An Introduction to the Book of Joshua

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Through 3 military campaigns involving more than thirty enemy armies, the people of Israel learn a crucial lesson under Joshua’s leadership: “victory only comes through faith in God and obedience to His Holy Word, victory does not come from “US”

Joshua, born a slave in Egypt, becomes a conqueror in Canaan. He serves as personal attendant to Moses, as one of the twelve spies and was Moses’successor.

Joshua is an exciting book, many “missions,” many wars, many ‘strategic” decisions that are made through God. Remember, Joshua was Moses right hand man. Moses has died in the desert of Moab and Joshua is now in charge of leading the “New Generation” into the Promise Land.

The author of Joshua, well is not really proven. Jewish tradition seems to place authorship to Joshua but it is not for sure. We read in (NLT) 6 “The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Notice the word US)

Setting and Date

The book of Joshua is divided into 3 geographical settings: 1) The Jordan River, 2) Canaan and 3) the twelve tribes situated on both sides of the Jordan River.

We are looking at a Date of about 1405 B.C.-1390 B.C. We pick up on Joshua around the death of Moses, then go to the Crossing of the Jordan. “The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho.” Then Joshua dies somewhere around 1390 B.C. (Lots of stuff in those years of Joshua)

So, what is the main theme and purpose of the Book of Joshua?

First, the theme of Joshua is Israel’s possession of the Promised Land and enjoyment of God’s blessings through complete obedient faith.....

Joshua’s historical purpose is to document the conquest/the moving in and taking the land of Canaan that God promised, by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua.

19The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho.

NOTE: Joshua is the only book of the 12 Historical books that does not record a massive failure by Israel of its leadership. So, this means that Joshua was a leader of God. He did what God told him to do, completely.

Theologically, the book of Joshua teaches that victory and blessing come through obedience and trust in God. Active faith leads to obedience which in turn brings blessing.

KEY STATEMENT.....God required the people to attempt the impossible in submission to His directions before He made it possible for them to succeed. Did you all hear that? Through faith, we must submit FIRST, then God will let us succeed.

Key scripture in Joshua. “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”

8Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

“So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war."

Contribution to the Bible. The new generation was taught in Deuteronomy, remember last week? Then the new generation was tested in Joshua. NOW, the new generation passed this test of belief and received God’s blessings.

23So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

A key point, written over and over is the importance of the “written Word of God. , , and..

(NLT) 26 Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God’s Instructions. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the Lord. 27 Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”

23 So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.
27Joshua said to all the people, “This stone has heard everything the Lord said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God.”

Outline of Joshua:

The Conquest. This is where Joshua leads the New Generation into Canaan. (Jericho is the first battle).

The Settlement. Joshua is growing old, and God tells him to divide the land among the twelve tribes. (WHY?)

Lastly, Joshua records the conditions for the New Generation to continue success in Canaan. Access to God comes only through obedience and faith.

“30 They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 31 The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.”

30 They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

AMEN

31 The people of Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the Lord had done for Israel.

6 The Israelites had traveled in the wilderness for forty years until all the men who were old enough to fight in battle when they left Egypt had died. For they had disobeyed the Lord, and the Lord vowed he would not let them enter the land he had sworn to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.
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