I am impressed by the parallels between Joshua, and his teacher and leader, Moses. It is obvious that Joshua, as leader of this new generation, had paid attention.
Both had the formidable task of crossing water-courses with a mass of people--men, women, and children. Joshua faced the Jordan River in flood. This river, which has the lowest elevation of any river in the world*, flows from snow-capped Mount Hermon (approx. 9,000 feet; 2,800 metres) in the north to the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberius), and continues south to the Dead Sea (the lowest part of the earth's surface). It sits between 32 and 35 degrees north of the equator. (As a comparison, Canberra is 35 degrees south). There is a great map at https://www.mapsofworld.com/lat_long/israel-lat-long.html
It seems that the Israelites crossed the Jordan following the death of Moses in 1406 B.C., the same year in which Jericho was destroyed. Joshua had to prove his worth as their new leader and he quoted Moses as he spoke to the people.
Within the historical context that "the people of Israel had been landless for nearly five hundred years", The Message (Eugene Peterson) presents a bold young Joshua advising his people thus: "Pack your bags. In three days you will cross this Jordan River to enter and take the land God, your God, is giving you to possess" (Joshua 1: 10-11). The nomadic life of "Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his twelve sons [followed by] ...over 400 years...[in] slavery" was behind them.
Joshua proclaimed:
"Remember what Moses the servant of God commanded you. God, your God, gives you rest and he gives you this land. Your wives, your children, and your livestock can stay here east of the Jordan... but you, tough soldiers all, must cross the River in battle formation, leading your brothers, helping them..." (ibid verses 12-15).
These people demonstrated obedience, attention to detail, trust, confidence in God, action, movement, and close listening.
They also had to stand firm in their resolve to move forward together and to drive out foreign matter such as fear, doubt, disobedience.
How fitting it was that Joshua, like Moses, had to remove his shoes. He was standing on holy ground (Joshua 5: 15), feeling the sanctity of God's direction and protection.
Julie Swannell
* Britannica entry on Jordan River
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