Joshua 13-21

Last week we saw many victories given to Joshua by God.  We saw God’s awesome power when He extended the daylight hours so Israel could have a complete victory over the enemy.  God heard Joshua’s prayer to reverse the natural order.  Nothing is impossible for God!

 

Joshua 13:1-7 – More Land to be Taken

Joshua was old and well advanced in years.  He had conquered most of the land, but God told him that there were still large areas of land to be taken.  They would not need to fight for it.  God would do it for them.  They just needed to trust God.  God told Joshua to be sure to allocate this land to Israel as He had instructed.  Joshua was to divide up the land among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.  (Joshua 13:1-7)

Principle:  God will fight for His people.

When has God fought for you?

How has God conquered your enemies during your lifetime?

Joshua 13:8-33 – 14-19 – Joshua Divides the Land

The other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had already received their inheritance from Moses.  This land is described in verses 8-13.  Remember back in Num. 32 theses tribes were referred to as the Transjordan Tribes?  They decided they wanted to live east of the Jordan where the land was sufficient for their livestock.  However, they still would help the rest of Israel conquer Canaan.   Moses granted their request, if they promised to fight alongside the others.  They agreed and fought with Israel.  The Levites was not given any land, since their inheritance was the offerings to the Lord. (Joshua 14)  Remember they were the tribe of priests.

In verses 15-31 is the description of the land given to the tribe of Reuben, Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh. 

The next chapters are descriptions of the division of the land:

Joshua 14 – Allotment for Caleb

Joshua 15 – Allotment for Judah

Joshua 16-17 – Allotment for Ephraim and Manasseh

Joshua 18 – Allotment for Benjamin

Joshua 19 – Allotment for Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan, and Joshua

There are several passages that describe the inheritance of the tribes of Israel.  When we read these in the light of God’s faithfulness, we are encouraged.  We, too have an inheritance.  There is a place reserved for every faithful Christian in God’s kingdom.  “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – John 14:1-3.

Will you receive the inheritance God has for you?

Will He call you His faithful servant?

Principle:  God has an inheritance for all of His faithful people.

Joshua 20 – Cities of Refuge 

God told Joshua to designate cities of refuge as He had instructed Moses in Num. 35.  These cities were for anyone who killed a person accidentally.  They could flee to these cities for protection from those who wanted to take revenge.  They would wait there until trial.  Then if they were guilty they would be put to death by the high priest, but if innocent they would be freed.

These cities were strategically chosen so that anyone living in Israel or any stranger could flee to them for refuge within a day or less.

 

These cities of refuge are like a picture of Jesus.  We are all guilty and have sinned, but we can go to Jesus as our refuge.  He will forgive us and keep us safe.  We must confess that we’ve sinned.  We don’t have to wait for death by the high priest.  Jesus who is our High Priest has already died for us and is now alive and intercedes for us with the Father.

Who is your High Priest?

Have you confessed your sins?

Principle:  Jesus who is our High Priest has already died for us and is now alive and intercedes for us with the Father.

Joshua 21 – Levite Towns

The family heads of the Levites approached the tribal families of each tribe of Israel and reminded them that through Moses God commanded them to give the Levite tribes town in which to live.  So each tribe gave the Levites towns and pasture lands out of their own inheritance.  The Levites didn’t need a lot of land because they depended on the Lord.   There were 48 towns in all.  By providing these towns it kept God’s Word and His commandments among them.

How has God provided for you this week?

Next week we will study Joshua 22-24.  See you here.

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Joshua 10 - 12

So far we learned that Joshua led the Israelites across the river to the Promised Land.  The Israelites, by faith and obedience destroyed the city of Jericho by marching around the city wall 7 times as God commanded.  No one was spared except Rahab and her household.  We learned that God gives victory in the battles He calls us to fight.  We learned that all the spoils were to go to God, but Achan kept some for himself which angered God.  Because of that sin, God allowed the army of Ai to defeat Israel.  We then saw Joshua defeat Ai.  We saw the deception of the Gibeonites resulting in Joshua making a treaty with them. 

Joshua 10:1-15 – The Sun Stands Still       

The king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had destroyed Ai and Jericho and that he had made a treaty with Gibeonites.  Gibeon was a big important city with good fighting men.  The king asked the 5 kings of the Amorities to come and help him attack Gibeon.  Gibeonites sent word to Joshua for help.  Joshua sent his entire army.  (Joshua 10:1-7) God again told Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand.  Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” – Joshua 10:8.

The Gibeonites went to Joshua for help.  Joshua had made a promise to them and he could not disappoint them now.  Who do you go to in time of trouble?  Joshua’s name means “the Lord is my Savior”.  We have a Savior and we can always go to him when we need help.  He has promised to help and will not disappoint us.

What promises have you made?

Do you keep your promises?        

What about the promises you made to your spouse at your wedding?       

