Approaching the Bible – Old Testament [Part 6]: Joshua
Updated: Jul 27
Read Aloud
After generations of waiting…
After slavery in Egypt…
After forty years in the wilderness…
The time had finally come.
Moses had died, and a new leader would guide Israel into the land God had promised Abraham centuries earlier.
That leader was Joshua.
The book of Joshua is about far more than battles and conquering cities.
It is about God keeping His promises.
Everything God had spoken to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses was beginning to unfold before Israel's eyes.
Joshua teaches us that God's promises may take time—but they never fail.
📖 Background & Context
Author: Traditionally Joshua (with later additions describing his death)
Audience: Israel and future generations
Theme: God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises through courageous obedience
The book begins immediately after Moses' death.
Joshua now carries the enormous responsibility of leading nearly two million Israelites across the Jordan River into Canaan.
It was a task that seemed impossible.
But God gave Joshua one simple command:
"Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
That promise became the foundation for everything that followed.
🔎 What Makes Joshua Unique?
Joshua marks a major turning point in biblical history.
Instead of wandering through the wilderness, Israel finally begins living in the land God promised.
The book contains famous events such as:
Crossing the Jordan River
The fall of Jericho
Rahab protecting the spies
Battles throughout Canaan
Dividing the Promised Land among the twelve tribes
Joshua's final challenge to remain faithful to God
It is a story of victory—but also a reminder that victory only comes through trusting God.
💡 Key Themes in Joshua
1. God Always Keeps His Promises
For hundreds of years God promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.
Now that promise became reality.
Joshua reminds us that God's timing is perfect.
He never forgets His Word.
Even when years—or generations—pass, God remains faithful.
2. Courage Comes From God's Presence
Joshua faced impossible obstacles.
Flooded rivers.
Fortified cities.
Powerful armies.
Yet God never told Joshua to trust his own strength.
He told him to trust God's presence.
Real courage isn't believing we're strong enough.
It's believing God is with us.
3. Obedience Comes Before Victory
Jericho didn't fall because Israel had a better military strategy.
It fell because they obeyed God.
Marching around a city for seven days made little sense from a human perspective.
But obedience opened the door for God's power.
Sometimes God asks us to trust Him before we understand His plan.
4. Faith Can Come From Unexpected People
One of the most surprising people in Joshua is Rahab.
She wasn't an Israelite.
She had a difficult past.
Yet she believed in the God of Israel.
Because of her faith, she and her family were saved.
Rahab later became part of the family line that eventually led to Jesus.
God specializes in redeeming broken stories.
5. Every Person Must Choose Who They Will Serve
Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered the nation one last time.
He reminded them of everything God had done.
Then he gave one of the Bible's most well-known challenges:
"Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)
Faith is ultimately a decision.
Each generation must choose.
Each individual must choose.
✨ Why This Matters Today
Many believers face their own "Jordan River" moments.
A new job.
A difficult diagnosis.
Starting a family.
Stepping into ministry.
Facing uncertainty.
Like Joshua, we often stand before situations that seem overwhelming.
The good news is that the same God who led Israel into the Promised Land still walks with His people today.
He calls us to trust Him one step at a time.
🕊 Reflection Questions
Where is God asking me to step out in faith?
Am I trusting God's promises more than my fears?
Is there an area where delayed obedience is keeping me from moving forward?
What "Jericho" in my life needs God's power instead of my own strength?
Can others say, like Joshua, that my household serves the Lord?
❤️ Final Encouragement
Joshua reminds us that following God often requires courage before we see results.
The Jordan River didn't part until the priests stepped into the water.
Jericho didn't fall until God's instructions were followed.
Victory came through faith-filled obedience.
As we continue our journey through the Old Testament, Joshua leaves us with this lasting truth:
God doesn't call us to have all the answers. He calls us to trust Him, walk forward in faith, and remember that every promise He makes is worth believing.
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