“The Bible narrates God’s mission to restore creation. Israel’s mission flows from this: God chose a people to again embody God’s creational purposes for humanity and so be a light to the nations, and the Old Testament narrates the history of Israel’s response to their divine calling.” (Drama of Scripture, 13)
Look for the themes of Creation, Fall and Redemption in the story of Joshua.
• For example: Creation is seen in the description of Joshua as “filled with
the spirit of wisdom” (Deut 34:9) like Joseph (Gen. 41:37) and Bezalel
(Ex. 31:3).
• Points to Gen. 1:2. The Spirit at creation is with the new leader Joshua
(a new Adam).
• God’s overarching purpose: a special people who will bless the nations
• Israel was to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation
I. The LORD leads Israel to the land (1:1 – 5:12)
A. Crossing the Jordan (3): the ark led the procession
Map 1 (Canaan), Map 2 (Elevation), Map 3, Map 4 (flooded)
• A barrier… protection for the Canaanites…Baal…flood level (3:15)
• Trust: You must take the first step. But…20 miles upstream is Adam…The
sin of Gen. 3.
B. Twelve stones (4): “What do these stones mean?” (4:6) Forgetting leads
to sin!
• Lord’s Supper: “Remember”
C. New generation circumcised (5)
a. This generation has never been circumcised, not under the Abrahamic covenant.
b. “Do you trust Me?” YHWH is the one fighting!
i. Passover…The manna ceased (5:12)
II. The LORD gives Israel the land (5:13 – 12:24)
A. The LORD comes as commander (5:13-15)
B. The LORD brings down Jericho (6)
C. Achan’s sin and battles with Ai (7, 8)
D. Mt. Ebal (8:30-35)
E. The LORD gives victory (9 – 12)…Sun stands still? (10:12–14)
III. The LORD allocates the land (13 – 22)
A. Joshua 21:43-45
B. Conquest: the LORD’s work
Joshua 11:23 “Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Then the land had rest from war.”
Map of allocations.
IV. The LORD renews the covenant (23, 24)
• Shechem (24) (Joshua 8:30-25 Mt. Ebal Covenant renewal)
Lessons learned from Joshua
• It is time to enter the land, walk in courage, and do what your fathers
would not! Break the generational sin! (Ch. 1)
• It is time to step into the Jordan even when it is at flood stage! (Ch.
3)
• You must circumcise all your men when you are within the range of your
enemies and trapped by the Jordan River! (Ch. 5)
• You must attack Jericho with military means that are somewhat unconventional!
(Ch. 6)
• It is time to fight and take the Promised Land I have already given you!
(Book of Joshua)
Holy War
• The modern reader is troubled by such violence…
• Marcion: he got rid of the OT altogether!
• The harsh reality: God ordered total destruction (Deut. 7 and Joshua 6:21)
• We must resist glossing over this difficult history (these are real people)
• Violence among humans is a result of the Fall
• Context is needed
Cultural Context
a. war was part of their cultural reality (springtime was wartime)
b. God’s judgment on evil.
Gen. 15:16 “the sin of the Amorites (Canaanites) has not yet reached its
full measure.”
(Deut. 25). God is giving them hundreds of years to repent sacrificing children
(Lev. 18:21)…Daughters were given up to become temple prostitutes.
c. Israelites propensity toward idolatry (Deut. 20:10-18).
Conclusion
• Israel is God’s chosen people to be a light to the nations.
• Israel will eventually give birth to the Messiah (Rahab is in the lineage),
• “prophet like Moses” (Deuteronomy).
“Jesus comes on the scene and in his mission takes upon himself Israel’s
missionary vocation. He embodies God’s purpose for humanity and accomplishes
the victory over sin, opening the way to a new world.” (Drama of Scripture,
13)
Faith lessons
• Joshua 14:10-12 Caleb is 85 and still stepping out in faith!
• Joshua 5: “Are you for us or against us?” “Neither, I serve the LORD” You’re
not the star!
• Judges: Canaanites remain. The danger of going half-way:
• A prophet like Moses is still to come (Deut 24:10). Where do I fit into
the story?
“In our own time, standing as we do between Pentecost and the return of Jesus, our central task as God’s people is to witness to the rule of Jesus Christ over all of life.” (Drama of Scripture, 13)
Cycle illustration (Judges)
Next topic: Act 3, Scene 2: Judges
Please stick around for the Visioning Together Family Meeting!