Joshua is a book of conquest. It describes how Joshua led the people of God into the land that God had promised them. It details a series of victories first in central, then southern and finally in northern Canaan. Those victories gave the Israelites control over most of the land. The narrative then describes the division and allotment of the conquered land among the 12 tribes of Israel. The book closes with Joshua's final addresses to the people. In these addresses he renews the covenant and calls the people to serve God wholeheartedly. In short then, the book of Joshua describes the beginning of how God fulfilled his promise to Abraham: "To your descendants I will give this land." (Genesis 12:7)
What does it say?
The book of Joshua takes the story of Israel's history on from the death of Moses, through the seven year long conquest of the Promised Land, to the death of Joshua. It tells us about the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, the God-empowered conquest of the land, and the sin that crippled the forward movement of the people. It goes on to describe the division of Israel's new home into allotments for each tribe.
Many years after the division of the land, Joshua comes to the end of his long life. He does not pass on leadership to a single person, as Moses had passed the torch to Joshua. As his last official act, Joshua calls the new nation, and especially its many leaders, to renew their commitment to the covenant with God. God will be faithful to the covenant. Will they be likewise?
Faces & Places
The key human character is Joshua, the author of the book and principle leader of Israel during this period of history. As a younger man, Joshua had been Moses' chief aide. He had climbed with Moses up Mount Sinai when Moses received the Law from God and he was one of the 12 spies who did surveillance on the Promised Land before the first aborted attempt to enter. Joshua was Moses' hand picked successor to lead Israel.
Other notable characters include Achan, whose sin after the raid on Jericho brought defeat for Israel in their next battle. Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho who helped Israel take the city. She trusted the power of Israel's God and became a faithful follower.
Significant places include the Jordan River, which the people crossed to enter the land. Jericho and Ai were the first and second cities conquered in the land. Another important site is Shechem, the city where Joshua gathered the people for his final address.
Key Verses & Themes
Conquest and Fulfillment:
Joshua 21:43-45 "So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies to them. Not one of the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled."
Faithfulness to the Covenant:
Joshua 23:15 "But just as every good promise of the Lord has come true, so the Lord will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord's anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you."
So what?
Joshua is a dramatic real-life illustration of the faithfulness of God and the consequences of sin, as we read, for instance, about the dramatic victory at Jericho followed by the shocking defeat at Ai. What was the difference between Jericho and Ai? It was sin. When we stand with God, we can confidently do all that he directs us to do. When we stand alone, in unconfessed sin and disobedience, we have only our own strength to lean on.
