The Legacy of Joshua and the Judges: A Continuing Cycle of Faith and Failure

Introduction: After Joshua’s Death
Joshua’s life was marked by faith, courage, and obedience to God. He led the Israelites to victory, distributed the Promised Land, and continually reminded the people to follow God’s law. Joshua 24:31 records, “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.” Yet, his passing left a leadership vacuum, and trouble began to brew in Israel.

Trouble in the Time of the Judges

Without a strong, centralized leader like Joshua, the Israelites faltered. Judges 2:10 captures the tragic turning point: “And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that He had done for Israel.” Many Israelites began to intermarry with the Canaanites, adopting their customs and worshiping the cruel gods called Baals. These practices, including child sacrifices, deeply grieved and angered God.

The Israelites also failed to fully drive out the Canaanites as God had commanded. Instead, they allowed these nations to grow stronger, eventually oppressing Israel through heavy taxes and military dominance. When the Israelites found themselves in desperate situations, they remembered God and cried out for help. In His mercy, God raised up judges to deliver them from their enemies.

Ehud the Left-Handed: Deliverance from Moab

One such judge was Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 3:12-30). During this time, King Eglon of Moab oppressed Israel for 18 years, extracting heavy taxes and leaving the Israelites impoverished. Ehud devised a bold plan to deliver his people.

When Israel brought their tribute to Eglon, Ehud carried a concealed double-edged dagger hidden on his right thigh. After presenting the tribute, Ehud told the king he had a secret message. Eglon, curious and unsuspecting, dismissed his servants and took Ehud to a private room.

There, Ehud drew his dagger with his left hand and plunged it into the king. Judges 3:22 vividly describes the moment: “The fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly.” Ehud locked the doors and escaped before the guards discovered the king’s body. He then rallied the Israelites, leading them to victory over Moab and securing peace for 80 years.

Deborah and Barak: Victory over Sisera

Israel’s disobedience led to another period of oppression, this time under King Jabin of Canaan and his general, Sisera. Judges 4:3 notes, “He had 900 chariots of iron, and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for 20 years.”

God raised up Deborah, a prophetess and judge, to lead Israel during this time. She summoned Barak and conveyed God’s command: “Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor… and I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you…and I will give him into your hand” (Judges 4:6-7).

Barak hesitated, insisting that Deborah accompany him. She agreed but prophesied, “The road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9).

Barak assembled his men on Mount Tabor, while Sisera’s army waited below. At Deborah’s command, Barak’s forces charged. God intervened with a sudden downpour, turning the battlefield into a muddy trap. Sisera’s iron chariots became useless, and Israel triumphed (Judges 4:15).

Jael’s Bold Action

While Sisera’s army was defeated, the general himself fled on foot. Exhausted, he sought refuge in the tent of Jael, the wife of a Kenite who was nominally allied with King Jabin. Jael welcomed Sisera, offering him milk and a place to rest.

As Sisera slept, Jael took a tent peg and hammer, driving the peg through his temple, killing him instantly (Judges 4:21). When Barak arrived, Jael showed him the body, fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy that a woman would claim victory over Sisera.

The Cycle of Disobedience and Deliverance

Despite these victories, Israel repeatedly fell into sin after each judge’s death. Judges 2:19 describes the pattern: “But whenever the judge died, they turned back and were more corrupt than their fathers, going after other gods, serving them and bowing down to them.”

This cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance defined the era of the judges. God’s mercy was evident as He continued to raise up leaders despite Israel’s repeated failures.

Lessons from Joshua and the Judges

1. Faithfulness Requires Leadership: Joshua’s death left a leadership vacuum that contributed to Israel’s moral and spiritual decline. Strong, God-fearing leadership is essential for guiding a nation or community.
2. The Consequences of Disobedience: By failing to obey God’s command to drive out the Canaanites, the Israelites faced oppression and spiritual corruption. Partial obedience often leads to compromise.
3. God’s Mercy is Enduring: Even when Israel turned away from Him, God heard their cries and sent deliverers. This demonstrates His patience and faithfulness, even when His people are undeserving.
4. Women’s Role in God’s Plan: The stories of Deborah and Jael highlight how God uses women in significant and unexpected ways to accomplish His purposes.
5. The Power of Faith and Courage: Whether it was Ehud’s boldness, Deborah’s wisdom, or Jael’s decisive action, these leaders trusted in God to deliver Israel, even in dire circumstances.

Conclusion: A Call to Remember God

The stories of Joshua and the judges serve as both inspiration and warning. Joshua’s faithful leadership brought victory and peace, while the judges’ era revealed the dangers of forgetting God. As Joshua declared in his farewell address, “Choose this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

This call remains relevant today: to choose faithfulness, trust in God, and follow His ways, even amidst challenges.