Jesse Tree - Day 10: Joshua

I last published these Jesse Tree posts in 2019. I want to revisit them this Advent so you're coming along for the ride!

The Jesse Tree helps us prepare for Christ's coming by studying His roots and Salvation History. 

Jesse Trees follow the same general outline but I've found they are widely varied in some of the details. Some may have one day for Moses, others may spend 4 days on different aspects of his life. I'll be following the basic outline but, therefore, using my own discretion in a few spots.

Day 10: Joshua

Symbols: ram's horn trumpet

The Battle of Jericho on Ghiberti doors, Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0

Joshua 1:1-11; 6:1-20

Joshua had the daunting task of following Moses as the Hebrew people's leader. Yet, every time I read about Moses's life, Joshua begins to come to my attention, carefully pointed out by the author. He is stalwart, he loves God, and he is obedient. So he's the perfect leader to take this band of people who wandered in the desert for 40 years precisely because of their disobedience. And he leads them in a leap of faith that is such a crazy stunt only God would have thought it up. "C'mon everyone, let's march around the city crying aloud to God and then, we'll blow our trumpets. And the city will be ours."

As is often the case with God's "crazy stunts" this one worked because of His power and their trust and obedience. We look forward to the purpose of this tiny baby Jesus whose coming we await, and we see the one who is fully trusting, fully obedient, and fully loving ... both of us and of God the Father.

I've also always loved the story of Joshua leading the people into the Promised Land and the River Jordan parting for them. Hey, there's more to Joshua than trumpets.

The Children of Israel Crossing the Jordan by Benjamin West, 1800