OVERVIEW OF JOSHUA
OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA
Our study brings us to the book of Joshua as we have followed the people of Israel from Egypt to the border of the promised land. We have been noticing in our studies that the books of Exodus through Deuteronomy are not merely history books. Rather, these are books given to us by God so that we will see how God is going to save the world. These books are pictures of our redemption.
In Exodus we saw that God is going to raise up a deliverer who will crush the enemy and set us free from our slavery.
In Leviticus we learned that if we are going to be God’s people then we must be a holy people, devoted to the Lord. In the book of Numbers we learned that as we travel in the wilderness to the promised land we must not rebel or we will come up short. No one who rebels, not even Moses, will enter God’s promises.
In Deuteronomy we learned that to enter the promised land you must have a heart that desires God, desires God’s law, and understands that God is the reason why we can enter. God wants understanding hearts that truly see.
Now to the book of Joshua which also must not be read as merely a narrative. It is all too easy for us to do that with this book: tell the stories to the children about how the people of Israel conquered Jericho and occupied the land. But this book is also filled with pictures of our redemption.
There are two key pictures that we are going to observe as we study this book.
First, God’s promise of the inheritance is unfailing. God is willing and able to achieve it. God will keep his promise of his people entering the promised land.
Second, success to enter the promised land will depend on his people being strong and courageous to trust in these promises. Will we be courageous enough to believe in God’s promises? Will we have the strength to trust in God or not? This is the framework for this book.
This introduction sets up an important typology for this book. Moses cannot lead the people into the promised land. But Joshua can lead the people into the promised land and he will lead them in. Joshua will lead the people and give them rest. Joshua is the new Moses, which will be displayed on many occasions throughout the book of Joshua.
The redemption events of the exodus will be repeated in the book of Joshua under his leadership. Now the scriptures make it very easy for us to see this typology because the name Joshua in the Hebrew language is the name Jesus in the Greek. Joshua’s name means “Yahweh saves.” In fact, we know this typology must be here because Joshua’s given name was not Joshua. Moses changed his name from Hoshea (salvation) to Joshua (Yahweh saves) (cf. Numbers 13:16).
We need to keep our eye on the New Testament as we study the book of Joshua because Joshua and the work God accomplishes through him are a picture of how God will bring people into the eternal promised land. God is calling for his people to have a deeper faith, to be strong and courageous, and trust him like never before. This is a second chance to enter the promised land after catastrophic failure. Are we listening?
Imagine the scene as it is presented to us in Joshua 1:1-2. The Lord says to Joshua, Moses’ assistant, “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” (Joshua 1:2 ESV).
Joshua is a complementary book to the Pentateuch of 5 books of Moses and an introductory book to the next 12 historical books (Joshua-Esther). In these first 17 books will be found the chronological timelines for the next 22 books of the Old Testament.
The first 5 books lead Israel UP TO Canaan and Joshua leads us INTO Canaan. Joshua has been called the link book of the Old Testament. It describes one of the most remarkable military campaigns in all of history. As you read through it, be sure to have a map with you and trace out and pay attention to the locations and the elevations and directions. God guided Joshua in his attacks and strategies. Most of the time Joshua will attack the enemy in a position where they will have the glare of the sun in their face.
Th book is named after the author and main character dealt with in it. Joshua was already one of Moses’ helpers from an early (Deut. 11:28). He was a military commander under Moses (Ex. 17:8-13). It is only Joshua and Caleb bring back the good report from among the 12 spies, 38 years earlier.
JOSHUA AND THE THEME OF THE BIBLE
At the heart of the bible theme is the Covenant to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). The promise was a three-fold promise (Land -Great Nation-Seed). The land and nation parts of the promise will be fulfilled before the Old Testament section closes.
In Joshua the Israelites cross over the Jordan and take possession of the land after over 400 years has passed from the promise given to Abraham (2 Peter 3:9- “the Lord is not slack concerning His promise but Is longsuffering, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
SHADOW AND SUBSTANCE IN JOSHUA (Types and Antitypes). Canaan is a type of heaven
(Heb.4:8-11- Heaven is our resting place.
Canaan is also a type of the CHURCH- Canaan was a place of conquest through conflict. Israel must now draw the sword. This nation of slaves has been prepared for war and being soldiers. God must have done some of this in the wilderness. Israel had to maintain possession of the land but if they became faithless, they would lose their land.
