Joshua 1-5: A New Leader === Steve Webb: I learned several years ago from a great aunt of mine that my family line, I am descended from a, This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. Welcome. This is the Daily podcast where we'll read the entire Bible in a year. It's really great to be back with this new season, the 13th season of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and I've gotten a few emails from the Lifespring family welcoming me back. Thank you for that. I'll share some with you a little bit later in the show today. I'm still fine tuning the format of this new season since it is a bit different than last year's show. And for the new listeners, the new Lifespring family members, I'm really glad you are here. Thanks for joining us. I hope you like what you hear and that you'll be with us for the whole year. And I want you to feel free to contact me. My email address is steve@lifespringmedia.com, and the phone number to call and leave a comment is 9 5 1 7 3 2 8 5 1 1. I'll include some of the Lifespring family calls on the show. Today we're going to read from the book of Joshua. We'll read chapters one through five, and before I read the chapters, I'll give you a brief introduction to the book of Joshua. And after the reading, I'll share some of my thoughts on those chapters. Are you ready? Let's get started. [00:01:30] Marker --- Steve Webb: Joshua is the man that God chose to lead the children of Israel into the promised land. Moses had brought them to the threshold, but because Moses had disobeyed God at a certain point along the way during their 40 year wandering in the wilderness, which we'll read about further on down the road as we read through the Bible, because of that, God did not allow Moses to enter the promised land. It was Joshua who would take up the mantle of leadership. Can you imagine filling those shoes? Ah, that's not a job I think I would want. So let's get started. [00:02:05] Marker --- Steve Webb: Joshua chapter one, After the death of the Lord's servant Moses, the Lord said to Moses' assistant Joshua, son of Nun my servant Moses is dead. Now you and all these people must cross the Jordan River into the land that I'm going to give the people of Israel.. I will give you every place on which you set foot, as I promised Moses. Your borders will be the desert on the south, nearby Lebanon to the Euphrates River, the country of the Hittites on the north and the Mediterranean Sea on the west. No one will be able to oppose you successfully as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will never neglect you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous because you will help these people take possession of the land I swore to give their ancestors. Only be strong and very courageous, faithfully doing everything in the teachings that my servant Moses commanded you. Don't turn away from them. Then you will succeed wherever you go. Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed. I have commanded you, be strong and courageous. Don't tremble or be terrified, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Then Joshua ordered the officers of the people, "Go through the camp. Tell the people, get your supplies ready. In three days, you will cross the Jordan River to take possession of the land. The Lord your God is going to give you." Next joshua said to the tribes of Ruben and Gad, and half of the tribe of Manassa, "Remember what the Lord servant Moses commanded you.. Moses said The Lord, your God will give you this land, a place to rest. Your wivesc children and livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan River. However, all your best soldiers must march in battle formation ahead of your relatives. You must help your relatives take possession of the land, the Lord your God is going to give them. Then they will have a place to rest like you do. After that, you may go back and take possession of the land east of the Jordan River, which the Lord's servant Moses gave you." The people responded to Joshua, " We'll do everything you tell us and go wherever you send us. We will obey you as we obeyed Moses. May the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your authority or does not obey your orders will be put to death. Just be strong and courageous." [00:04:34] Marker --- Steve Webb: Joshua chapter two, From Shittim, Joshua son of Nun secretly sent out two men as spies. He told them, Go look at that country, especially the city of Jericho. So they went to Jericho and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab to spend the night there. The King of Jericho was told some Israelites have entered the city tonight. They came to gather information about our land. So the King of Jericho sent messengers to Rehab who told her, Bring out the men who came to your house. They came here to gather information about the entire land. But the woman had already taken the two men inside and hidden them. So she said, "Yes. The men did come here, but I didn't know where they'd come from. When it was dark and the gate was just about to close, they left. I don't know where they went. If you hurry, you'll catch up with them. She had taken them up to the roof and covered them with the flax, which she had laid up there. The king's men pursued them on the road leading to a shallow place to cross the Jordan River. As soon as the king's men had left, the gate was closed. Before the spies fell asleep, Rahab went up to them on the roof. She said to them, I know the Lord will give you this land. Your presence terrifies us. All the people in the country are definitely afraid of you. We've heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea in front of you when you left Egypt. We've also heard what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites who ruled east of the Jordan River. We've heard how you destroyed them for the Lord. When we heard about it, we lost heart. There was no courage left in any of us because of you. The Lord your God is the God of heaven and earth. Please swear by the Lord