Ep 557 – Joshua 12:1-14

If you had asked Joshua what he thought about God, it is likely that his answer would have been full of superlatives and adjectives defining God as great, good, powerful, reliable, holy, righteous, faithful and gracious. But if you were to ask God how to describe Himself, He would use the four simple words, “I am the Lord,” He is God. He is the Creator-God, the maker of all things and the one who holds all the things he has made, together. In Joshua 12:1-24, we have what appears to be a list of Israelite conquests. It’s one of those passages we find temptingly easy to pass over when we come to it. There seems to be little value in all the names and places mentioned. What benefit do we have to glean from this ancient historical record? But it’s essential that we see this as far more than a history lesson. It’s a recitation of the accomplishments of God on behalf of the people who bear His name.