Joshua 21:1-42 records the final allotment of land in the Promised Land. The distribution of cities for the Levites stresses the importance of teaching God’s ways. Theology is communicated through a study of the ministry description of the Levites. Why was it so important for God’s people to have Levites throughout the Land (cf. Deuteronomy 33:8-11)? Worship was to be and always will be central for God’s people. There is no enjoying LifePlus without vital worship of God through faith in Christ’s sacrifice.

Chapter 20 discusses the remote-to-us concept of the cities of refuge.  I found it to be one of the most difficult sections in Joshua to preach.  God in His mercy continues to make provision for saints who sin in the Land while maintaining justice.  The need for this legislation shows how messy life can be for God’s people.  Verse 6 explains how long the manslayer stays in the city of refuge–until the death of the High Priest.  The death of the residing High Priest restored fellowship in Israel by clearing the guilt.  His death cancelled the debt owed by the manslayer.  Jesus’ death, which extends mercy and procures justice at the same time, is pictured in the death of the high priest that allowed the manslayer to return to his own town.  These cities showed how much God valued life.  This process helps explain why Scripture such as 1 John 1:9 work for us regularly.  In a messy world God continues to extend mercy while maintaining justice for those who believe.  The Church is one place where God’s people can find spiritual refuge. We know from 1 Corinthians 5 and 6 that the local church is supposed to be able to administer justice.

Chapters 14-19 in Joshua record how each tribe in Israel received their inheritance in the Promised Land. One way theology is conveyed in the narrative is the special pleas that are made for certain pieces of real estate (cf. vv. 14:6-12; 15:16-19; 17:3-6; 19:49-50; 21:1-2). Five individuals display the kind of faith and tenacity necessary to enjoy LifePlus. They are included in the narrative as examples to follow. How and why God gave them their request is important. 14:8, 9, 14 repeat the reason why Caleb received Land: “because he wholly followed the Lord.” We also learn that women request and receive Land. In 15:18-19 Caleb’s daughter asks her husband to ask Caleb for a field and a blessing of two springs to go along with the property. In 17:3-6 five daughters ask for property and it’s granted to them. In 17:14-18 the tribe of Joseph asks for more land in the Land, but their request is turned down. Joshua tells them to get busy and clear off the wooded land they had. In 18:2-6 Joshua has to encourage seven tribes to get busy taking their inheritance. They were not following through to possess their land and needed to be prodded along. The quest or non-quest for enjoying more of LifePlus (God’s salvation) is mirrored in these mini-narratives. One key Christological idea is contained in the fact that Caleb is from the tribe of Judah. He points to our Savior who is the true Heir of God’s life. Through Him all who believe have an eternal inheritance (cf. 1 Peter 2:5-10). Caleb’s description of being someone who “wholly followed the Lord” (cf. 14:8, 14) points to our Savior who perfectly obeyed God’s laws. Through His death, believers can take on His righteousness and receive an inheritance of eternal life.

Like the previous preaching portion, this one is also extremely long to handle in one sermon (Joshua 13-17). Plus, there are so many historical details that do not function for the Church. However, I’ve made this decision in light of the reoccurring themes found throughout the chapters. Verse 13:6 records what God promised He would do (“I myself will drive them out…”). That would give His people an opportunity to move in, thoroughly defeat their enemies, and enjoy their new location (note the repetition of “inheritance”). Tension develops in 13:13; 15:63; 16:10; and 17:12-13 as God’s people fail to completely drive out the enemies. It’s not only what God promised to do, but also what God determines His people must do in this fight. This shows us that the only thing that keeps Christians from enjoying all the Life God has made possible is our disbelief/disobedience, not the strength of our enemy. Often Jesus called His disciples, “O you little-faiths.” Only our Lord Jesus’ death on the cross would make victory over our enemies possible, thereby providing a spiritual inheritance to all who believe. You may want to track some uses of the term, inheritance, in the NT epistles. In a practical sense, every Christian must expend great amounts of energy defeating temptation by faith, in the power of the Spirit. Without this fight, we can never enjoy all that God has for us. The story, of course, drives us forward in history to our Lord who would one day enter that same Land and completely conquer our enemy on the cross. Romans 6 contains the same dual emphasis of what God has done in Christ and what we are responsible to do in light of what God has done. We believe the Gospel and we do not let sin reign in our bodies. Believers never let up in their fight against temptation and sin.

10:10-14 records what the Lord did to supernaturally defeat the enemy nations (cf. also 10:42 “…the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel”). The phrase, “do not fear,” is repeated in 10:8, 25; 11:6. Despite facing powerful foes, Christians can take courage in their fight to enjoy more of God’s life because He fights for them (and, along with them). The comprehensiveness of the victory is seen in the list of 31 kings which Joshua defeated (cf. 12:24). Fear should give way to faith in light of what God did through Joshua. The action of the “chiefs of the men of war” putting “their feet on their necks [of the defeated kings]” (cf. 10:24) foreshadows Jesus defeating our enemies through His death and resurrection. Cf. Psalm 110:1. Jesus’ death and burial mirrored the plight of the five defeated kings who were hung on trees and buried in caves closed by large stones (cf. Josh. 10:26-27). God’s victory through Christ guarantees our victory over the forces of darkness that threaten our spiritual lives.

