Joshua – Old Testament Survey

Joshua 22-24

Joshua 22-This seems to be the key to living the life God commanded us to live. The questions I have: “Are we doing this? Do we even know what these commands mean?”

5 Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

I think the remainder of chapter 22 gives us a glimpse of this. The 9.5 tribes west of the Jordan River remembered the sins of their fathers and grandfathers and themselves and obeyed God’s directive to rid themselves of all who were apostates. When the heard the other 2.5 tribes built an altar they immediately readied themselves for war in order to purge the nation of idolatry. When they arrived, they allowed an explanation. When the explanation glorified God, they relented from attack. How quick are we to misjudge and not give opportunity for explanation? How often are we more likely to let sin continue rather than confront it?

It is also interesting that the 2.5 tribes were willing to be ridiculed (killed) for taking a stand of remembrance of God’s grace in their life. How often do we quickly pray or cower for fear of being found out that we are believers and want to always remember the great things God has done? I think of examples of when non-believers ask us how our day went and we merely tell them that it has been good. We purposely don’t tell them of the blessings God has done for us that day for “fear” of being exposed as a Christian.

Chapter 23-Not all the land was taken under Israelite control by the death of Joshua. If the Israelites obeyed, God would still take care of the enemies in the land. God is still in control and powerful, yet calls us to obedience for that power to manifest itself. God keeps all His promises and will bring His curses (for they are promised) to those who turn from Him. It is interesting that Joshua tells us to avoid syncretism. This is the very sin they commit. What areas of our lives do we live syncratically (I looked it up and it is a word)?

Joshua 24-Joshua’s great challenge to the Israelites (and us) and his death are presented here. Even here, 14-15, Joshua is calling against syncretism and is challenging us to serve only one. Do we serve God or what we have made important in our lives–our little god? Some translation of verses 19ff imply that God was telling Israel that even though they now claim to serve Him, they will turn because it is truly impossible to serve Him 24/7. Only Jesus, who fulfills the Law, could and did.

The book closes with good news of the nation following God. The next book, which we will begin after Jude, shows they turn from Him once the nation has forgotten what God has done.

If you noticed, these chapters were remembrances of what God has done. When we remember, reflect, and proclaim what God has done for us, we will remember His goodness and grace longer and follow Him more closely. It is when we forget Him and focus on our troubles, as in Judges, that we tend to walk away from Him doing what we think is right (and at times proclaiming that it is what He wants).

There are many thoughts to ponder in these chapters. Let’s walk closer to Him as we attempt to recall all He has done for us.

Joshua 20-21

Joshua 20-City of Refuge. Christ is sometimes called our city of Refuge. I don’t know how that could be because He is also called our High Priest. This is an interesting concept found in the Torah as well. I wonder what would happen if the US established something like this (would drunk driving be included?).

Joshua 21-This is merely a telling of the land/cities given to the Levites.

Verses 43-45 are interesting because they state the land was taken and all the promises of God were fulfilled. Why does the history of Israel turn ugly in later chapters? Did they stop relying on God’s promises/curses? When things promised are given and fulfilled, do we stop relying on Him and turn from Him too?

Joshua 18-19

Joshua 18-19-Seven tribes that did not possess what they were promised because they did not go get it. I wonder if the position of each tribe is of any significance.

Good morning. I pray the Lord’s blessing on you and those around you because of you today.

Joshua 18-19-Seven tribes that did not possess what they were promised because they did not go get it. I wonder if the position of each tribe is of any significance. This is a study for a different time. Why was Simeon enveloped within Judah?

Again, the priests have no possession save the Lord (18.7). Why do we quibble over what we own and what we can acquire? I don’t think this is saying that we cannot/should not earn and save. However, I do believe these need to be taken in light of what (or Who) is our true inheritance.

Joshua 13-17

Joshua 13-This is the second time we read that the Israelites did not utterly destroy a nation. I wonder what is going to become of those listed in verse 13 and how they will affect Israel?

It is better to read this with a map of the lands conquered by Joshua. This is a long list of places, towns, and people.

Joshua 13-This is the second time we read that the Israelites did not utterly destroy a nation. I wonder what is going to become of those listed in verse 13 and how they will affect Israel? The same question could be asked in 14.12, 15.63, 16.10, 17.13

Peter says that we are all priests, like the Levites (13.14, 33; 14.4). Does this mean we should not be concerned with our inheritance on this earth and that we should seek no possessions except the Lord Himself? If so, what does this state our values should be and are we focusing on those values which honor Him?

Joshua 14-Caleb is interesting. This passage shows us that it took five years from the crossing of the Jordan to the conquering of the land at this point. How do I infer this?

Joshua 15-I wonder if my daughter would go for the deal that Caleb set forth and Othniel took. Verse 63 states that Jerusalem could not be conquered. I wonder why God didn’t allow them to take it at this point but allowed David to establish it at a later date.

