Now we will be studying the faith-building book of Joshua. It shows how
the people of God entered into the experience of all the promises that
He had made to them.
Exodus showed us a picture of deliverance from sin and bondage. In
Numbers we saw how the people should have gone directly from Sinai to
Canaan, but through unbelief excluded themselves and perished in the
wilderness. Joshua is the story of their children who finally possess
all that God had given so long ago.
In receiving Christ, we receive all that God has promised to us in the
New Covenant. We must possess our possessions. Hebrews 4 (read
carefully) sees the entrance into Canaan as the ultimate rest of faith
for the Israelites; it would be their personal trust in God.
THEY HAD TRUSTED GOD ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION IN THE PAST, BUT IT HAD
ALWAYS BEEN A SECOND-HAND FAITH THAT DEPENDED ON MOSES:
THE ISRAELITES HAD SEEN GOD AT WORK IN EGYPT, BUT THEY WERE SPECTATORS,
NOT PARTICIPATORS.
Moses was the channel of faith through whom the miracles came, and the
Israelites watched and applauded. Faith was something removed from them,
vested in Moses. They had no personal rest in the faithfulness of God.
AT THE RED SEA, THEY ENTERED INTO THE FAITH OF MOSES, FOR THEIR FAITH
WAS SO SHALLOW THAT THEY COULD ONLY CRY IN HORROR TO GOD. (Exodus
14:10-15).
WHEN THEY FOUGHT WITH AMALEK (EXODUS 17), THEY SAW MOSES WITH HANDS
RAISED INTERCEDING ON THEIR BEHALF.
They experienced the power that came from his intercession, but their
faith was not involved.
AT KADESH BARNEA THEIR PERSONAL FAITH MUST BE INVOLVED; THEY MUST LEARN
TO REST IN GOD WHO IS FAITHFUL TO HIS WORD.
Faith is resting in His faithfulness! The rest of faith is turning our
whole attention to God, not to ourselves. The Israelites turned their
attention to themselves and said that they could not possibly enter the
land – in their strength, of course not!
Whenever we seek to bring to pass the promises of God in our own
strength, we always fail. The rest of faith is bringing to pass His
promises by looking to and expecting of Him. This is what Paul meant in
II Corinthians 12:9,10, when he said that when he was weak, then he was
strong! I fully acknowledge my weakness, and so become the receiver of
His strength. If I look to my own strength, I cut myself off from His.
NOW A GENERATION AFTER THE LACK OF FAITH IN KADESH, THEY FACED NOT ONLY
THE CHALLENGE OF ENTERING THE LAND, BUT ALSO OF THE RIVER JORDAN IN
FLOOD.
Under Joshua, they took the opportunity of weakness, taking the promises
of God and walking through on dry land.
WE FACE THE IMPOSSIBLE LIFE; WE ARE CALLED TO LIVE AS HE LIVED! TO EVEN
THINK OF SUCH IN OUR OWN STRENGTH WE COLLAPSE IN DESPAIR.
If we realize that He is our strength, swallowing up our weakness, we
enter into the rest of faith.
CHAPTER 1 – MOSES MY SERVANT IS DEAD
Joshua to take Moses place
- Be strong & courageous
- Be careful (PLAN) to obey the Law
- Meditate on it – ruminate
- Be careful (PLAN) to do
CHAPTER 3 – CROSSING OF JORDAN
- Lead by Ark of Covenant
- River at flood stage
- Entered at harvest
CHAPTER 4 – JOSHUA WAS PLACED BY GOD 4:14
CHAPTER 5 – CIRCUMCISION
- New generation was not circumcised in the wilderness
- Had been set apart leaving Egypt
- Now set apart going into Canaan
- Chapter 5:10-12
- God’s provision changed when they were in the land
- Provision changed from manna to harvest
- We move from sustenance from miracles to reliance in the promise of
CHAPTER 6 – JERICHO – TRUMPETS AT WARNING
- March around city blowing trumpets for:
- 6 days one time per day
- 7th day – seven times
- Jericho offered opportunity to surrender for seven days
- Rahab spared because of Faith
CHAPTER 8 – COVENANT RENEWED AT EBAL
CHAPTER 9 – COVENANT MADE WITH GIBEONITES
- Covenant honored even though made under false pretenses
CHAPTER 10 – SUN STANDS STILL ONE DAY
- Read v. 13-14
BALANCE OF BOOK PARCELING OF LAND.
The Name of the Book
- It is called Joshua because it is his story! It begins with his
Biography of Joshua
- Was the son of the leading family in the house of Ephraim, born
- Took part in the Exodus (Numbers 32:11,12), and his grandfather,
- Came into prominence leading Israel against Amalek (Exodus 17:8-13;
- Was at this time renamed Joshua. As leader of the armies of Israel,
- Exhibited along with Caleb, true faith in God when returning from
- Was the constant companion of Moses and was discipled for leadership
- Was invested by Moses, under God’s direction, with the authority to
OUTLINE OF JOSHUA
JOSHUA’S COMMISSION (1:1-9).
- Note the tense that God speaks in, verses 2, 3, 11. It was already
- Faith was simply acting as if it was so. We take all that God has
THE CONQUEST OF CANAAN (5:31-12:24).
- We must understand that the invasion of Canaan by the Israelites was
- Their utter depravity as a people is described in Leviticus
- The god of the Canaanites demanded acts of sexual perversion as part
- The land was given by God to Israel, but it had to be taken. When we
- Note Joshua 12:1-24. They conquered 31 kings – a victory for every
THE DIVISION OF THE LAND (13:1-22:24).
- This section is not easy reading. Read with a good map of Israel and
- Note: Every family in Israel was given a portion of land by God. If
THE LAST DAYS OF JOSHUA (23:1-24:33).
- Study Joshua’s appeals for the people to remain steadfast. They did
- As you study Joshua, realize that you stand, as did the Israelites,