It’s one thing to read history that shows how Joshua won battles for God’s people. It’s another thing to discover the theology of these narratives–the ability to understand how Joshua’s victories become ours. Joshua chapters 10:1–12:24 record God’s victory over a long list of kings. Chapter 12 lists 31 kings. It might be helpful to preach this lengthy section with the following theological ideas: (1) God’s people were fighting against kings or rulers or authorities who had their own warriors (cf. Joshua 10:1-5; 11:1-5; 12:1-24 for a list of kings). This is important in light of Paul’s descriptions in Ephesians 6:12 and Colossians 2:15 (notice the “rulers…authorities…cosmic powers” and “rulers and authorities” respectively). (2) 10:8-14 records the miraculous way God fought for His people, including the way He answered Joshua’s prayer for extra daylight. (3) Because the Lord fights for His people they can go ahead and conquer temptation and sin and enjoy LifePlus (cf. 10:22-25; 11:6-12, 23; 12:1, 6, 7). 10:22-25 contain the scene where Joshua commands his chief warriors to come and put their feet on the necks of the defeated kings. (4) Finally, we must ask how God makes victory possible for those who believe. You might begin by noting that on the cross Christ suffered a fate similar to the defeated kings as recorded in 10:26-27 “…Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees….and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave…and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave…” Through His death and resurrection Christ completely conquered His enemies (cf. Ps. 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25; Heb. 10:13 “waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.”). All who believe will one day experience a similar complete victory (cf. Rom. 16:20 “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet…”). This process shows how we can move from the victories in Joshua’s day to victories in our lives, allowing Joshua to function for the Church.

Joshua 9 records the story of Joshua being tricked by some Gibeonites. Verse 14 explains why this happened: “So the men…did not ask counsel from the Lord.” Obviously, this decision functions as a bad example, a “go and do otherwise” goal of the narrative. Thankfully, Joshua and the rest of “the leaders of the congregation” (v. 18) followed that blunder with obedience: they made an oath and stuck by it despite pressure from the Israelites. How do we follow their faith? How do we remain humble and in need of God’s guidance? It begins by seeing our Lord Jesus Christ in this story. Three times near the end of the chapter we read of the Gibeonites becoming “cutters of wood and drawers of water” (cf. vv. 21, 23, 27). In v. 27 we read that this service was performed “for the altar of the Lord.” This was said to be a curse (cf. v. 23 “you are cursed…”). Our Savior was the Servant who suffered the curse of God (cf. Gal. 3:13). All the wood cut and water drawn by the Gibeonites was used to sacrifice sacrifices which pointed to the ultimate Sacrifice of Jesus. Seeing and savoring our Savior will slowly but surely drive independence out of us.

Joshua 8:30-35 records a covenant renewal service that Joshua initiated. One important theological issue is the connection between this renewal service and the preceding narratives. Through a victory (Jericho) and then a defeat (Ai), Joshua realizes that success in the Promised Land is the result of a healthy relationship with God. Notice the dual emphasis of worship (the altar) and the Word (“a copy of the law of Moses” in v. 32). The intent is to bless God’s people (v. 33), but “all the words of the law” are read, “the blessing and the curse” (v. 34). Joshua read it all. Of course, we know the rest of the Story: Israel didn’t believe it all. God’s people ended up receiving the curses because of their unbelief/disobedience. But our Savior would enter the scene to be sacrificed on a cross not far from that same location. As Galatians 3:13 says, He became a curse for us. As we look on Him each weekend we are able to renew the covenant practically speaking and worship through the Word.

Joshua 7–8:29 could easily be broken into two or three messages united by the thought of what God does (or doesn’t do?) when His people sin against Him. After a spectacular victory comes a stunning defeat. What happened? Where was God?!? 7:12 presents a clear reason for spiritual weakness: “Therefore [due to Israel’s sin] the people…cannot stand before their enemies….I will be with you no more, unless…” Notice that one man is responsible for the defeat of the entire nation (cf. Romans 5:12-14; 1 Corinthians 5:6; 12:12-14). God is very gracious to His people to expose the sin and the sinner. This story, however, is not just about one man being responsible for spiritual defeat. It’s also about one Man being responsible for spiritual victory for all who believe. Our Savior is pictured in a couple of ways: (1) Achan was from the tribe of Judah, the tribe from whom our Lord would emerge; (2) Jesus’ crucifixion and becoming a curse for us is seen in the way in which the king of Ai was executed (cf. 8:29). By faith Christians confess their sin and receive forgiveness and cleansing (cf. 1 John 1:9).

Joshua 6 records the victory that God’s people enjoyed over the inhabitants of Jericho.  It deserves status as the most famous of all the stories in Joshua, partly because this is the first recorded victory in the Land.  God would not always fight like this, but this first conquest in the Land becomes paradigmatic for our spiritual battles.  Verses 1-2 should not be overlooked since they describe the condition of God’s enemies, our enemies.  Despite the fact that Jericho had competent soldiers, they are already defeated by their fear of God.  Colossians 2:13-15 teaches us that God has “disarmed” the spiritual authorities.  Then, in verses 3-26 we learn how victories are won in the Christian life.  God’s bizarre instructions means Israel must be totally dependent on Him while they marched and made music.  Joshua obeys God and the people obey Joshua, everyone displaying a faith that conquers Jericho and saves Rahab (cf. Hebrews 11:30-31).  One key to this chapter is the repetition of the Ark, the presence of God in the middle of His people (cf. vv. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13) and the blowing of trumpets (cf. vv. 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 13, 16, 20).  This is why God’s people can live victoriously.  Finally, in v. 26 we encounter a clue as to why Christians can expect to experience continual spiritual victories.  The clue is found in Joshua’s curse: “At the cost of his firstborn…”  Colossians 1:15, 18 describe our Lord Jesus Christ as God’s firstborn son.  It is through His death that we have victory over sin and Satan.  When Christ returns to complete His conquest it will not be seven priests blowing trumpets, but seven angels (cf. Revelation 8:2; 18:2, 8, 10, 20; 19:1-3)!  The fall of Jericho creates a significant rise in our faith!