Joshua-An Overview

August 13, 2025

FBC Baxley

Bible Study Overview: The Book of Joshua

Theme: Walking Courageously in God’s Promise Key Verse: Joshua 1:8

Joshua 1

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant,

2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.

3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.

4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.

6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

10 And Joshua commanded the officers of the people,

11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, ‘Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.’”

12 And to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said,

13 “Remember the word that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, ‘The Lord your God is providing you a place of rest and will give you this land.’

14 Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but all the men of valor among you shall pass over armed before your brothers and shall help them,

15 until the Lord gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they also take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession and shall possess it, the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 And they answered Joshua, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as he was with Moses!

18 Whoever rebels against your commandment and disobeys your words, whatever you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous.”

-Pray

Introduction — Walking the Tightrope of Faith

Picture this: a crowd has gathered at the edge of a canyon.

Suspended high above the gorge is a thin rope—no rails, no safety net in sight.

A skilled acrobat steps forward. One foot in front of the other, he advances steadily, eyes fixed ahead.

The wind blows. The rope sways. The audience holds its breath.

What the crowd doesn’t realize is that a safety net is stretched taut just below the rim, hidden from view.

The acrobat knows it’s there. He walks with confidence, not because he sees every step clearly, but because he trusts the unseen provision.

The Book of Joshua is the story of God calling His people to walk across the “tightrope” of faith—into a land they had never seen, through battles they had never fought, with victories they could never win on their own.

Like that acrobat, they had to step forward trusting in God’s promises and presence, even when the path ahead looked uncertain.

Historical and Literary Context

The Book of Joshua begins where Deuteronomy ends.

Moses—the great leader of Israel—has died, and the baton of leadership passes to Joshua, Moses’ assistant and military commander.

This is a turning point in Israel’s history:

From Promise to Possession — God had promised Abraham centuries earlier that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1–3).

Under Joshua, that promise moves from future hope to present reality.

From Wilderness to Warfare — The aimless wandering of the wilderness years ends, and the focused campaign of conquering and dividing the land begins.

From Lawgiver to Leader — Moses gave the Law; Joshua applies it in daily leadership and action.

Date and Authorship: While the book draws from historical records from Joshua’s lifetime (late 15th or early 13th century B.C., depending on when you date the conquest), its final form likely came together later, preserving Joshua’s legacy within Israel’s sacred history.

Structure of the Book

Chapters 1–5 — Entering the Land Joshua receives God’s commission, Israel crosses the Jordan, and the covenant is renewed.

Chapters 6–12 — Conquering the Land The campaigns at Jericho, Ai, and throughout southern and northern Canaan.

Chapters 13–22 — Dividing the Land Tribal allotments and the establishment of cities of refuge.

Chapters 23–24 — Renewing the Covenant Joshua’s farewell address and the call to choose whom they will serve (24:15).

Original Language Insights

When we take a slow walk thru and study some Hebrew words in Joshua 1:6–9, the opening commissioning, we see the heartbeat of the whole book.

“Be strong” — chazaq (חָזַק) This word carries the idea of grabbing hold firmly, of seizing courage like gripping a rope and not letting go.

God isn’t telling Joshua to gather up feelings; He’s telling him to cling to the strength God provides.

“Be courageous” — amats (אָמַץ) Not just bravery, but an unshakable resolve.

It’s the mental toughness to keep going even when the odds seem impossible.

“Meditate” — hagah (הָגָה) Found in Joshua 1:8, this means to murmur, to speak to oneself, to chew over the words of God until they saturate the soul.

This is the opposite of hurried Bible reading—it’s Scripture absorbed into heart and mind.

“Prosperous” — hatsliakh (הַצְלִיחַ) Biblical prosperity here isn’t measured by wealth but by the success that comes from aligning our steps with God’s Word.

The Message of Joshua

At its center, Joshua is about God’s faithfulness and our faithful response.

God kept His promises—every single one (Joshua 21:45).

But the people still had to cross rivers, face enemies, and take hold of what God had already given.

As O. S. Hawkins points out in The Joshua Code, Joshua 1:8 is the “code” for victorious Christian living: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

Hawkins emphasizes three verbs: speak the Word, meditate on the Word, and obey the Word.

These are not optional extras—they are essential habits for victorious living.

Cross-Reference Passages

Deuteronomy 31:6–8 — Moses’ original charge to Joshua, affirming God’s presence.

Psalm 1:1–3 — The blessed man delights in God’s law and meditates day and night.

Hebrews 4:8–12 — The rest that Joshua gave points to the greater rest in Christ, and the Word is living and active.

Philippians 4:13 — Strength comes not from ourselves but from Christ who empowers us.

Life Applications

Immerse Yourself in God’s Word Daily If Joshua, a battle-hardened leader, needed daily meditation on God’s Word, how much more do we?

Make time each day not just to read but to hagah—to linger over Scripture until it shapes your thoughts and actions.

Step Forward in Faith, Even When It’s Uncomfortable Israel had to step into the Jordan before the waters parted (Joshua 3:15–16).

Sometimes God asks us to act in obedience before He shows us the outcome.

Measure Success by Obedience, Not Outcomes Joshua’s victories came from following God’s strategy, not military might. Our “prosperity” comes from faithful obedience, whether or not it looks impressive in the world’s eyes.

Conclusion

The Book of Joshua is more than an ancient war record—it’s a blueprint for walking with God through uncharted territory.

Like that acrobat on the high wire, our confidence doesn’t come from knowing every detail ahead but from trusting the One who’s gone before us and promised to be with us.

God is still looking for people who will cling to His Word, step forward in faith, and measure success by obedience.

As Hawkins writes in The Joshua Code, “The pathway to prosperity and success is not found in the accumulation of more, but in the application of truth.”

-Pray