The Book of Joshua

Possess The Inheritance!

Study Introduction

 

Focus Verses: Romans 8:37; Joshua 1:9

 

I.         Some Preliminary Information

 

A.      The Typology of the Book

 

1.        The theme of the entire Bible is Jesus Christ. The Bible is like a Family Picture Album, full of pictures of God's Son!

2.        Everything in the Bible points to Jesus Christ and his redemption of mankind at the cross. These are called "types" or "pictures."

3.        A type is an Old Testament picture of a New Testament truth.

 

OLD TESTAMENT

NEW TESTAMENT

Israel

Christians - the church

Egypt

The world

Pharaoh

The antichrist

Passover Lamb

Jesus being our Sacrifice

The Exodus

Becoming a follower of Jesus

The Red Sea

Getting Baptized

Canaan - Promised Land

The Christian's Life

Joshua

Jesus leading to victory

Amonites, Midianites, etc

Our spiritual enemies

The Rock in wilderness

Jesus at His first Coming

Stone in Daniel's Vision

Jesus at His Second Coming

Leprosy

Sin

Oil

Holy Spirit - anointing

 

4.        Prophetically, the Book of Joshua is a picture of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ

5.        Inspirationally, it is a Picture of two things:

 

a.       The work of Jesus Christ in the life of the believer, bringing more and more of him under His control

b.       The Christian Warfare as the Christian conquers various areas of their own life as he fights against the world, flesh and the devil

 

6.        The Book of Joshua gives lessons How to carry on a Spiritual Warfare - it is a military Book laying out our orders as to how to engage the enemy, and win!


7.        Every Christian is supposed to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ

 

a.       "Fight the good fight…" (1 Tim 6:12)

b.       "I have fought a good fight..." (2 Tim 4:7)

c.       "Endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim 2:3)

d.       "No man that warreth entangleth himself..." (2 Tim 2:4)

e.       "We wrestle not against flesh and blood..." (Eph 6:12)

f.        "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Eph 6:10)

g.       "Put on the whole armour of God…" (Eph 6:11)

 

8.        The Book explains your new found inheritance in Christ

 

a.       You have to fight to maintain it

b.       When you get saved you don't get to rest, you get ready to fight!

 

B.       The Title of the Book - The Book of Joshua. This Book deal mainly with the life and leadership of one man - Joshua, the son of Nun

C.       The Author - Joshua

 

1.        The writer of this Book is probably Joshua himself (just as Moses wrote himself) under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2Pet 1:19-21).

2.        The significance of the name Joshua:

 

a.       Means Jehovah Saves!

b.       Joshua is the Old Testament name for Jesus.

c.       Joshua is called Jesus Acts 7:45, and Heb 4:8

 

3.        One of the original 12 spies (Num 13:8)

4.        Becomes an assistant to Moses

5.        Ultimately will be called of God to replace Moses (Dt 31:23)

 

D.      The Date of writing - 1400 B.C.

 

1.        Israel leaves Egypt: 1450 B.C.

2.        Moses dies (after finishing Genesis thru Deuteronomy): 1400 B.C.

3.        Joshua takes over: 1400 B.C.

4.        Solomon is around 1000 B.C.

 

E.       Joshua's audience

 

1.        To the Jews, to remember what God did to establish them in the land

2.        To the Christian (Rom 15:4)

 

F.       Its Importance and Significance. How you approach this Book will determine how you approach the Christian life, and the Second Coming of Christ (2 Tim 4:8)!

G.       Its Theme - "The Conquest of Enemy Territory"

 

1.        The fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding possessing the land of Canaan.

2.        Fighting the Good Fight!

 

H.      Its Placement in the Bible

 

1.        Part of the Old Testament - follows the Law of Genesis thru Deuteronomy

2.        The placement of the Book of Joshua: Like that of the book of Acts.

 

3.       The Pentateuch: Accounts of the person and works of Moses the Lawgiver.

4.       The Gospels: Accounts of the person and works of Jesus Christ the Gracegiver!

5.       Joshua: Details the establishment of the Jews in the land of Canaan.

6.       Acts: Details the establishment of the New Testament Church in the lives of believers!

 

II.    A Simple Outline Of The Book of Joshua

 

  1. The Preparation (1 - 5)

 

1.        To Serve - to be a great leader, you must first be a great servant (Mk 10:44)

2.        To Fight - fight the battles ahead instead of run from them!

3.        To Win - win instead of constantly lose!

 

  1. The Pulverization (6 - 12) - Fight for your inheritance
  2. The Possession (13 - 19)
  3. The Protection (20 - 21) - the Cities of Refuge
  4. The Perseverance (22 - 24) - to finish the job, and to stay faithful to God - not be halfhearted

 

III.     Conclusion

 

  1. What are We Going to Find in the Book of Joshua?

 

1.        The salvation of Rahab the Harlot.

2.        The Jordan river parting just like the Red Sea did.

3.        The Fall of the great city of Jericho.

4.        The defeat at Ai due to someone's "secret sins".

5.        A Battle where the Sun and Moon stand still at Joshua's command!

6.        The dividing-up of the promised land to the twelve tribes.

7.        The 6 Cities of Refuge.

8.        Two and one half-tribes attempting to compensate for being out of the will of God.

9.        The death of Joshua, and Israel struggling with how to follow God without great leadership! Trying to keep God as their leader!

 


B.       Answer the following questions from memory:

 

1.        Who is the author of the Book of Joshua?

2.        When was this Book written?

3.        Give the THEME to this Book:

4.        What was Egypt a "picture" of in the Old Testament?

5.        What was Pharaoh a "picture" of in the Old Testament?