that you'll be as kind to my father's family as I've been to you. Also give me some proof that you'll protect my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and their households, and that you'll save us from death. The men promised her, "We'll pledge our lives for your lives. If you don't tell anyone what we're doing here, we'll treat you kindly and honestly, when the Lord gives us this land." So she let them down by a rope from her window. Since her house was built into the city wall. She lived in the city wall. She told them, Go to the mountain so that the men who are pursuing you will not find you. Hide there for three days until they return to Jericho. Then you can go on your way." The men told her, We will be free from the oath, which you made us swear if you tell anyone what we're doing here. When we invade your land, tie this red cord in the window through which you let us down. Also gather your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's family into your house. Whoever leaves your house will be responsible for his own life. We will be free from that responsibility, but we will take responsibility if anyone inside your house is harmed. If you tell anyone what we're doing here, we will be free from the oath, which you made us swear. I agree, she said.. So she let them go and tied the red cord in the window. The men went to the mountains and stayed there for three days until the king's man returned to Jericho. The king's men had searched for them all along the road, but had not found them. Then the two spies came down out of the mountains, crossed the Jordan River, and returned to Joshua son of Nun. They told him everything that had happened to them. They told Joshua, The Lord has given us this whole country. The people who live there are definitely afraid of us. [00:07:55] Marker --- Steve Webb: Joshua chapter three. The next morning, Joshua and all the people of Israel got up early, left the camp at Acacia, and went to the Jordan where they camped while waiting to cross it. Three days later, the leaders went through the camp and told the people, When you see the priests carrying the covenant box of the Lord your God, break camp and follow them. You have never been here before, so they will show you the way to go, but do not get near the covenant box. Stay about a half a mile behind it. Joshua told the people, purify yourselves because tomorrow the Lord will perform miracles among you. Then he told the priests to take the covenant box and go with it ahead of the people. They did as he said. The Lord said to Joshua, What I do today will make all the people of Israel begin to honor you as a great man. And they will realize that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests carrying the covenant box that when they reach the river, they must wade in and stand near the bank. Then Joshua said to the people, Come here and listen to what the Lord your God has to say. As you advance, he will surely drive out the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites and the Jebusites. You will know that the living God is among you when the covenant box of the Lord of all the earth crosses the Jordan ahead of you. Now choose 12 men, one from each of the tribes of Isarael. When the priests who carry the covenant box of the Lord of all the Earth put their feet in the water, the Jordan will stop flowing and the water coming downstream will pile up in one place. It was harvest time and the river was in flood. When the people left the camp to cross the Jordan, the priests went ahead of them carrying the covenant box. As soon as the priests stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing and piled up, far upstream at Adam, the city beside Zarethan. The flow downstream to the dead Sea was completely cut off and the people were able to cross over near Jericho. While the people walked across on dry land, the priests carrying the Lord's covenant box stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until all the people had crossed over. [00:10:17] Marker --- Steve Webb: Joshua chapter four. When the whole nation had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, Choose 12 men, one from each tribe and command them to take 12 stones out of the middle of the Jordan from the very place where the priests were standing. Tell them to carry these stones with them and to put them down where you camp tonight. Then Joshua called the 12 men he had chosen. And he told them, Go into the Jordan ahead of the covenant box of the Lord your God. Each one of you take a stone on your shoulder, one for each of the tribes of Israel. These stones will remind the people of what the Lord has done. In the future, when your children ask what these stones mean to you, you will tell them that the water of the Jordan stopped flowing when the Lord's covenant box crossed the river. These stones will always remind the people of Israel of what happened here. The men followed Joshua's orders. As the Lord had commanded Joshua, they took 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the tribes of Israel, carried them to the camping place and put them down there. Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests carrying the covenant box had stood. These stones are still there. The priests stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything had been done that the Lord ordered Joshua to tell the people to do. This is what Moses had commanded. The people hurried across the river. When they were all on the other side, the priests with the Lord's covenant box went on ahead of the people. The men of the tribes of Ruben and Gad, and of half the tribe of Manassa, ready for battle, crossed ahead of the rest of the people as Moses had told him to do. In the presence of the Lord, about 40,000 men ready for war crossed over to the plain near Jericho. What the Lord did that day made the people of Israel consider Joshua a great man. They honored him all his life just as they had honored Moses. Then the Lord told Joshua to command the priests carrying the covenant box to come up out of the Jordan. Joshua did so, and when the priests reached the riverbank, the river began flowing once more and flooded its banks again. The people crossed the Jordan on the 10th day of the first month and camped at Gilgal east of Jericho. There, Joshua set up the 12 stones taken from the Jordan. And he said to the people of Israel, "in the future, when your children ask you what these stones mean, you will tell them about the time when Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. Tell them that the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan for you until you had crossed. Just as he dried up the Red Sea for us. Because of this, everyone on Earth will know how great the Lord's power is, and you will honor the Lord your God forever. [00:13:15] Marker --- Steve Webb: Joshua chapter five. Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear, and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, Make flint knives and circumcised the Israelites again. So Joshua made Flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. Now this is why he did so. All those who came out of Egypt, all the men of military age died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness 40 years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. Then the Lord said to Joshua, Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you. So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. On the evening of the 14th day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land. There was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canan. Now, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, Are you for us or for our enemies? Neither he replied. But as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come. Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked him, What message does my Lord have for his servant? The commander of the Lord's army replied, Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy. And Joshua did so. [00:15:43] Marker --- Steve Webb: Sometimes people will say, God can't save me. He can't forgive me. I've lived a terrible life. Or God could never use me. You don't know what I've done. In chapter two, we read of the spies that Joshua sent into the town of Jericho, and these spies stayed at the house of a prostitute by the name of Rehab. We read how she hid them and saved their lives and made a deal with them that they would save her life. There's a long story about that, of course. Well, here's the rest of her story. Rahab married Salman, an Israelite from the tribe of Judah. Her son was Boaz, who we'll read about later, the husband of Ruth, who we will also read about later. Joseph, the legal father of Jesus is her direct descendant. That's right. In Jesus' genealogy is a prostitute. And true, Jesus is not Joseph's biological son. But it would be understandable if God chose not to use a family line for Jesus' stepfather that included a prostitute. Right? Well, here's the lesson for us all. Rehab's sinful life was forgiven because of her faith in God. And when God forgives, that sin is as if it never existed. And besides that, what family doesn't include those who have sinned? There isn't one, is there? As Paul says in Romans, all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one is without sin. It's what we do with God that determines whether that sin defines us. I learned several years ago from a, uh, a great aunt of mine that my family line, I am descended from a murderer. Yeah, so, you know, I, I don't know anything about that man's life other than, uh, he committed this murder somewhere in Arkansas and, uh, then ran away, moved from that area and changed his name. And that's why all of a sudden in my family line, we go from one last family name to another. So you never know. No family line for sure is without sin. And knowing that, it seems silly to me that some Bible commentators in the past have tried to say that Rahab was an inkeeper, not a prostitute. She had them into her house because, well she was an inkeeper, it was her job. These commentators thought it was shameful that a prostitute would be in the lineage of Jesus. But when you read it in the original language, there's no mistaking it. Rahab was a prostitute. And as we read through the Bible this year, you'll see that God does not pull punches in describing real life and real sin. That Rahab was a prostitute is lightweight compared to some of the things we'll read. I always invite your comments and I'll share some comments from the Lifespring family on the show. Remember, I don't want you to just listen to the show. I want you to participate as a family does. You're part of the show, so chime in. You can do that at comment.lifespringmedia.com, or you can email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com. And when you do that, please put show comment in the subject line. And the way I'd really prefer it would be for you to call the Lifespring family comment line at 9 5 1 7 3 2 8 5 1 1. Our reading tomorrow will be Psalms one and two, and remember that you can see the upcoming reading schedule at schedule.lifespringmedia.com. And if you would like to help me out by donating your time and talent, I would love it if you would put the reading schedule into a really nice looking PDF that the Lifespring family members can download from the website. If you're up for that, email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com and put calendar in the subject line. I have the entire year's schedule already planned. I just need someone with an eye for design. So let me know If you're hearing my voice right now, you're a member of the Lifespring family. You're a big part of what makes this show happen. Without you, there is no show. This is a value for value supported show. Time, talent, or treasure. The show's free, but I do need to pay the bills, but I will never take any advertisers. Take a listen to what Okin, a really smart guy from Namibia said on the podcasting 2.0 podcast some time ago. Okin: That is value for value. If I'm valuable