Joshua 17-The closing is interesting. Why did the tribes of Joseph get more and why did they receive the place they did in the manner God told them? Does God do that for us? Does He have more for us, but we need to ask and work harder for it?

No one was left out from the tribes of Israel. All that God called were blessed.

God continually gave to the Israelites according to His promises, not beyond what He spoke but beyond what they thought. How does that apply to how we should interpret Scripture?

I realize this was not as in-depth as the earlier ones but I do get lazy at times when lists are involved even though I have found some great treasures in lists.

Have a blessed day and possess the promises God has made to us.

Joshua 11-12

Joshua 11 and 12-So far, after the Jericho incident with Achan, Israel has been obedient to God, giving Him the honor for the victories even though they could have said it was in their strength they did these things. The one area they did in their own power, and they knew it, was with the Gibeonites. This chapter summarizes their obedience and then, even, attributes that to God’s power, which shows it is not by our might nor by our power but by what the Lord determines.

This reminds me of the book of Acts, although a violent version of the book of Acts. The church went out to conquer the world for Jesus, to bring them under the dominion of Christ, all under the power of Christ living in them through the Holy Spirit. Here we see Israel, under the power and direction of God, going out to conquer the land for God, bringing it under the dominion of God.

How are we doing in bringing the dominion of God into our world? Are we obedient in what He asks us to do, no matter how hard/harsh it may seem or do we try to get along with as little as we can? Do we recognize His hand in all matters of our life or do we attribute our place, circumstances, abilities, successes, etc. to ourselves? Are we, as it will state in Judges, doing right in our own eyes, which did not turn out too well for Israel? Or, are we joining in the work that God is already doing in the world?

Kind of short and different reading. A list of kings defeated by Moses and Joshua (actually God used them to accomplish His work in the world that He had placed them).

What kind of work is God wanting to accomplish through you in your area of influence?

Joshua 7-10

I found it interesting that Joshua 7 is a chapter of God’s anger against those who disobey Him and how one’s sin brings calamities on others. The parallel with Acts 5 and God’s anger over the lying of Ananias and Sapphira are amazing. Each was given at the beginning of the new adventure for Israel and the Church to show that God is serious about obedience. However, this type of event only shows up once in each testament; I wonder why?

There are other parts of chapter 7 that are interesting, but I will let you discover them.

Chapter 8 would be interesting to Achan. If he had obeyed God’s command to not take plunder from Jericho, he would have been able to take plunder from Ai. Sometimes we attempt to take God’s work and do it ourselves. We create trouble for ourselves as Isaiah tells us. If we wait on Him, as Isaiah and the Psalmist also remind us, we will be blessed because we trust in the Lord. I wonder in what areas of my life I am running ahead of the Lord.

Chapter 9 is a great description of Satan’s antics. He deceives us into believing lies in order for us to accept him and his values in our life. Verse 14 is the tell verse: they did not ask the Lord about the matter. How many times do we run ahead and do what we want, neglecting to ask God what He would have us to do? The danger is always compromise with the world.

It would be interesting to look ahead to see what role the Gibeonites would play in Israel’s downfall.

Chapter 10 shows us how Israel had to use its resources to defend the Gibeonites from attack. Their sin in not relying on God is now costing them manpower and time. But God was with them here because they were honoring their contract (which I still think they should not have honored the covenant because of the deception of the Gibeonites). God used this event to allow Joshua to conquer most of what we call Israel.

When we obey God, we succeed. When we disobey Him, we fail. However, even in that failure, God can still use us to accomplish His work in the world. However, there are consequences that we still must face (i.e., Moses could not enter the Promised Land, the Gibeonites become a thorn in the flesh, Achan dies, etc.).

So what are your thoughts?

Tomorrow’s reading will be shorter.

Joshua 1-6

I read through Joshua 1-6 this morning and found that Joshua was commanded to find his courage in God, was told to look to see what the Lord was doing, and, then, join Him in doing it, and, when he obeyed, God fulfilled His Word and made Joshua’s purpose evident to all around.

Joshua carried with him testimonies of what the Lord had done (he and the twelve tribes). What are you carrying as a remembrance of what God has done for you? The purpose is for you to remember Him and for others to ask you why you have your remembrance as a tool of testimony.

Things got tough for Joshua, and you, but he still followed what the Lord had told him to do (chapter 5 is gruesome and odd but necessary).

Did you notice, at the end of chapter 5, that God presented Himself to Joshua due to his obedience?

This year is as we choose to obey what God has called us to do: stay away from the things God hates, cling to what God loves, focus our thoughts, actions, attitude, etc., on Him, and let His light shine through us. How are we doing?

I pray you see the same truths as Joshua did when he stepped into the Jordan River and found that the Lord is indeed good. I ask that God show you what He is doing in your area of influence. Be blessed today as you choose to bless Him.