| JOSHUA |
| The Difference 40 Years Can Make |
| They faced overwhelming odds with renewed hope. |
| "Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 1:9 |
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| On the surface, not much had changed in 40 years. The band of refugees amassing beside the Jordan River greatly resembled a similar horde from four decades before. They had panicked once. Would they again? The Israelites still faced overwhelming odds. They had no chariots or even horses. They had only primitive arms, an untested new leader, and long-delayed marching orders from God. A New Spirit, A New Leader Yet, in another sense, everything had changed. Older Israelites with fearful, slave mentalities had died off in the desert - all the older generation except Joshua and Caleb, two legendary warriors. The new generation had decided to trust God, no matter what. In stark contrast to the spies in Numbers (13:31-33), Joshua's scouts brought back this report, "The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the poeple are melting in fear because of us" (2:24). The book of Joshua contains not a word about rebellion against a leader or grumbling aginst God. It is a good news book, a welcome relief from the discouraging tone of Numbers and the fatalism of Deuteronomy. What a difference 40 years had made! As newly appointed leader of the Israelites, Joshua took on two main tasks. First, he was to direct a military campaign to take control of the land God had promised. Then, he would parcel out the conquered land among all the tribes. Learning to Follow Instructions Once inside Canaan, the Israelites followed God's instructions |