Joshua and The Conquest

1406–1399 BC

Book of Joshua

~ Before the Israelites reached the border of the Promised Land, they rejected God’s invitation to enter and were sentenced to wander in the wilderness until that unbelieving generation had passed away. After forty years, the Lord called Moses to ascend Mount Nebo, where He showed him the land of promise. There, Moses died, and God Himself buried him.

Moses’s aid, Joshua, son of Nun, was chosen to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. He is described as a man filled with the spirit of leadership and wisdom (Num. 27:18, Deut. 34:9). In the same way God parted the Red Sea as Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, God parted the Jordan River at flood stage for the children of Israel to enter the Promised Land.

After seven years of conquest, the land was divided and allotted to the twelve tribes of Israel.

The book of Joshua records many battles. At Jericho, the Lord worked through an unlikely ally—a prostitute named Rahab. She hid the Israelite spies and ensured their safety. In return, they promised that all within her household would be spared when the city fell. Remarkably, Rahab is later included in the genealogy of Jesus and is commended in Scripture for her faith (Mat. 1:5, Heb. 11:31).

All went well for a while, but after Joshua and the elders died, Israel fell into idolatry.

~ After stretches of blatant idolatry, God raised up and anointed judges to lead His people into repentance and freedom.

Significance

• Joshua and Jesus share the same name. In Hebrew, they both mean “Yahweh is salvation.”
• Courage comes from God’s Presence with us.
• Israel’s victories weren’t because of superior weapons or numbers but because they obeyed God’s commands.
• Our decisions affect not only ourselves but our families and future generations (Josh. 24:15).