Joshua's Authority

**Excerpt from Joshua's Spiritual Warfare by Thomas B. Clarke, 2008**

Some people think that because the Holy Spirit did not come in power until the day of Pentecost, that the Holy Spirit was not a significant player in the Old Testament. Others have suggested that it was the Holy Spirit that came upon Joshua based on Numbers 27:15-20 (below). I suggest that neither interpretation is exactly correct.

The word 'spirit' that is used in these verses is the Aramaic word ruwach (roo'-akh) which means 'wind' (such as in Exodus 14:21 where the Lord blew a strong east wind which opened the sea) or 'spirit' (when related to a person). Remember: ruwach can mean wind or spirit, not necessarily the Holy Spirit.

Joshua was given a spirit of authority when Moses laid his hands on him:

Moses said to the LORD, "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community" - So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him" (Num 27:15-20).

Note the order of presentation. First, the Lord is the God of the spirits of all mankind. Secondly, we see that this spirit (ruwach) was in Joshua. Then, Moses was instructed to lay hands on him. The laying on of hands was necessary to pass on the spirit of authority. As a result, Joshua carried the respect of the people, the Lord and the demons.

When Joshua spoke to the people, they not only listened, but for the most part, they followed his directions. When the sun stood still, it was because Joshua spoke to the Lord with spiritual authority. When the kings were defeated in the Promised Land, the success was in part due to the authority that Joshua had over the spirits.

Moses demonstrated this spirit of authority in the defeat of the Amalekites:

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses's hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other - so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword (Ex 17:10-13).

Joshua's army fought the physical battle, but there was a much stronger spiritual battle taking place. By the authority of the hands that Moses held up (with the help of Aaron and Hur), the spiritual forces behind the Amalekites were defeated -- by defeating these evil spiritual forces, the army under the direction of Joshua was able to defeat the people known as the Amalekites.

Moses passed the authority on to Joshua. Elijah passed the authority on to Elisha. Christ, through his death and resurrection, passed that authority on to us, if we are willing to obey His commands. Jesus also transferred His power: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go" (Matt 28:18). In the parallel verses in Mark 16:15-18, the authority is over all sorts of spirits: demons, snakes, poisons and sicknesses.

Shortly after our church moved into its new building several years ago, we invited a spirit-filled preacher and evangelist to speak at a two day seminar. This man spoke Friday night and Saturday morning. After lunch on Saturday, he asked our church secretary why she was wearing a very elaborate breathing mask. She explained that the new carpets emitted a chemical that was toxic to her body. Taking the authority that Christ had placed in him, he cast that spirit out of her. Immediately she was healed; the remainder of that day and following weeks, she went without that breathing apparatus. This authority is available to each one of us if we are willing to use it.

Spiritual warfare includes taking authority over those demonic spirits in the name of Christ, and speaking those words that need to be said. Do not let the deceiver steal our ability to win the battle. Don't let the devil trick us!!

Spiritual Principle:

Christ provides the spirit of authority to believers; authority includes the ability to encounter the evil spirits and defeat them.