Joshua

Lesson 6 of 66: The Book of Joshua

The Conquest: Taking Hold of God's Promise

Joshua is the direct successor to Moses and the central figure in this book, which records Israel's shift from a wandering nation to a settled one. It answers the question left at the end of Deuteronomy: Will Israel obey God and live?

This book is the powerful testimony to God's ability to fulfill His promises, emphasizing that conquest and blessing are directly tied to obedience.

I. Preparation and Entry (Chapters 1–5)

The story begins with God commissioning Joshua, urging him with the command to "Be strong and courageous" (Joshua 1:9), contingent upon his continuous devotion to the Law given by Moses. This sets the tone for the entire book: success comes from God's presence, which is mediated through obedience.

The first action is the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. Just as the waters of the Red Sea parted for the previous generation, the Jordan stops, allowing the new generation to walk across on dry ground (Joshua 3:17).

This event not only affirmed Joshua's leadership but served as a powerful sign to the Canaanites that the God who defeated Egypt was now on the move.

Once across, the men are circumcised to renew the Abrahamic Covenant, and the people celebrate the Passover, symbolically ending their wilderness reliance on manna (Joshua 5:10–12).

II. Conquest and Victory (Chapters 6–12)

The conquest begins with one of the most famous battles in history: the siege of Jericho. God gave the people a bizarre command—to march silently around the city for six days and then shout on the seventh.

The walls did not fall by human might, but by the power of God activated by the people's faith and obedience (Joshua 6:20). This immediately established the principle for the rest of the conquest: God fights the battles.

However, the easy victory is immediately followed by a difficult defeat at Ai. This failure was caused by the sin of Achan, who greedily took banned plunder from Jericho, violating God's command for cherem (devotion to God) and bringing God's judgment upon the entire community (Joshua 7:20-21). This event taught Israel a sobering lesson: corporate disobedience has corporate consequences.

The rest of the conquest is a swift series of battles against two major alliances of Canaanite kings. Joshua's leadership is marked by total commitment to destroying the strongholds of evil and completely driving out the tribes, a necessary act of judgment to prevent Israel from falling into the moral and spiritual corruption of the Canaanites.

III. Inheritance and Commitment (Chapters 13–24)

With the land largely secured, the focus shifts to inheritance. Joshua, with the High Priest Eleazar, oversees the complex process of dividing the land among the twelve tribes by lot, fulfilling the ancient promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). Even Caleb, now an old man, receives his promised portion of the land, demonstrating that God remembers faithful servants (Joshua 14:14).

The book concludes with Joshua's Farewell Address at Shechem. His final words are a profound and timeless challenge. He urges the people to remember God's faithfulness, and then demands they make a conscious choice: “Choose this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

This final, passionate plea reminds the people that possessing the land is only the first step; maintaining their relationship with God requires continuous, conscious devotion.

Applying the Truth Today

Joshua is a powerful story of assurance. It teaches us that God is always faithful to His promises and that the victories we seek in life—whether spiritual or personal—are won not through our strength, but through our obedience and faith in Him.

The "Promised Land" represents the full, abundant life God intends for us, which we must continually fight to possess through submission to His word.

Reflection Questions for Your Journey:

1. The walls of Jericho fell to obedience, not might. What "wall" are you currently facing that you're trying to defeat with your own strength, and how might radical obedience to God's Word unlock the victory instead?

2. Achan's hidden sin cost the whole community. What "hidden things" (habits, greed, attitudes) are you tolerating that might be hindering your relationship with God or affecting those around you?

3. Joshua commanded a choice. If someone looked at your life today, would it be clear that you, like Joshua, have definitively chosen to serve the Lord, no matter what others do?

Your Reading Guide

Begin by reading God's urgent commissioning of the new leader in Joshua 1:7–9, focusing on the connection between strength and courage and adherence to the Law.

Next, read the dramatic account of the collapse of Jericho in Joshua 6:15–20, which proves that God is the true source of victory.

Then, skip to the powerful challenge of Joshua 24:14–15. This is the climax of the book, demanding a final commitment from the people to serve the God who had delivered them.