Topic: Book of Joshua
The book of Deuteronomy is a retelling of the journey in the wilderness to the generation that was going to enter the Promised Land. The book of Joshua tells of the events of Israel entering the Promised Land. The book is named after the new leader who succeeded Moses.
Joshua led Israel to conquer the land, supervised the division of the land among the twelve tribes, and led Israel to renew their covenant with God.
Two key passages from the book:
Joshua 1:6-9, Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may achieve success wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will achieve success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 24:14-15, “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and do away with the gods which your fathers served beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The book of Joshua makes it very clear that true and false religions do not mix. This message comes with a difficult command to destroy the Canaanites because of their pagan and immoral practices. Moses prepared Israel for the encounter with the Canaanites and gave clear instruction in Deuteronomy of the danger of idol worship. Yet, in Joshua, Israel forgot and therefore did not do all that God had commanded. The point of Joshua’s farewell address in chapter 24 is that you cannot worship false gods and remain faithful to the Lord.
God commands Israel to destroy the Canaanites because the wages of sin is death. This applies to all people—even Israel. A whole generation did not enter the Promised Land because they didn’t trust God (Numbers 13). Moses disobeyed God and was not allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20). Now, in Joshua, God uses Israel to judge the Canaanites for their sin of pagan worship and immoral lifestyle.
As you read Joshua this month, ask God to purge out the sin of unfaithfulness and replace it with a faithful heart to serve Him.
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem