Chapter 23 — ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND
After Moses died, Joshua took Moses' place as the person to lead the Israelites into Canaan. Joshua had been a leader under Moses during most of the time that the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness. Joshua had seen the wonderful miracles God had performed through Moses. Joshua understood the character of the people. Joshua was one of the twelve spies who explored the Promised Land. He was one of the two spies who described Canaan as a wonderful country. Joshua encouraged the people to invade and capture the land with the strength of God. Joshua was a good choice to be the new leader.SRme 1.747
The Lord promised to be with Joshua as He had been with Moses. The Lord promised that Canaan would be conquered easily if Joshua and the people would be faithful and obey God's commandments. God's promise took away Joshua's fears about whether he would be able to lead Israel into Canaan.SRme 1.748
Joshua commanded the Israelites to prepare for a three-day trip. All the soldiers were to get ready for battle. "They answered Joshua, 'We will do everything you have told us, and will go anywhere you send us. We will obey you, just as we always obeyed Moses, and may the Lord yourSRme 1.749
God be with you as He was with Moses! Whoever [If a person] questions your [Joshua's] authority or disobeys any of your orders will be put to death. Be determined and confident!'" (Joshua 1:16-18).SRme 1.750
The Lord would do a miracle so the Israelites could cross the Jordan River. "Joshua told the people, 'Purify yourselves, because tomorrow the Lord will perform [do] miracles among you.'SRme 1.751
"Then he told the priests to take the Covenant Box [the ark] and go with it ahead of the people. They did as he [Joshua] said.SRme 1.752
"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'" (Joshua 3:5-7).SRme 1.753