Weekly Sermons

Joshua Overview

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.    -Genesis 12:7, 2090 BC

685 years later…                 The Book of Joshua

Joshua is the 6^th book of the Old Testament and Bible, the first book we encounter not written by Moses.

It also marks quite a transition: Moses had featured larger than life in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – but now he is dead, and Joshua is the one who will lead Israel into the Promised Land.

Joshua starts a new section of the English Bible called the Historical Books.

What were the first five books called? The Torah, or Pentateuch, the Law of Moses.

The historical books are Joshua down to Esther.

Of course the Torah also contained history, but lots of law was mixed in. The historical books are almost exclusively history with a few genealogies thrown in.

Here’s something interesting:

5 books of law, then 12 books of history.

Then 5 poetic books in the middle.

Then 5 Major prophet books, and 12 Minor prophet books.

5, 12, 5, 5, 12

Or 17 books of law and history, 5 poetic books, then 17 prophetic books!

That’s how the English Bible has it.

The Hebrew Bible has the exact same content, but in different order.

You can see that at the very bottom of my notes!  

The name Joshua or Yeshua means “YHWH is salvation” in Hebrew.

How do you say the same thing in Greek?     JESUS!

Jewish tradition tells us that Joshua wrote all but the last 5 verses of the book, with Phineas writing those.

As it relates to moving into the land, we are now at 1405-1370 BC.

Outline:

The land conquered                                                                                 Chapters 1-12

            Central campaign                                                                           Chapters 6-9

            Southern campaign                                                                         Chapter 10

            Northern campaign                                                                         Chapters 11-12

 

The land divided among the tribes                                                          Chapters 13-21

Joshua’s last message                                                                              Chapters 22-24

Of course we can learn from all Scripture, bot most of the memorable portions of Joshua are in those first 12 chapters:

The commission of Joshua

Rahab and the spies

Miraculous crossing of the Jordan

The memorial set up at Gilgal

The Fall of Jericho

The sin of Achan

The defeat of Ai

Look at your map: it’s evident the phrase divide and conquer comes to us because of the book of Joshua!

During the initial seven years of fighting Joshua and Israel defeat 31 armies!

They only lose once, to Ai because of the sin of Achan.

That was only their second battle: after they deal with Achan’s sin they do no lose again in Joshua’s day.

You may remember that Joshua had been born in Egypt, and had been one of the original spies who Moses had sent to the scout the land. Only he and Caleb had given a good report!

Think of that: as Israel crossed over into her Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb had been there before, along with the latest spies who had encountered Rahab!

Now let’s look at some specific passages.

Read 1:1-9

What does God use to comfort Joshua?

The greatest promise in the Bible: “I will be with you.”

Chapter 2 gives us the great story of Rahab.

Read Matthew 1:5

Read 3:7-17

God miraculously allows them to pass through the Jordan as they had passed through the Red Sea, confirming his hand on Joshua as the leader

In Chapter 4 they build the wall with the Law on it as Moses had commanded

In Chapter 5 they worship God: all get circumcised and observe Passover

Before the battle of their lives, they worshipped – so should we!

Joshua has his own encounter with Jesus in 5:13-15.

Moses had met Him at the Burning Bush; now Joshua does!

In Chapter 6 Joshua fights the battle of Jericho!

They win the city by marching around it blowing trumpets!

The 7^th day they march around 7 times, and the walls fall down!

But in chapter 7 they experience inexplicable defeat by Ai.

Read 7:1-13, 16-19

This is key for us today: sin in the camp can cause God’s people not to experience the victory God has for them!

Revival may not come if you and I don’t repent of our sins!

Once they deal with the sin, they experience victory over Ai – and everyone else!

Chapter 10 has the incident where the sun stands still

Read 10:10-15

People wonder about the consequences of a longer day.

But if we can add a second like we just did at New Year’s, God can add a day any time He wants to!

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.          -Joshua 11:23

Now if you ever wanted to track Israel’s progress on these campaigns, and plot on a map every place Israel conquered, chapter 12 is for you. It recaps every victory!

Joshua and his army finished the season 31-1 and won the championship!

Now here is a tension we see in the book of Joshua and also in our own lives:

Joshua and the tribes were now in control of the entire country: in a sense the mission of the national army was accomplished; God’s promise had been fulfilled – but there was still plenty to do by the individual tribes.

Each of the individual tribes was now to take up their allotment of land and by faith subdue any foes they would face to completely move in.

Had they all walked by faith than God would have helped them in some of the same miraculous ways he already had – the record shows that some did and some didn’t!

Just like us: saved by grace, much living to do by faith, and we retreat to fleshly living.

In chapter 13 the 2 and a half tribes living east of the Jordan are given their allotment.

The next chapters show the land allotted to the nine and a half tribes living west of the Jordan River.

Not surprisingly, the descendants of Judah and Joseph go first.

Read 14:7-15

A man steps out in faith (Caleb); A tribe does nor (Ephraim).

Read 16:10; 17:14-18

Joshua gets his inheritance (19:49-51)

In Chapter 20 the cities of refuge are established

In Chapter 21 the cities of the Levites are established

And then Joshua gives his farewell speech.

He challenges the tribes going east of the Jordan.

There is an immediate misunderstanding with the eastern tribes!

Read 22:10-15, 22-27

Joshua’s final challenge: 24:14-15

Great words for us today!

Read 24:29-33

3 burials

Note that both Joseph and his descendant Joshua died at 110 years old!

Just as Joshua is connected with Genesis, our lives are connected with what came before.

Each new generation has to decide “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” 

<>< 

The Hebrew O.T. contains the same books as the English O.T., but in different order:

 

Law:                                                       Prophets:                                                      Writings:

1. Genesis                                           Former Prophets:                                            Poetical Books:

2. Exodus                                            6. Joshua                                                             14. Psalms

3. Leviticus                                         7. Judges                                                             15. Proverbs

4. Numbers                                         8. Samuel (1 &2)                                                  16. Job

5. Deuteronomy                                  9 Kings (1 & 2)                                  

 

                                                                Latter Prophets:                                               Five Rolls (Megilloth):

                                                                10. Isaiah                                                      17. Song of Solomon

                                                                11. Jeremiah                                                 18. Ruth

                                                                12. Ezekiel                                                    19. Lamentations

                                                                13. The Twelve (Minor Prophets)                     20. Ecclesiastes

                                                                                                                                     21. Esther

 

                                                                                                                                                Historical Books:

                                                                                                                                                22. Daniel

                                                                                                                                                23. Ezra-Nehemiah

                                                                                                                                                24. Chronicles (1 & 2)