Joshua Study 1-6
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The Book of Joshua (1-6)
*This is the first of twelve historical books (Joshua though Esther)
*Overview:
1. God’s people capture and settle into the Promised Land of Canaan. Chapters 1-12 show us God’s people entering in and conquering the land. Chapters 13-22 give the instructions for distributing the land. Chapters 23-24 give us Joshua’s farewell address.
2. Through 3 military campaigns against more than 30 enemy armies (all the “Ite” families), and God’s people receive the victory as they place their faith in God.
*Theme(s):
1. The Lord has redeemed His people out of bondage through Moses, formed His covenant with them, and now, God will lead His people into the Land of Promise under Joshua’s leadership.
2. God is faithful. God will bring His people into His Promise and Rest.
3. Joshua points to Christ. Joshua’s original name is “Hoshea,” which means “salvation.” Yehoshua or Yeshua means Yahweh is Salvation. The Greek form of this name is “Iesous” and this is where the Name “Jesus” comes from
Joshua is a type of Christ; His name and his role point to Christ. He is the victorious warrior, the one who will bring many sons into glory. For it was not through the law that the people of God would enter into the Promised Land, but it was through the one who would come after the Law.
Key passages:
1. 1:6 – Be strong and courageous (stated hundreds of times throughout the Bible, some say 365 times in some form)
Question: Why does God remind His people to be courageous so much?
2. 1:8 – Meditate on the Book day and night… then you will have good success.
Question: How does meditation upon God’s Word lead us to success?
3. 2:1-21 – Rahab (the prostitute) living in Jericho who hid two spies from Joshua. She believed and trusted in God, submitting herself to the covenant people of God under oath. The rope in her window was a sign of her faith and led to her salvation, as she was not destroyed with the rest of Jericho. The scarlet rope—the color of blood—worked for Rahab much as the blood of the Passover lamb had worked during the exodus: every home marked with blood was spared death that night (Exodus 12:13). God’s mercy and forgiveness of Rahab the harlot was signified by a rope of scarlet thread, which becomes a symbol of the blood of Christ.
Question: How is Rahab connected to Christ? (Read Matthew 1:5)
4. Chapter 3-4 – Crossing the Jordan with Memorial Stones. Remember what God has done for you. Tell it to the future generations.
Question: What memorial stones are you leaving for your children/grandchildren?
5. Chapter 5 - The Captain and Commander of the Lord’s Army. Is this Captain Jesus? Is this a Christophany (a preincarnate appearance) of Christ as the Leader and Messenger? Where He stood was Holy Ground, and Joshua bowed down. This Captain was from God and for God, and perhaps this is the Son of God. He was going to bring the victory.
Question: Is God always for God? Will He always win? Will He always do what pleases Him?
6. Chapter 6 - The Walls Of Jericho – 15 foot stone wall on the bottom. Then there was a retaining wall around 25 foot high and 6 foot thick. So, there is double-wall ring around Jericho. This was a great city, the “Moon City,” a well-fortified city with massive defenses. But God was not with them to defend them. God was with His people and defended them, bringing the walls down so that Israel could climb up and have the victory.
Question: Do we see both faith and works here in this story? Does God use the weak things of this earth to glorify Him the most? What walls are too high for God?
The Son of God is our Victorious Warrior and He can overcome all things. If the “moon” people of Jericho would reflect the “Son,” then God will remove them and replace them with a people who will.
We are to be “Son” reflectors today. All are called to reflect the glory of the Son today. Those in the end who will not glorify the Son, their end will be destruction as well.