Chapter 1: The Weight of the Mantle

For forty years, Moses had led Israel through the wilderness. He was the man who stood before Pharaoh and said "Let my people go." The man who stretched his staff over the Red Sea and watched God split it in two. He had carried an entire nation on his back — through hunger, rebellion, and war.

But God told Moses he would not enter the Promised Land. He had disobeyed God at the waters of Meribah, striking the rock instead of speaking to it as God commanded. So at the end of the journey, God brought him to the top of Mount Nebo and showed him everything — the hills of Canaan, the Jordan Valley, the cities his people would one day inhabit. Moses saw it all. Then he closed his eyes and died.

Israel mourned for thirty days.

At Moses' side for most of those years was a man named Joshua. He had served as Moses' assistant since he was young.

Forty years earlier, God had promised Israel a homeland — Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. Before they entered, Moses sent twelve men to scout it. Joshua was one of them. The twelve explored the land and came back with a report. Ten of them said the cities were too fortified, the people too strong, the giants too tall. Only Joshua and Caleb stood before the terrified crowd and said God would deliver the land into their hands — that if the Lord was with them, no wall and no army could stop them. The nation believed the ten. They refused to go in. And God sentenced that entire generation to die in the desert, wandering for forty years until not one of them remained. Only Joshua and Caleb would be spared.

Now the wandering was over. The mourning for Moses was finished. And Joshua stood before an entire nation waiting to be led into Canaan.

Then God spoke to him.

GOD“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them.”— Joshua 1:2

The land was on the other side of the Jordan. And the first thing standing in the way was Jericho.