The book of Joshua shows that God keeps His promises, even when they seem impossible. In this book, God grants Israel the land He had promised them. The focus is less on Joshua or military strategy, and more on God’s faithfulness to his covenant.
The promised land symbolizes God's gift of rest for His people, ending centuries of slavery and decades in the wilderness. Finally, they reside in the land God promised them.
Accounts of war against the Canaanites raise difficult questions. It’s important to remember that the Canannites were a corrupt culture, and this was a unique moment in redemptive history. God was creating a new Eden and needed to remove the seed of the snake. Joshua highlights God's holiness and justice as well as his faithfulness.
Joshua's name itself means YHWH saves, underscoring the book's message that God is faithful to keep His word. He allows us to participate in his work through obedience to him.
The Big Idea of Joshua
S: Why should God's people take courage?
C: Because God is faithful to keep his covenant promises.
BI: Take courage, because God always keeps his covenant promises.
Entrance to the Land (1:1-5:12)
1
S: How does God fulfill his promises after Moses dies?
C: By providing a new leader who trusts him.
BI: God provides for his people through godly, temporary leaders.
2
S: How does God demonstrate his power in the face of obstacles?
C: Often, he uses unlikely people.
BI: God often shows his power in the face of obstacles through the least likely people.
3-4
S: Why does God lead his people through the Jordan?
C: To show that he is with them, just as he was with Moses.
BI: God is going before us as he’s gone before people like us.
(Big idea from Big Idea Companion)
5:1-12
S: Why must Israel first circumcise themselves and celebrate Passover?
C: Because they must consecrate themselves as they look to the future.
BI: Consecrate yourself as you look to the future.
Conquest (5:13-12:24)
5:13-15
S: What is the message God sends to Joshua before he enters Jericho?
C: That God, not Joshua, is the commander of a battle we can’t see.
BI: The Lord, not us, is the commander of a battle we can’t see.
6
S: How does Israel win its first victory?
C: By trusting God and obeying his commands.
BI: God delivers his people as they simply trust and obey.
7
S: Why was Israel defeated?
C: Because God judged Achan’s sin.
BI: One person’s sin affects many.
8
S: How does God respond to repentant covenant-breakers?
C: He is faithful in keeping his covenant.
BI: God keeps his covenant with repentant covenant breakers.
9
S: Why did Israel make a covenant with Gibeon?
C: They were deceived.
BI: Be careful of being deceived into sin.
10:1-15
S: Why can God’s people have confidence?
C: Because God fights for us.
BI: We can have confidence because God fights for us.
10:16-12:24
S: Why does God grant Israel victory?
C: To keep his promises to his people and to judge sin.
BI: God both keeps his promises and judges sin.
Dividing the Land (13-21)
13-19
S: What does God do for his people?
C/BI: God keeps his promises and gives his people rest.
14:6-15
S: What role can older saints play?
C: They can apply God’s faithfulness in the past to the challenges of the present.
BI: Older saints can apply God’s faithfulness in the past to the challenges of the present.
17:13-18:10
S: What danger did Israel face?
C: Failing to take hold of what God had given them.
BI: Don’t fail to take hold of what God has given you.
Covenant Matters (22-24)
22
S: What danger do we face in peacetime?
C: Losing our zeal for God’s honor.
BI: Don’t lose sight of God’s honor in times of peace or war.
23-24
S: What should we do in light of what God has done?
C: Serve him and no one else.
BI: In light of what God has done, serve him and no one else.
