Joshua the Fighting Man - Research Paper Example

Joshua the Fighting Man Joshua assumed the famous character of a fighting man in the Bible because of his part in leading Israelites into the promise land which is popularly known as the Jericho March. Joshua led the Israelites in crossing the River Jordan to conquer Canaan through Jericho March. Jericho March was the silent march around the mighty wall of Canaan once a day for six days as instructed by God. On the seventh day, the great walls of Jericho crumbled after marching around the wall seven times along with seven priests before the Ark of the Covenant who brought with them seven ram’s horns.

In the seventh march around the walled city, a long blast or siren was signalled whereupon the Israelites were to shout. After this, the walls of Canaan crumbled whereupon the Israelites entered the city to seize it (All about prayer, 2012). Joshua was a name given by Moses. He was born as Hoshea, the son of Nun of the tribe of Ephraim. He is a grandchild to Elishama who was thought of carrying the embalmed body of Joseph during their 40 years of stay in the wilderness. Joshua grew up as a slave in Egypt and was freed by the miraculous power of God under the leadership of Moses.

Since then, Joshua became a sincere follower of Moses who is just like Moses, is genuinely devoted to God. Moses gaved the name Joshua to the former Hoshea in the wilderness of Paran when Moses was instructed by God to chose men who would act as spies whereby Joshua was chosen to represent his tribe Ephraim. This was a task prior to the famous Jericho March whereby intelligence were first gathered before undertaking the actual march. Their task was to infiltrate Canaan and to gather intelligence information about the city.

Joshua faithfully carried out this task along with Caleb and eight other spies from the different tribes and proved to be a faithful servant of God. It is because Joshua and Caleb gave the true account of the city of Canaan whereas the eight others gave negative reports because of fear. Their faithfulness almost cost them their lives because the people did not believe them but the report of the eight others and even wanted to stone them to death. This was stated in Numbers of New International Version of the Bible as; "When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.

Thus they told him, and said, 'We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large; and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there” (Numbers 13:25).  The eight other spies reported in fear and brought doubting upon the people of Israelites that even made them to blame God and suggested another leader to go back to Egypt saying ; And why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?

Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt” (Numbers 13). This made God to be upset with the people of Israel and brought a curse to them that "According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you shall know My opposition. I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me.

In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they shall die” (Numbers 13). The eight spies who brought false report that caused doubting among the people of Israel, they were given plague by God and died accordingly. This account explained why it took the Israelites forty years to reach the Promise Land. They doubted the Lord except Joshua who even tore his clothes (together with Caleb son of Jephunneh) when the people of Israel doubted that the land they spied on, Canaan is a good land where “milk and honey” flows and that if the Lord wills it for them to take it, they can have it for as long as they will not go against the Lord (Ginther, 2010).

Of course the Israelites took a different path which caused them to reach the Promised Land longer while the faitfulness of Joshua earned him the privilege of leading them with Jericho March, the march that crumbled the mighty walls of Canaan for them to enter and take the Promise Land. Thus Joshua was God’s fighting man in the real sense of the word because he fought odds with faith and with peace. References All about prayer (2012). What is Jericho March? http://www.allaboutprayer.org/jericho-march-faq.

htm Ginther, Ronald (2010). THE EMMAUS WALK PRESENTS: "Joshua: A Many-Faceted Type of Christ," http://theemmauswalk.tripod.com/index-32.html New International Version of the Holy Bible (nd). Retrieved at http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers+13&version=NIV