"Do you suppose we'll meet any wild animals?" Dorothy asks her fellow travelers in the Wizard of Oz. Oh, only "lions, and tigers, and bears," the Tin Man responds. The Israelites might well have sung a similar chorus about their entrance into the Promised Land, although "Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites, oh my," doesn't have quite the same ring.
In this issue we take up the Old Testament book of Joshua and consider it from several angles. The first is biblical theology. Justin Taylor explains that the death of Moses signaled a major change in the history of Israel. Going through Joshua, God brings his people into the much-anticipated land that was promised. As the story unfolds, we see God's power, presence, and covenant faithfulness to the people of Israel. Next, Joshua Van Ee, assistant professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, explores the remarkable contrast that can be drawn between Israel as a faithless nation and Rahab the prostitute, a foreigner who was nonetheless a woman of faith, who gave shelter to the people of God. Rahab even comes to be mentioned three times in the New Testament: in the genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:5), as a hero of faith (Heb. 11:31), and as a believer who demonstrated her faith in good works (James 2:25). While Israel's faith wavers, she acts the hero because she was a recipient of God's grace.
The second angle concerns apologetics: the archeology of the Promised Land and the sobering question of religious violence in the Bible. Scholar Rachel Billings introduces the debates surrounding the excavation of the ancient city of Jericho and the famous walls that came tumbling down. Was there such a place? Did Israel simply make up the story at a later date? These are important issues for careful Bible readers to explore, but in proper perspective. Next, Editor-in-Chief Michael Horton addresses the spectrum of interpretations of "holy war" and religious violence in the Bible. Is the story of Israel's conquest of the Promised Land a picture of a religious-motivated genocide? That's how many critics of Christianity and Judaism understand it. The same topic is of central concern in the interview with Paul Copan, professor of philosophy and ethics. Horton makes clear that the history of redemption is an unfolding story and that context is crucial.
Also in this issue, we extend our series with Rev. Zach Keele on "The Greatest Story Ever Told," looking now to the New Testament where the story is fulfilled. Additionally, Pastor C. R. Wiley and architect David Stocker offer an essay in cultural criticism, exploring the implications of city zoning ordinances for the church in our modern world.
Challenges to the faith abound from within and without. As we use Scripture and theology to reflect on these issues at the start of a new year, let us never forget the Lord's promise (Josh. 1:5): "Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. . . . Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