When Joshua arrived, the enemy was taken by surprised.  The Lord kept His promise.  The Lord sent confusion on them and Israel defeated them.  They, of course fled and as they fled God hurled large hailstones on them from the sky. (Another miracle of God)  This killed more of them than Israel did by their swords. (Joshua 10:9-11)

The hailstorm signified that God’s hand was in the battle.  It showed that God’s work is greater than any man.

Joshua wanted God to be glorified.  He wanted a complete victory and needed more time.  He didn’t want the enemy to escape.  If night came, they might scatter and find hiding places.  So Joshua called upon God to stop the progress of time.  Joshua prayed to the Lord in the presence of Israel, “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.  So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nations avenged itself on its enemies.” – Joshua 10:12-13.  The sun stopped in the sky and didn’t go down for a full day.  “There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man.  Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” – Joshua 10:14.

Here is another miracle that shows God’s awesome power.  God extended the daylight hours so Israel could have a complete victory over the enemy.  God heard Joshua’s prayer to reverse the natural order.  He extended the hours of the day long enough so that Israel could finish the battle. 

God kept His promise of victory for Israel.  God listened to Joshua as he prayed and praised God.  He will keep His promises to you.  He will listen to you.  Praise God in all He is doing in your life and praise Him so others can hear.  That is a great witness for God.

There are several obvious miracles of God in this chapter; He stopped the sun and the moon by freezing the laws of physics; He threw confusion into the enemy; He hurled hailstone down from heaven killing the enemy.

What miracle has God done for you?

How do you give God the praises He deserves?

Do you praise Him in secret or for others to hear?

Principle:  The Lord’s power is not limited.

Lessons we learn:

We are to be honorable and keep our promises.

God keeps His promises.

We should continue to pray in all things.

God hears our prayers.

God answers our prayers sometimes in a miraculous way.

God is sovereign and His power is limitless.

Joshua 10:16-43; 11:1-23 – More Victories

The 5 kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah.  Joshua sent men to guard the cave so the kings could not return to their cities as Joshua and Israel kept pursuing the enemy.  Then the kings were brought to Joshua and killed and then hung on trees.  At evening they were taken down and put in the cave where they had been hiding and large rocks were placed at the mouth of the cave.  Joshua took Makkedah and its king and totally destroyed everyone leaving no survivors. (Joshua 10:16-28)

Principle: We must control, confront and conquer our enemies.

What do you have hidden in your cave?

Do you have some king in your life that needs to be killed?

The evil kings in your heart need to be put to death so they will not rise up to try to destroy you again and again.  These kings may be immorality, impurity, sensuality, lust, idolatry, jealousy, anger, disputes, drunkenness, carousing.  They need to be killed!  We need to pull out those kings and nail them to the cross.  God’s way of victory is through crucifixion.  “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” – Rom 6:11.

Joshua continued conquering the cities in southern Canaan.  He conquered Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, and Debir as the Lord handed them over to Israel.  He conquered from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon destroying everything and leaving no survivors as the Lord commanded.  They were all conquered because God of Israel fought for Israel.  Then Joshua and Israel returned to their camp at Gilgal. (Joshua 10:29-43). 

Joshua 11 tells us that word of Israel’s victories spread and now the northern kings wanted a fight with Israel.  These kings joined together to make war, but again the Lord told Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain.” – Joshua 11:1-6.  God had hardened the hearts of these kings to wage war against Israel so He might destroy them totally.  Again, Israel completely destroyed all these cities as the Lord commanded.  Joshua took the entire land and didn’t make treaties.    He destroyed the Anakites from the hill country.  Joshua destroyed the entire land as the Lord directed Moses and gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.  (Joshua 11:1-23).

The Anakites if you remember in Numbers 13 were to people the Israelites came across when they explored the land of Canaan they found that the Anakites who lived there were giants and very powerful.  I am sure by defeating them, it gave them much more trust in God and His Word that He is with them and would deliver them and they should not be afraid.

What questions or doubts do you struggle with as you see all this violence and destruction in these chapters?  Canaan was a heathen nation.  They were evil and wicked.  They knew about God, but corrupted and perverted His truth.  They were beyond saving.  God ordered their destruction because of the corrupting influence they would have if their false religious system was allowed to survive.  God didn’t want His people to be fall into their evil ways so they had to be destroyed. 

Joshua 12 – The List

We see in this chapter there is a list of all the kings and territories defeated by Israel.  There were 33 kings defeated.  Moses defeated the 1^st 2 kings Sihon and Og.  Joshua defeated 16 kings in the south and 15 kings in the north. 

I like to make lists.  Then when I cross something off, I see what I’ve done and feel good about my accomplishment.  This list helped the Israelites remember what God had done for them.  I think this list was also given to us to show that these events are real.  It shows God keeps His Word and is a Promise Keeper.

Principle:  We can defeat our enemies by relying on the Lord.

What are the spiritual enemies you are facing?

How much do you obey God’s Word in your daily life?

Do you take God at His Word and believe Him?

When are you tempted to compromise your Christian faith?

Next week we will continue to study more in the book of Joshua.  See you here.

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