The Promise Land
Abraham
Creation
of world
2000
B.C.
Moses
1400
B.C..
Book 6 JOSHUA
• The name means “The
LORD Saves” or “the Lord
is salvation”
• THEME: Be STRONG and
Courageous; The Lord
FIGHTS for you!
• DATE: 1406 BC – 1380 BC
2000
A.D.
30
A.D
.
Purpose of the Book
Deuteronomy prepared God’s people for the task
ahead in the Promised Land and the book of Joshua
shows how God brought his people into the land
and gave them rest. The book of Joshua functions as
a bridge between the wilderness experience and the
time in the Promised Land. The book of Joshua
shows how and why Israel would eventually end in
exile. The book is a reminder that the sin and
rebellion that would result in Israel’s exile began
long before God executed his judgment against
Israel and Judah.
JOSHUA
• CHOSEN by God to be
Moses’ assistant since their
journey from Egypt to Sinai
(Exodus 17)
• Became the LEADER of
Israel after Moses’ death
(Deuteronomy 31:7-8)
• Served as the leader of the
conquest of Canaan and
would become one of
Israel’s most successful
GENERALS
RAHAB
• A pagan prostitute who
showed hospitality to
Israel’s SPIES
• She demonstrated FAITH in
God and became part of
God’s covenant people.
• Her son is Boaz and
daughter-in-law Ruth
• She is listed as one of Jesus’
ancestors in his genealogy
(Matthew 1:5)
ACHAN
• His disobedience resulted
in taking PLUNDER from
the battlefield when Israel
had been instructed to not
take anything caused
• This caused Israel to LOSE
an important battle against
Ai.
• He was stoned to death as
punishment (Joshua 7)
ELEAZAR AND PHINEHAS
• Eleazar was the son of Aaron. He took over the
high priest’s duties after Aaron had passed
away. (See Exodus 6:23 and Number 20:28)
• He helped Joshua lead Israel into the Promise
Land
• Phinehas was Eleazar’s son and high priest of
Israel.
• His intervention to PREVENT the Israelites from
polluting themselves and his zeal for God’s
covenant granted him a special covenant with
God.
Moses and Joshua –
Leadership Comparison
Jesus in the Book of Joshua
Jesus in the Book of Joshua
• Joshua himself is a PICTURE, or “type” of
Jesus
• Just as Joshua led the conquest that gave
the land of Canaan to Israel, so Jesus, by His
life, death, and resurrection, has conquered
death and given all believers the eternal
promised life
• Like Jesus, Joshua is a “servant of the LORD”
(Joshua 24:29)
Jesus in the Book of Joshua
• In Joshua 2, we read the story of Rahab. In
grace, God brought her to Himself and
enfolded her in the ancestry of the Savior!
(Matthew 1:5)
• God gave the land of Canaan to Israel to part
of His plan of salvation. There, He would keep
them as safe as possible from the influence of
the idolatry all around them. He would keep
them in true faith and prepare them to receive
Jesus, the Savior of the world.
ISRAEL’S IDOLS
The biggest
problem Israel will
face despite
repeated warnings
from both Moses
and Joshua will be
IDOL Worship.
ISRAEL’S IDOLS and FALSE WORSHIP
• In some ways, these gods seem very
strange to us today
– Images (statues and symbols)
– Territory (power on a particular mountain or valley)
• In other ways, these OT idols seem very
familiar
– God’s of silver and gold still attract us today
– Sexual sins and the power to control are just as
prevalent today as before
BAAL
• The most COMMON of all
the idols in the OT
• The word “baal” means
“lord” or “master”
• This idol is one of the
“storm” or “fertility”
• His female counterpart was
known as Ashtoreth
• See also Judges 6, 1 Kings
11:5; 2 Kings 23:13;
Jeremiah 7:18 and 44:17; 1
Corinthians 10:19 – 20
CHEMOSH
• The god worshiped by the
people of MOAB
• He may have been a god
of WAR.
• Solomon build an altar for
Chemosh (1 Kings 11:7) in
order to please his pagan
wives
• See also 2 Kings 3:27;
Jeremiah 48:7,13, 46
DAGON
• The god worshiped by the
Philistines
• Many considered him Baal’s
father.
• During Samson’s lifetime,
Dagon was worshiped at
Gaza (Judges 16:21-23)
• See 1 Samuel 5:2-7 for an
interesting (and even
humorous) demonstration
of the Lord’s superiority
over this false God
MOLECH
• Canaanite deity whose
worship demanded the
______________ of
children and infants.
• The LORD found sacrifices
to Molech especially
______________.
• In Molech we see the
grisly image of god who
devours infant sons and
daughters
God Commission Joshua (chapter 1)
• Israel has completed their 30 day period of
mourning for Moses (Dt 34:8) – 1406 BC
• God tells Joshua to “ARISE” for I am GIVING
you this land to the my people! (1:2)
• Wherever your FEET touch that land will
belong to you (1:3)
• Verse 4 outlines the FOUR corners of Israel’s
territory.
• Verse 5 indicates that NO MAN shall stand
against Israel because God will not LEAVE nor
FORSAKE
VERSE 6 – Theme Verse
Joshua’s Keys to Success
• Strength and COURAGE (multiple times)
• Live according to God’s Word by not going off
on your own PATH (right or left) (v. 7)
• Keep the Word of God on your LIPS (v. 8)
• MEDITATE (to think deeply and intensely) on
God’s Word day and night (v. 8)
• We have the PROMISE that God is WITH US!!!
• You will PROSPER and have GOOD SUCCESS
(v. 7, 9)
The Inheritance of God’s People
• Whereas the promise land (1.6) is Israel’s
INHERTIANCE. Our inheritance is far greater…