June 5, 2011
Background Scripture: Joshua 1:1-6; 11-12
Devotional Reading: Acts 26:1-7

To me there is irony in the fact that Jesus and Joshua bore the same name. “Jesus” is the Greek rendition of the Hebrew name “Joshua,” meaning “Yahweh (God) is salvation” and probably would have been pronounced as “Yeshua.
 I have not found anywhere in the Bible that the Old Testament “Joshua” and the New Testament “Jesus” are linked – except by the same Hebrew name. In fact, if Jesus had been perceived by his contemporaries as being like Joshua, he might not have been crucified. In his time, many countrymen were looking for another “Joshua,” not a Jesus.

The book of Joshua is a sequel to the first five books of the Old Testament, together known as the Pentateuch. It tells the story of Joshua succeeding Moses and then the conquest, occupation and division of the Promised Land.
As you probably remember, the scriptures we explore in this column are selected by a committee representing 40 different Christian denominations. Every year, the Committee on the Uniform Series produces a booklet in which the various scriptures are listed from September to the end of the following August.

This booklet also suggests a possible theme for each week, and the adult-level theme indicated for this week is “God’s Promises Fulfilled: A Job Well Done.”
No mercy!

I could have easily written on that theme, but it seemed to me dishonest to do so. To be sure, there is adequate scriptural support of Joshua’s faithful leadership, for after every military victory we are assured that “Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses” (11:23).
But if we read the entire book – for example, 6:21, 24; 8:28,29; 10:28-40; 11:10-20 – we find an unavoidable conflict between the actions of Joshua and the teachings and life of Jesus Christ.

Further, believing that the teachings and example of Jesus were the result of his unique relationship with God the Father, I find it difficult to contemplate that the God of Jesus would say to Joshua that their enemies “should be utterly destroyed, and should receive no mercy, but be exterminated, as the Lord commanded Moses” (12:20).

How can we resolve this dilemma? Is it possible Joshua is in error in interpreting what God says to him as a command to commit genocide – an act that today would be judged a crime against humanity? Or, if Joshua is correct, do we then have to assume that Jesus was in error in his many teaching about violent attitudes and acts?

Does it mean that God changed his mind between the time of Joshua and Jesus? Or could we argue that generally, the teachings of Jesus are authoritative for us, but that God calls us to suspend them in various situations?

Instead, might we reason that in the time of Joshua, violence and the denial of mercy were all that was possible in such a world, while in the time of Jesus there was a readiness for a non-violent Messiah.

No need for Jesus?

Some years ago I got a telephone call from a preacher somewhere in Middle America. Someone had shown him a “The Bible Speaks” column in which I wrestled with this same dilemma and concluded by saying, “When Joshua and Jesus are in conflict in interpreting God’s will, I choose to follow Jesus.”
“Did you really mean that?” he wanted to know.

“Yes,” I answered. “What would you say?”

“Well,” he said, “Joshua and Jesus are both in the Bible, so I wouldn’t have to choose between them, would I?”

Joshua was an obedient and faithful successor to Moses, but neither of them was the Christ. Neither of them was as close to the Creator as Jesus was. He was the ultimate one to understand, represent and even incarnate God to us.
Would Moses be enough for us? Or Joshua? Isaiah? John the Baptist? Otherwise, there would have been no need for Jesus to have come into this world. Ditto the cross, the tomb and the resurrected Christ!

I cannot myself satisfactorily explain why Joshua and Jesus had conflicting understandings of the will of God, nor have I been able to find anyone else who has done so. But there are a lot of questions about our faith that remain unanswered and unanswerable. When I arrive at that point, I choose to follow Jesus Christ.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.