Prophet Moses led the people of Israel for 40 years as they made their journey. They traveled from Egypt to the land that had been given to their father Abraham. However, God had said that Moses would not lead the people into the Promised Land because of the sin in his life. God chose a man named Joshua to lead the people.
Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31.7-8
Moses died a short time later, and Joshua became the leader. There is a book in the Bible called “Joshua” which tells of the great faith and ability of this man. He took control of the people of Israel. The Lord guided him to prepare the people to cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan (Palestine).
After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “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 to them—to the Israelites.… No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” … So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’” Joshua 1.1-11
This land God promised to Abraham over 400 years earlier. God had made this promise to Abraham. He had told Abraham that a time would come when his children would live in a strange land, and they would be slaves. After that time, he would lead them out and give them the land of Canaan (Palestine). The land would be taken from he people who lived there because their sins were so great before God. Here is what God had said to Abraham:
Then the LORD said to him, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” Genesis 15.13-16
God was punishing the Amorite and other Canaanite tribes who lived in the land because their sins were so great. They made idols and corrupted the land by worshiping devils. Their religion was filled with great sin. God was not only fulfilling his promise to Abraham by giving the land to his children. He was also judging the sinful tribes that lived in the land who had allowed darkness to control them. God went before the people to keep his great promises to the people of Israel. He brought his terrible judgment on the people of Canaan.
But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you. After the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. Deuteronomy 9.3-4