in your life, would you not wanna give some value to me? So if I'm giving you knowledge or if I'm entertaining you, why wouldn't you wanna give me the value that you wanna give me without somebody else taking a piece that none of us know about? Steve Webb: And then he went on to talk about the hidden fees that banks and other funds processors take when dealing with normal currency as opposed to Bitcoin and Satoshi. Okin really gets it, and he is very much into value for value. I want to thank the Lifespring family members who are streaming, sats and boosting. I appreciate you. And sending support while you listen, really is a fun and rewarding way to support your favorite podcaster. And now if you use the Fountain app to listen to the show, you can even get paid. You can earn sats while you listen. And if you decide that you want to turn around and send those sats to your favorite podcaster, you can do that. Find a new podcast app if you're not using one at newpodcastapps.com. Not only can you stream sats, you'll be able to see the chapters for the show and see the transcripts while you listen. Of course, if you're not into all this boosting and sats talk, you're always welcome to send good old dollars to support the show at support.lifespringmedia.com. But however you support the show as members of the Lifespring family, you are very much a part of producing the show, and when you do support it, you're helping to spread the Good News. I'll thank you and I think God will bless you. [00:21:50] Marker --- Steve Webb: How did you find the show? Did a friend tell you? Did you hear about the show on another podcast? Did you hear me interviewed on another podcast? Did you learn about it in a dream? Well, let me know. Email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com and use the subject line. Here's where I found you. [00:22:09] Marker --- Steve Webb: Here's some of the comments that I've gotten since season 13 started. From a long time, Lifespring family member John in Canada said, Hi, Steve. Welcome back. I'm glad to hear your show again. Thanks for the daily Bible readings. Thanks for the commentary. I've always enjoyed Genesis. So many stories and history. It's crazy that people believe we were made by evolution. In the beginning, He created. Blessings to you. Signed John. Well, John, thank you and it's so good to hear from your brother. And I got this from Kirsty. Welcome back Steve, and glad you had a good rest period. I can't wait to see what Season 13 has in store for us and really looking forward to getting through the Bible again this coming year. Well, thank you, Kirsty. And by the way, Kirsty has let me know that she's going to help out with the newsletter again this year. Yay. If you aren't signed up for the newsletter, by the way, you can do that at news.lifespringmedia.com, and of course I'll never spam you and I'll never share or sell your information. And then from Andy Baker, he said, Welcome back Steve. I missed your voice in my truck every single day you were gone. I just restarted season 12 and suddenly season 13 showed up. Here's a Holy Trinity Stryper donation. He sent in $37.77, and he said, Looking forward to having the Lifespring family in my life for at least another year. God bless, Andy. Well, thank you, Andy. I appreciate that and thank you so much for the donation. And then a brand new Lifespring family member by the name of Don Francis wrote in. He said, Hi, Steve, in the morning. In the morning to you. Thank you for your courage. He said, I started listening to the Daily Bible Podcast on the very last day of season 12. I'm very glad to restart and join you in real time with season 13. It's a joy to start each day listening to you read and discuss God's word. May God bless you and your work. Well, thank you for that, Don. It's nice to have you in the family. I'm so glad to hear from you. And Don sent in a $50 donation, so that's fantastic. And he also sent in a prayer request, which I'll share on tomorrow's show. We're doing prayer requests on Wednesdays and Sundays. So thanks guys, for all those great notes. Great to hear from you. God bless. And I did get a voicemail on the Lifespring family hotline this morning from someone many of you've heard of, but probably never heard her voice. This was a nice surprise to me. LeeAnn: Good morning, Lifespring family. It's LeeAnn Webb. Better known as the lovely lady, LeeAnn. Surprise sweetheart. I just wanted to let everybody know how excited I am for the new year to be happening. And, um, that we look forward to hearing from all of you. Hopefully you will interact this year. It really means a lot to Steve, when he gets to hear from his family. And we would love to be able to just invite you to be a part of the family. And if you get a chance to come to Riverside this year, give us a call. Let Steve know you're coming and we'll do our best to meet up with you. I would love to get to know you all on a personal level. Take care and have a wonderful day and be blessed by God. Steve Webb: Thanks for calling in sweetheart, and yes, I second that. If you're ever going to be in the Riverside, California area, let me know. We'll see if we can have a meet up. [00:25:22] Marker --- Steve Webb: Hey, be sure you're subscribed. If you're not, go to subscribe.lifespringmedia.com. You'll find some links there to help you get subscribed. And in most podcast apps, all you have to do is search for Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And be sure to tell somebody about the show. Encourage them to read the Bible in a year with you. After all, that is what this show is all about. Comment on the show. Call the Lifespring Family Hotline at 9 5 1 7 3 2 85 11. I'll play your comments on the show, or you can go to comment.lifespringmedia.com or email me at steve@lifespring media.com. I'll read some of your comments on the show. I want to hear from you. Now, until tomorrow make God bless you richly. Thank you so much for joining me today and making me a part of your day. I'm honored. My name is Steve Webb. Bye.