This all see parallels in the church today. See Isaiah 62:1-4 where it speaks of life under the Messiah, it would be a time when Israel has a new name (vs. 2 compared to Acts 11:26). Christians today must fight to maintain our possession today. Heaven is promised to us all, if we are faithful to defend our inheritance through faithful defense in our spiritual warfare today (Eph. 6).
3 CHARACTERISTICS OF CANAAN
Promised Rest- no more tenting and wandering. Canaan would be a settled place with houses, vineyards and cities; to be awarded to them is they would be faithful (Deut. 6:10-11) They would dwell in Canaan in safety (Lev. 26:6) if they defended it.
Place of Bounty- this was the land of “milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8; Deut. 33:28; Lev. 26:5; Deut. 11:10-12).
Place of Triumph- Canaan would be taken through conflict but they were assured of victory if
they walked in the ways of the Lord and were obedient to His directions. In that it would be a
place of Victory (Deut. 7:1).
LESSONS FROM JOSHUA:
Acceptable faith is an Obedient Faith -- No greater example than the fall of Jericho (6:2-5)
COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE necessary to step out into the field of battle against the enemy (1:2,8-9; Rom. 8:31- “if God is for us who can be against us?
THE POWER AND GREATNESS OF OUR GREAT GOD AS HE STAND ALONE AS ONLY GOD AGAINST ALL THE IMPOSTERS. (2:8-11). He is supreme and has no equal.
RAHAB- Her faith is what saved her. Yes, she lied, and that was wrong, but she repented and was justified by God in that repentance. It is never right to do wrong and situation ethics is a false concept. God incorporated her actions as a heathen to bring about salvation to His people, but she was justified in that she came to God through faith and adopted and embraced the God of the Israelites along with her family. In doing that they were justified, not in doing wrong. She obeyed and submitted to what God told her and saved her family.
SIN IN THE CAMP AFFECTS THE WHOLE CAMP. WHAT ONE PERSON DOES CAN REFLECT ON
HOW THE WHOLE NATION IS PERCEIVED. See chapter 7.
JOSHUA AND PREMILLENIALISM. They say the land promise was never fulfilled and we are
yet Awaiting it. But what does Joshua say about that? See 21:43-45 Making the right choices determines your destiny. (24:14-15).
OUTLINE OF JOSHUA: 1 JN. 5:4- “FAITH IS THE VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD.”
ENTERING THE LAND- 1-5
Chapter 1- Joshua charged ----------------------------THE BRGINNING OF FAITH
Chapter 2 Jericho Spied--------------------------------THE WORK OF FAITH
Chapter 3 Jordan Crossed------------------------------THE CRISIS OF FAITH
Chapter 4 Memorials built-----------------------------THE WITNESS OF FAITH
Chapter 5 Gilgal Occupied----------------------------- THE SEALING OF FAITH
OVERCOMING THE LAND- 6-12
Chapter 6 Fall of Jericho---------------------------------FAITH TRIUMPHANT
Chapter 7 Sin of Achan------------------------------------FAITH DISABLED
Chapter 8 Defeat of Ai-------------------------------------FAITH RE-EMPOWERED
Chapter 9 Guile of Gibeon--------------------------------FAITH ENDANGERED
CHAPTER 10-12 Defeat of all Foes----------------------FAITH ALL-VICTORIOUS
OCCUPYING THE LAND, 13-24
Chapters 13-19 Division of Canaan--------------------FAITH REWARDED
Chapter 20- Cities of Refuge-----------------------------FAITH PROTECTED
Chapter 21 Portion of the Levites----------------------FAITH PRESERVED
Chapter 22 Altar of Witness-----------------------------FAITH UNIFIED
Chapter 23-24- Farewell Of Joshua--------------------FAITH CONTINUED
GOD HAS TRULY BLESSED HIS PEOPLE PLEASE READ 21:43-45
THE LORD GAVE ISRAEL ALL THE LAND—
The Lord Gave Israel REST ON EVERY SIDE
The Lord Gave Their ENEMIES INTO THEIR HANDS
FAITH IS THE VISTORY
-----Stan Adams-----