Day 41 Reading Schedule: Joshua 4-8

Joshua 3: Israel's Crossing of the Jordan River 

[Summary]

This chapter records the historical event of the Israelites finally entering the promised land, after they had longed for the land of Canaan for 500 years after God promised to give it to Abraham. Joshua had the people prepare to cross the Jordan River with the Ark of the Covenant in front of them to enter the land of Canaan (verses 1-6). God promised Joshua that He would always be with him and gave him courage, and Joshua encouraged the people with the strength of God's words (verses 7-13). Finally, when the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant, who had been standing in the front, stepped into the Jordan River, the water stopped flowing, and bare ground appeared, allowing all the people to cross the river safely (verses 14-17). The second generation of the Exodus, who had heard the story of Moses' successful Exodus by parting the Red Sea, gained confidence in God's covenant and power by experiencing the same miracle at the beginning of their historical entry into Canaan.

Chapters 1 and 2 introduce the scene of Joshua's calling as the new leader of Israel in place of Moses, and the incident of spying on Jericho before the war to conquer Canaan. Chapters 1 through 5 introduce the scene of finally crossing the Jordan River and entering the promised land of Canaan. Indeed, this entire journey was led and accomplished from the beginning by God, who loves Israel. Therefore, we must not forget that the only key to entering the heavenly Canaan (heaven) is also God's zeal.

Joshua 4: A Monument to the Crossing of the Jordan River 

[Summary]

This chapter records the incident in which the Israelites, with God’s help, safely crossed the Jordan River and erected a monument to commemorate it. After the Israelites safely crossed the Jordan River, God commanded Joshua to take stones according to the number of the twelve tribes and erect a monument in the middle of the Jordan River (verses 1-9). After the Israelites had completely crossed the Jordan River, the Jordan River began to flow again (verses 10-18). In response, the Israelites set up camp at Gilgal, east of Jericho, and erected a monument with the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan River, leaving it as a lesson for their descendants (verses 19-23).

After living in the wilderness for 40 years under God’s guidance, the Israelites finally arrived at the promised land of Canaan and crossed the Jordan River with great emotion. While many people, estimated at 2-3 million, were crossing the Jordan River, God blocked the waters of the Jordan River and led them safely across. In order to never forget this grace of God, Israel took 12 stones from the Jordan River and built a pile of stones to express their gratitude and praise for God’s grace, creating a moving scene.

Joshua 5: Circumcision 

[Summary]

This chapter records the Israelites who safely crossed the Jordan River and began to prepare themselves as the covenant people before they began the war to conquer Canaan in earnest. The Canaanites were trembling with fear when they heard the news of Israel’s miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. At this time, God told Joshua to circumcise the Israelites who were born in the wilderness and had not been circumcised (vv. 1-9). This was God’s intention to make the Israelites recognize their identity as a covenant community. After Israel celebrated the first Passover in Canaan, the manna stopped and did not fall again (vv. 10-12). Meanwhile, when Joshua was nearing Jericho, the commander of the Lord’s army appeared before him, which was a sign that God would personally lead the war to conquer Canaan and a guarantee of victory (vv. 13-15).

With God's help, the Israelites safely crossed the Jordan River and entered the promised land of Canaan, which they had longed for. Meanwhile, immediately after arriving in Canaan, Israel did their best to normalize their relationship with God by practicing circumcision and observing the first Passover in Canaan.

Joshua 6: Conquest of Jericho 

[Summary]

This chapter records the first war for the conquest of Canaan, in which the Israelites conquered Jericho. God had the Israelites march around the city once a day, blowing trumpets and leading the Ark of the Covenant, in order to occupy Jericho, which had been firmly closed and was under defense (verses 1-14). On the seventh day, after marching around the city seven times in the same manner, all the Israelites shouted at the same time, and the city of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites destroyed all the men, women, and livestock in Jericho (verses 15-21). However, Rahab and her family, who had saved the spies, were saved as promised, and God commanded that the city not be rebuilt (verses 22-27).

After safely crossing the Jordan River by God’s gracious intervention, the Israelites fought against the Canaanites for the first time. That place was the city of Jericho. In the battle of Jericho, Israel completely obeyed God's methods and strategies and achieved a great victory that they could not have achieved on their own. Truly, God always spares no active support for those who put Him first.

Joshua 7: The Battle of Ai: The Disastrous Defeat 

[Summary]

This chapter records the incident in which Israel was defeated in the second battle, the Battle of Ai, due to Achan’s sin. Achan, a man from the tribe of Judah, disobeyed God’s command and took treasure from Jericho and hid it. After Israel went to attack Ai, they were defeated, and Joshua and the leaders prayed to God (vv. 1-9). Then God told them that the reason for the defeat was because there was a sinner among the people, and Joshua revealed through lots that Achan had sinned (vv. 10-21). So Joshua took Achan, his family, his livestock, and all his possessions to the Valley of Achor, killed him, and buried him there (vv. 22-26).

Following the fall of Jericho, which was the signal for the war to conquer Canaan and the prelude to the final victory, this chapter introduces the absurd story of Israel's failure in the small city of Ai. We must never forget that most human failures and crimes stem from pride and spiritual carelessness.