Approaching the West — Page 59
A pproaching the West—59 Moses and the Children of Israel left Sinai and moved forward toward Canaan. Due to their constant fault-finding and rebelliousness, the Children of Israel remained a continuing source of frustration and exasperation for Moses. The Qur’ ā n confirms, “None believed in Moses, save a seed of his people” (10:83). For forty years the care and burden of the Children of Israel remained heavy upon the mind and heart of Moses. Once near the land of Canaan, Moses started to plan on how to conquer the land of Canaan, and to do so, he sent twelve chiefs to Canaan to collect intelligence. One of them was Joshua. On their return, ten of them gave discouraging information, but Joshua, along with another chief named Caleb, gave a positive report, and exhorted the Israelites to proceed and possess the land. Moses himself did not reach the land of Canaan in his life. Before passing over to Jordan, he died in the valley of Moab. On Moses’ death, Joshua succeeded him as the new leader of the Israelites. He had been a close companion of Moses, remaining always on his side faithfully, assisting him all along for forty long years. He belonged to the tribe of Ephraim. He was a fearless soldier, and a successful military commander. After the Exodus from Egypt, he had defeated the Amalekites at the battlefield of Rephidim. When Moses was away at the Mount Sinai to receive God’s commandments, Joshua had accompanied him part of the way, and was the first to receive him on his return. When the Children of Israel engaged themselves in worshipping the golden calf, Moses removed the tabernacle (the sacred tent- shrine) from their camp, and appointed Joshua to safeguard it.