Today's reading contains another reminder.  God gives the Israelites this promise before they enter into the land. He tells them, "I will give you every place where you set your foot..." In other words, in the cultural procedure of the day, whenever a person took ownership of a piece of land, that person would walk the land and claim the land. The problem is that the Israelites did not walk the entire land that God promised them. Look in Joshua 1 for the boundaries of the land. It is much larger than the land of Israel today, but much smaller than the original promise to Abraham.

The people are told to "meditate on the law day and night". This is a good reason to meditate on Scripture. There is a great promise that follows - so that you will be "prosperous and successful". 

Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. Now, was he supposed to do this - or just go in and take the land? The spies stayed at the house of a prostitute. Did the spies go into Rahab’s house because there were many people coming and going there and they wouldn’t be noticed?  How did they know to pick her house?

Rahab was instrumental in protecting the men and in effect helped the Israelites take Jericho.

Rahab said “…for your Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” She as well as many others in Jericho had seen or heard about the pillar of fire and the cloud that guided the Israelites.  Because of the miracles that were done, the people of the land were in fear of the Israelites.  This is one way that God drove the inhabitants out of the land so that the Israelites could take possession.

In Joshua 3, we are told that the focus of the Israelites is no longer on following the cloud and the pillar of fire. They are now to follow the Ark of the Covenant.

When they celebrated the Passover, they ate some of the produce of the land. The day after that, the manna stopped.

The story of Rahab is so significant. It is such a beautiful illustration that God can use ordinary people, even prostitutes to do extraordinary things!  Rahab was the mother of Boaz who was an ancestor of King David.

Joshua 1:16
..."Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go."...
Great verse for us to live by!  These words were spoken to Joshua by the people. However, they followed up this statement with the following;  "Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you."
Wait a minute...they didn't fully obey Moses! And they won't fully obey Joshua either.

Fascinating that most remember the parting of the Red Sea yet seldom remember the parting of the Jordan River – and at flood stage even! Notice that the priests stepped into the water without hesitation and look what happened. Talk about stepping out on faith.

How goes it with us as Believers? Are we obedient to where God is leading us? Do we step out in faith as we go where He leads?

After they crossed over the Jordan River they set up stones as a monument, a memorial or remembrance of the great miracle of the crossing of the Jordan.  What are some of our "memorial stones" today?

Isn't it interesting that Moses did not honor the covenant of circumcision during the forty years of wandering?

Another great story in today's reading is the appearance of the Divine Commander found in Joshua 5:13-15. Note the similarities to what happened with Moses and the burning bush. Joshua was allowed to see face to face...God the Son.