Joshua 10 (7)

Read Joshua 10.

Reflect.
1.  Which aspects of Israel’s southern campaign most speak to you of God’s faithfulness?

2.  What can you learn from this chapter about being faithful to God’s calling on your life? 

Think about it.
Realizing the promises of God is hard work. The land of promise – the land of Canaan – stands symbolically for all the promises of God’s covenant (Gen. 12.1-3). God does not simply drop those promises in our lap. He will be faithful in giving us His promises, but we must be faithful in following His directions concerning how to lay hold on them.

Israel’s relationship with Gibeon mirrors God’s relationship with Israel. As Gibeon deceived Israel into a covenant relationship, so Jacob deceived his brother and father to gain the covenant with God. Israel had to fulfill their covenant obligations to Gibeon, just as God is faithful in fulfilling His covenant promises with us – His sinful and needy people.

At a spiritual level, Joshua’s victories over enemies who refuse to submit to God is a symbol of Jesus’ victories over all our spiritual foes. Aren’t we glad that Jesus has bound them and will one day destroy them utterly?

God’s sovereignty over peoples, places, and even time is clearly seen in Israel’s campaign throughout the southern region of Canaan. We see Him mightily at work on behalf of His people, and them mightily at work in obedience to Him, so that they might claim the land He has prepared for them.

The conquest of Canaan is a type of the life of faith. Keeping our focus on God’s promises – and on Jesus, in Whom all those promises are fulfilled (2 Cor. 1.20) – we obey the Lord’s direction each step of the way, looking to Him for the courage and strength we need to lay hold on the promises He earnestly desires for us to have.

Meditate and discuss.
1.  What do you learn from Joshua 10 about laying hold on the promises of God? How do the promises of God factor into your daily work?

2.  God is faithful to His Word, and He expects us to be faithful to it as well. What does this suggest about the place God’s Word should have in our lives?

3.  God is sovereign, His Word is true, and His promises are sure. How should knowing this guide our lives each day?

“Not without cause, then, in the end of the chapter, is the goodness of God expressly celebrated, as it had been made manifest that he was fighting for Israel, when Joshua at once took and vanquished so many kings, with their territories. Indeed, he could never, even in a course of inspection, have passed so quickly from city to city, had not a passage been divinely opened by the removal of obstacles.” John Calvin, Commentary on Joshua(1509-1564 AD)

I know You are sovereign and faithful, O Lord. Help me to be faithful and obedient so that…

Pray Psalm 149.
We return to this psalm because it reminds us of the importance of being skillful in wielding the Word of God. Praise the Lord for this week’s victories, and commit yourself anew to the work that lies ahead in the week to come.

Psalm 149 (Toulon: I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art)
Sing to the Lord a glorious song and new!
Praise Him you people, to Whom praise is due!
Let us rejoice, let us be glad in Him
Who has created us and cleansed our sin.

Praise Him with dance, with tambourine and lyre!
To be so praised is God’s one great desire.
Lord, beautify Your holy ones with grace; 
Show us the mercy of Your saving face.

Sing to the Lord, exult with great delight!
Sing on your beds with joy to God by night!
Sing praise and take His Word into your hand;
Publish His grace and wrath in every land!

T. M. Moore

The seven lessons in this week’s study in the book of Joshua, and all previous weeks, are available as free downloads by clicking here.

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here. And when you order, we’ll send you a free copy of Bricks and Rungs: Poems on Calling.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).