Douglas Jacoby Podcast

OT Characters: Joshua

Episode Summary

Douglas continues his series on Old Testament Characters focusing in on the character of Joshua. He describes the life of Joshua and the lessons we learn about God from his life. He also includes ideas for how to teach this story and its lessons to your kids.

Episode Notes

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas' website.

Hebrew words:

• Yehoshua -- "God has saved", Joshua's new name after:
• Hoshea -- "He has saved" (Numbers 13:16). Moses was the one who changed his name.
• Joshua appears 223x in the Bible, 27x before the book of Joshua.
• Iesous (pronounced yay-SOOSS) -- The word in biblical Greek for both Joshua and Jesus.

Further study:

• Mentioned in this podcast
• Period of preparation
  • Born in Egypt (during Israelite slavery)
  • Exodus 17 -- appears in the Battle of Rephidim
  • Exodus 24:13, 32:17, 33:11 -- serves as Moses' assistant
  • Numbers 11:28 -- uncomfortable with God's making an exception to his normal way of working.
  • Numbers 14:6-10 -- He exhibits a great faith as he rejects the negative counsel of the spies.
  • Numbers 14:30 -- God will allow him to enter the Promised Land (even though neither Moses nor Aaron is permitted -- Numbers 20).
  • Numbers 27:18ff, Deuteronomy 34:9 -- Moses commissions him, and is told to encourage Joshua (Deuteronomy 1:38).
• Platform for spiritual success laid out (Joshua 1). Key concept: Success and confidence flow from obedience to God's word.
• Lifetime accomplishments
  • Assumes leadership of the nation (Joshua 1
  • Takes the land
    • Southern campaign (Joshua 2-10). Some miracles
    • Northern campaign (Joshua 11). No miracles.
  • Divides the land, allocating it to the 12 tribes (Joshua 13+)
  • Calls the people to commitment (Joshua 23-24)
• N.T. passages: Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8
• Advanced
  • See the book by Francis Schaeffer, Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History. Click here.

For more on the background of Joshua, see the excellent piece by James Greig. Click here.

About innkeepers and espionage, the Law of Hammurabi §109: “If scoundrels plot together in an innkeeper’s house, and she does not seize them and bring them to the palace, that innkeeper shall be put to death.”

Did Joshua marry Rahab? Click here.

Some things we learn about God:

• He gives us victory when we follow his word. 
  • God works through others to train us. Therefore we need to have a heart that is willing to "follow the leader," not acting in arrogance or a false "spontaneity."
  • We must follow his instructions.
  • Then we can call others also to follow.
• We learn more about God by carefully comparing both testaments. There are amazing parallels between Joshua and Jesus.
  • Joshua + Jesus (in Greek). Jesus is our salvation; God (in the flesh) is acting to save us.
  • Both are commanders, leading the people of God.
  • Both lead the people into the Promised Land.
  • Both rescue God's people from their enemies.
  • Both bring the people "rest."
  • Both call us to decision!
• We must discern what God is doing. Four events in Joshua's life are key to grasping this principle, and show how the great leader of God's people did not always see how the Lord was moving.
  • Numbers 11:28 (jealousy or possessiveness vis-a-vis how and in whom God words)
  • Joshua 5:13-15 (commander of army of the Lord). Different to the Jabbok (Genesis 32:22-32) and the Burning Bush (Exodus 3:1-4:17).
  • Joshua 7:1-26 (Ai) -- Leaders must have a godly concern for the purity of the camp (the people of God).
  • Joshua 9:3-27 (the Gibeonites) -- They failed to consult the Lord, thus misinterpreting his will.

For kids:

• Explain who Joshua is. Read portions of Joshua 1, and perhaps also the account of the fall of Jericho. (For an action devotional!)
• Ask questions:
  • "Be strong": Is God talking about our muscles, or something else?
  • "Obey": Whom do we need to obey? (Teachers, parents, policemen, God...) Who's the most important one to obey?
  • "Be brave": How can we be braver when we don't feel brave?
  • "Meditate on the Law": How can this make us stronger and braver?

Key verses:

• Deuteronomy 34:9 -- Moses lays hands on Joshua
• Joshua 1:8 -- Focus on God's Word
• Joshua 5:13-15 -- Encounter with commander of army of the Lord
• Joshua 24:15 -- Don't follow the crowd (even among the people of God)! Have your own convictions; lead your family.

Next lesson: Caleb