Things You Need to Know... from Joshua
Notes
Transcript
What do these verses have in common?
What do these verses have in common?
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
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.
The Book of Joshua is more than a book of conquest. It is a book of enabling. What God promises to do through Himself he is able to accomplish. What He promises to do through us He is able to enable. But are you willing to trust and obey?
Obedience and trust: blessing
Disobedience and rebellion: personal and community disorder
Three military campaigns against 300 enemy armies.
Victory comes through faith in God and obedience to His Word rather than military might or superior size
The over spiritualizing of the Book of Joshua
Joshua 1-12 about 7 years 13-24 about 18 years
Preparation of Joshua and the People 1-5 Beginning the Conquest 6-8 Completing the Conquest 9-12
My favorite passage in Joshua
13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” 14 And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?”
Joshua 9 the Gibeonite deception
Beginning the Partitioning 13-17 Completing the Partitioning 18-21
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
(1) The opportunity to prosper (Joshua 1:8)
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.
(2) The opportunity to receive new life (Joshua 2:13)
that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(3) The opportunity to walk by faith (Joshua 3:1)
(Joshua 3:1-3; 9-13)
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
for we walk by faith, not by sight.
(4) An opportunity to obey or not obey the Lord (Joshua 6)
(Joshua 6:1-5; 16-18; 7:1)
They listen to the Lord
They honor their promise
(5) A challenge to worship and obedience (Joshua 24:15)
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Individual soul liberty - the right to choose. You’d think that this would be a good place to “tent the house” and get rid of all the unwanted pests. But instead we see the grace of God and the freedom