the Father with spirit and truth.” (John 4:23) No longer do they engage in ritualistic forms of veneration. They have experienced the truthfulness of what Jesus said: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”​—John 8:31, 32.

Joshua Testifies to Jehovah’s Faithfulness

THE dependability of the faithful universal Sovereign Jehovah God stands in striking contrast to the failure of human rulers to keep promises. He is a God who always keeps his promises, fulfills his part of any covenant that he makes with his creatures. Rightly, the prophet Moses spoke of him as “a God of faithfulness.”​—Deut. 32:4.

Joshua, the sixth book of the Bible, is really a record of how Jehovah God faithfully fulfilled the promises that he made to the nation of Israel and to their forefathers. Time and again he promised to give them the land of Canaan. In fact, it came to be called the Promised Land.a Moreover, Jehovah assured Joshua of success in all his undertakings, on condition that he adhere to God’s law. Joshua did obey and, true to his promise, Jehovah caused him to be successful.​—Josh. 1:8.

AUTHENTICITY AND WRITERSHIP

Like many other books of the Hebrew Scriptures, the book of Joshua has been the object of attack. Some term it a “romance,” others claim that it is “utterly unhistorical.” But their attacks lack sound basis. How could this book be a fraudulent piece of writing in view of the way it honors the Creator, Jehovah God, as the Keeper of Promises? How could such a claim be made in view of the book’s earnest exhortations to faithfulness and the candor with which it records the failings of God’s people? Furthermore, the book has all the earmarks of a contemporary account. This is apparent from the many details provided both as to time and the geographical location of the happenings narrated.

Also strongly testifying to its authenticity are the many references that later Bible writers make to the events recorded in the book of Joshua. Time and again the psalmists make mention of these, and so do Governor Nehemiah, the prophet Isaiah, the first Christian martyr Stephen, the apostle Paul and the disciple James.b Certainly these inspired writers would not have done so had there been any question as to the factualness of the events recorded in the book. Then, too, at 1 Kings 16:34, we find the fulfillment of