Road to Revelation: Joshua

The baton has been passed Joshua steps into Moses' giant sandals.  His first task - lead the people into the Promised Land driving out the inhabitants before them until the Israelites fill all the land given to them.  His second task - commit the writings of his predecessor Moses to memory.  No pressure then...

The first hurdle facing the people was the great city of Jericho so Joshua sent spies to scope it out in order to plan his attack.  They are almost captured but escape thanks to Rahab and her family.  Rahab was a woman of great faith; she believed that the God of the Israelites alone is God and is rewarded for her faith by being saved from Jericho when it is defeated by the Lord and Joshua's army.   Rahab joined the Israelites and became part of the heroes of faith roll call in Hebrews.

Next city up for battle (ch.7-8) was Ai.  Things didn't quite go to plan as Achan disobeyed the Lord and took forbidden loot.  But second time around the Israelites all listened to the Lord and defeated the city and it's inhabitants.

One of the people groups living in the area started freaking out about the strong invaders coming their way.  The Gibeonites decided it was best to befriend these Israelite warriors and deceitfully made a treaty with Joshua.  This bought them their lives but not their freedom; the Gibeonites were made to become servants to the Israelites as a result of their deception (ch. 9).

Chapters 10-12 outlines further battles and enemies defeated.

Chapters 13-21 outline the divisions of the land to all the tribes, the naming of the cities of refuge  and the towns for the Levites.

In chapter 22 the three tribes who claimed land on the other side of the Jordan to the the land were allowed to go home and work their land.

With his life over Joshua farewelled the people.  He reminded them of the works of the Lord toward His people from Abraham to this day.  He urged them to remain faithful to the Lord as he had and to finish the work he started - conquering the remaining land.   Key Verse: ch 24:14-15 Like Moses before him, Joshua is sure that the people will not remain faithful to the Lord but he begged them to be anyway.

Takeaway: They made it!  Finally the Israelites were finished with their journeying and could settle in the land given to them.  They had much work to do but they were there!  God's promise to give them a land of their own was more than halfway there... but would they trust in the Lord as Joshua and Moses had?  Or would they turn to other gods to "rescue" them before the job was completed?