Introduction To Joshua

Text: Joshua 1:1-9

Introduction

Joshua (twenty-four chapters) is the first of the Old Testament’s historical books.

The book covers God’s dealings with His people in the promised land as they are led by Joshua.

It was written by him probably between 1405 bc and 1385 bc.

An estimate of the period covered by this book is twenty-six years. [Chrispin, G. (2005). The Bible Panorama: Enjoying the Whole Bible with a Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (p. 106). Day One Publications.]

Joshua records God’s faithfulness to His promises in bringing His people into the promised land and helping them in it.

Their new God-given leader, Joshua, succeeds Moses, with the way ahead well prepared.

God did not bring Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness as an end in itself. His plan was to lead them into the promised land.

The book of Joshua shows that Israel must trust and obey God to be victorious in warfare, and underlines the crucial value of God’s Word.

It also stresses the need to be organized in taking practical steps in holy living and fighting for God, while maintaining a clear personal faith and confidence in God alone. These principles are also priorities for Christians today. [Chrispin, G. (2005). The Bible Panorama: Enjoying the Whole Bible with a Chapter-by-Chapter Guide (p. 106). Day One Publications.]

Let’s refresh ourselves with God’s promise to Abraham: Genesis 12:1-3 “1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

Joshua completes what Moses began! God never leaves His work unfinished!

Here is a key thought takeaway from this series: It is God’s to give! It is ours to possess! (1:11)

This book seems to fall into two great parts: 1) Conquest of the land (1-12) & 2) Occupation of the land (12-24)

1) Mobilization Of The Army

Summary of Chapters 1-2

The book opens up like any good story would.

The death of the great leader has died.

The people were on the border of what is supposed to be their promised land.

God has promised to give them this land.

HOWEVER, the one to pick up the mantle stands with bowed head and a lonely heart.

God speaks and instructs Joshua to rise above his sorrow and fears and lead His people over the Jordan.

It would be good to go back and read about the inauguration of Joshua as Israel’s new leader to take them forward:

As we read these scriptures, think about what might have been going on in Joshua’s mind.

Num. 27:19; Deut. 31:1-8, 14-18.

We will witness this pivotal transition from Moses (law) and Joshua (Christ)

As Joshua leads God’s people into the promised land, so does Christ lead us into the victorious life.

We will be challenged to esteem God’s Word far above the world and our own reasoning.

There will also be a great example of how we should live in complete obedience to Jesus’ commands.

Joshua 1:16 “16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.”

(CHAPTER 2)

We enter into the exciting battle of Jericho; the first stronghold they would have to attack.

Spies would be sent out to discover the strength of the city.

We will be introduced to a scandalous women who not only becomes a believer, but is placed in the lineage of Christ.

Joshua 2:11 “11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”

2) Marching Forward

Summary of Chapters 3-5

Being encouraged, Joshua would lead God’s people forward.

They exit the wilderness and into a journey of unknown county and life.

Joshua 3:3 “3 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.”

Through the placement of the Ark of the Covenant, we understand how important it is for us to trust God’s direction and that He knows how to handle every obstacle we will face.

Their obstacles: Jordan river, walls of Jericho, etc.

Quote: Martin Luther said, “I know not the way He (Christ) leads me, but well do I know my guide.”

One man once said, “If God tells me to jump through a stone wall, it would be my duty to jump; it would be God’s duty to remove the wall!”

(Chapter 4) Never forget what the Ark symbolized; the divine presence of God!!

Jesus Christ is the reality of God eternal presence.

Matthew 28:20 “20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Psalm 37:23 “23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way.”

3) The Fall Of Jericho

Summary of Chapter 6

The miraculous defeat of Jericho is discovered in this chapter!

Let’s take a quick observation of what happens:

God’s strange and seemingly unlikely plan to victory.

The surmountable walls of Jericho.

Jericho’s army.

Let us not come to this chapter and neglect to see how clear the people made their God visible for Jericho to see!!!

It is easy to blow a trumpet and walk around a wall. However, the difficult thing is to see the good in it.

Let us be resolved to say to the Lord, “Lord, one step is enough for me.”

What seems like foolishness to us, by God’s hands brings victory to us.

4) The Campaign At Ai

Summary of Chapters 7-8

The important truth of not concealing sin is illustrated for us through the life of Achan.

