The book of Joshua picks up the story after Deuteronomy. Joshua has been selected as the leader of Israel after the death of Moses. His first hurdle of leadership is to convince the tribes that settled on the border of the Jordan to go into the land of Canaan as promised. After they affirm his leadership, Joshua sends two spies to Jericho. The spies meet a Canaanite prostitute named Rahab, who hides the spies at the risk of her own life. She confesses faith in Yahweh and requests her family to be saved. The spies promise her that if she gathers her family into her house and tie a scarlet thread to the window, everyone in it will be saved. Everyone and everything else in Jericho will be destroyed. The spies reported this back to Joshua and he leads the people across the Jordan River on dry ground, as the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea. God provided six days of grace to Jericho to surrender, but they refused. On the seventh day, the walls came down with the trumpet sound and a great shout, but Rahab was saved and became an Israelite.

Although everything was to be destroyed, Achan took some spoils for himself and hid them. When the army of Israel tried to conquer Ai, they were defeated because there was sin in the camp of Israel. Achan’s sin is revealed and he is stoned to death, along with his family. Then Ai is conquered in an Israelite ambush. The nation of Gibeon saw how the Israelites were conquering and deceived Joshua into an alliance. When the other kings in the area heard about this, they attacked Gibeon. The Gibeonites called out to Joshua and God told him to go to their aid, but it was God who fought the battle for them. The Israelites continued to have military success, conquering the whole region.

God promised the Israelites they would receive the land of Canaan, but they still had to obediently follow Him to conquer the peoples that lived there. He gave them victory over Jericho and destroyed the whole city, except for Rahab and her family. Rahab had expressed faith in Israel’s God and was saved when she hung a red thread out her window. When sin was in the camp of Israel, they were not victorious, but when the sin had been eradicated, they had victory. God even fought directly for Israel against a strong alliance of Canaanite kings.

God is mighty to save His people. He gives victory to those who follow Him. When a force seems so strong that you fear you will be defeated, God will go to battle for you. He will defeat your enemies! He is gracious towards those that love him and will save anyone who calls upon His name. When you face troubles, call out in faith to God and you will be saved.