In spite of his prominent position, Joshua was neither self-seeking nor self-centred. Three examples suffice to reveal a man uncorrupted by power and free from personal ambition. (i) Out of the whole nation, he was the last to receive an inheritance, Josh. 17. 49-51. (ii) He conferred no special honours or positions on his descendants; we do not even know their names for the relevant genealogy ends with Joshua himself, 1 Chr. 7. 27. (iii) His sad outburst over Eldad and Medad was occasioned by his concern, not for his own honour but for that of Moses; even in his fall, he was as unselfish as he was unwise.
Joshua’s concerns lay with others, both individually and collectively. His consideration for theindividual is apparent from the tender way in which he spoke to Achan. Joshua knew that Achan was guilty of an outrageous act and of transgressing God’s covenant. As a result, Israel had been defeated, disgraced and discouraged. Thirty-six Israelites now lay dead, and Achan was solely responsible. Yet, Joshua spoke to him in the gentlest and most compassionate of terms; ‘My son, … tell me now what thou hast done’. Though Achan stood convicted as a malefactor, Joshua pleaded with him as a son.
On many occasions Joshua showed his concern for the spiritual well-being of the nation as a whole. We consider the last recorded instance. His choice of the site was significant. Shechem was the place where God had promised the land to Abraham’s seed for the first time, Gen. 12. 6-7; now they were in possession of the land. It was the place where Jacob had called on his household to ‘put away’ their foreign gods, 35. 2-4; now Joshua called on the nation to ‘put away’ their foreign gods, Josh. 24. 23. Joshua reminded the people that (i) their great father figure had originally come from beyond the river Euphrates, v. 2, (ii) they had spent some time in Egypt, vv. 4-6, and (iii) they now dwelt in the land of the Amorites, vv. 8-11. Determined to secure them for God, he challenged them to follow his example, to ‘serve the Lord’ exclusively, and to reject the gods of these various places, vv. 14-15. Their highest spiritual good was his concern.
Lord, make me less concerned with myself and more with others.