Your hidden sin will always bring about defeat for more people than just yourself.

We must never forget that every sin we commit will always hunt us down, find us out and make us pay!!!

You may escape the law of the land, but you will never outrun the law of God!!!

The next challenge will be Ai.

This city commanded the entrance into the valley leading into western Canaan.

Spies are sent once again.

We will discover the mistake they make is very similar to the one we make; entering a battle thinking we can handle it on our own.

Zechariah 4:6 “6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.”

You and I are even unable to come to Jesus on our own!

John 6:44 “44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Israel’s men learned that strategy without obedience is worthless!

Quote: D.L. Moody said, “work as if everything depended upon you, and pray as if everything depended upon God.”

5) Central Campaign

Summary of chapter 10

A. They defeat Ai on their second attempt

You will witness some great military strategy.

Winning follows after a combination of the best of human reason and obedience to the Lord.

Quote: (D.L. Moody) “Work as if everything depended upon you, and pray as if everything depended upon God.”

B. Israel’s fame spread rapidly

So much so the Canaanite kings formed an alliance.

The Gibeonites formed a treaty through trickery.

Joshua cursed them to servanthood.

A neat miracle happened where God prolonged the daylight to help His warrior. (Joshua 10:7-14)

6) Northern Campaign

Summary of chapter 11

A. Southern and Central Canaan had been possessed. Northern Canaan was yet to be possessed

This would definitely take some time.

However, through Divine strength given to Joshua, it happened!

Joshua 11:23 “23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.”

B. Ever since the possession of this land, it has become the target of so many world powers

The Crusader in A.D. 1099-1250 — Much blood shed to capture it.

In 1917, General Edmond Henry Hynman Allenby led a victorious battle over the Turkish armies.

1948 is when Jewish settlers fought hard to establish Jerusalem as the capital of the state of Israel.

1967 the six day war brought about the end of a 20 year division.

Luke 21:27 “27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

7) Summary of Chapter 12-24

The land is finally at rest.

Joshua had reached his old age of about 90 years old.

He very realized that his conquest was by no means complete.

“much land to be possessed”

Division of the land (show slide)

The timing of the divisions being made was when they had yet to obtain it.

This was an announcement of faith!

They kept their vision of obtaining the land in front of them.

They simply reached out into a hoped-for but unknown future.

All these lands were not conquered until the time of David.

The Priesthood (ch14)

Caleb’s inheritance

Joshua 14:12 “12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.”

This land offered Caleb hard work and an opportunity to conquer it.

The Lord has never promised His children a life of easy service.

John 16:33 “33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2 Timothy 2:3 “3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Joshua 14:8 “8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.”

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman asked General William Booth (Salvation Arm), “Tell me what has been the secret of your success all the way through.” General Booth replied, “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me.”

True Story: One of Helen Keller’s teachers once stated that she was the happiest person she had ever met even through she was deaf and blind. This was attributed to overcoming so much.

Quote: (Horace Mann — 1796-1859, American early champion of state-sponsored public schools) “Difficulties are things which show what men are.”

(Chapter 24) Joshua gives his final farewell.

24:14-15 Joshua’s challenge and public profession.

He rallied the people together and urged them to remember the power and faithfulness of God and to remain faithful to Him.

Joshua 24:14–15 “14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

It is very important for believers of all ages to make a public confession of Christ and unite with a church.

Joshua dies at the age of 110.

Let’s not miss the great tribute to Joshua

Joshua 24:31 “31 And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel.”

Conclusion

Think about Joshua’s difficult journey of leadership this way:

The Promised land was 180 miles long and roughly 40 miles wide.

Here were the boundaries:

Egypt — 300 miles to the south

Nineveh — 700 miles northeast

Babylon — 700 miles east

Persia — 1,000 miles east

Greece — 800 miles northwest

Rome — 1,500 miles northwest

So, let us not waste our time praying for an EASY path, but rather strength to live for Christ on the path He has, is and will set before us!

Quote: “It is not enough to light a fire, you must put fuel on it.” (Henrietta C. Mears)

(on screen)Christ gives us STRENGTH & COURAGE so we may conclude the latter part of our life with the words of Caleb, “I wholly followed the Lord.”