Israelites could finish the battle in the day time and God did so.
After enduring these challenges, Joshua brought the Israelites together and renewed the covenant with God. The people chose to serve God, this lasted for a little while. However, they eventually strayed from God and worshipped idols and intermarried with the non-Israeli people. God rebuked them and they turned back to Him, and Joshua continued as their leader.
Joshua’s Death
Joshua died of natural causes. And when he died, along with all of those of his generation, a new generation arose after them. The new generation did not know of the Lord or His mighty works that He has done for Israel. Since they do not have any Godly leadership and education, they abandoned the Lord and followed other Gods. Because of this, God allowed them to be conquered and to be sold into slavery once again.
Joshua is an example to believers that humility, devotion, and faith can enable us to be great leaders for God.