Day Sixteen - "Be strong and courageous . . ."

Joshua 1:1 to Joshua 14:15

The mantle of leadership is passed from Moses to Joshua by the LORD who says to Joshua, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you." [v.5] The military campaign to take the Promised Land is soon to be launched once the Israelites and their fighting men have crossed the Jordan and head towards Jericho.  Joshua is firmly in charge as he has been  commanded to lead the people, to obey the law, and to not be discouraged.  The first thing he does after crossing the Jordan is to lead the people in a renewal of the sign of their covenant with God (circumcision) and to celebrate the Passover.

After that, things just get ugly.  History, as they say, is written by the victors, and it's difficult for us wrap our minds around the horrendous destruction of life and to find within it reasons to celebrate.  If I did not bring to our reading a broader understanding of God's love, I might be tempted to stop right here.  We must not, however, allow ourselves to whitewash the past but always to take our lessons from it and continually strive to more fully comprehend God as well as ourselves.