Here are a few thoughts from the opening chapters of Joshua.
· Here’s
another outline of Joshua:
o
Joshua 1-5: entering Canaan
o
6-12: Conquering Canaan
o
13-22: Dividing Canaan
o
23-24: Joshua forever!
· 1:2:
Moses must die before Jesus/Joshua can exercise authority (Rom. 7:1-4). 1:7: Jesus/Joshua will have to keep the law
(Rom. 8:1-4).
· What
the people IN the land knew about God’s dealing with Israel:
o
2:8-11, Rahab indicated all the people of the
land knew God’s great works and that He had given the land to Israel. Rahab’s response indicated she was a believer
(James 2:25; Heb. 11:31).
o
9:24, The Gibeonites also knew God gave the land
to Israel through Moses. In other words,
they believed the word of God!
· Here are some additional thoughts on Rahab.
o
2:12-13: Rahab interceded for and delivered her
father’s household. Her reward is great!
But the family still had to go to her house.
o
2:1: she was a harlot. 2:15: her house was on the wall. 6:17: when the walls fell her house remained
secure; thus that section of the wall did not fall.
o
Thus her family would have had to be in her home
before the walls fell. But they could not have known on day 1 if that was the
day, though it might have looked like it. And day 2, 3, etc.
o
This illustrates the faithful faith of 2 Peter
3. Scoffers will say, “you’ve been promising His coming for years but He hasn’t
come.” But He will and when He does
there will be no access into God’s safe-house.
Like Noah, who preached 100 years.
But when the flood waters came it was too late to enter into God’s rest. Rahab's family had to endure six days before
the day of salvation.
· 2:24:
Quite a different report than 38+ years earlier. Before, there were giants. Now the people of the land are fainthearted.
· 3:7:
God exalted Joshua, as He would the greater Joshua (Jesus) many years later.
· 5:9:
I.e. there was no longer a reason for the Egyptians to doubt God, or to despise
the people. Now the issue is God’s glory
seen in the land of Canaan.
· 5:10-12:
They ate food that belonged to the Canaanites. But God gave it to Israel. So
Israel felt free to eat it. They knew the people of Jericho wouldn’t need it.
· 5:13-15: What an amazing, and important, experience
for Joshua, meeting the future and greater Joshua. Joshua asked the wrong question, “are you for
us or our enemies?” It’s not that God
was not “for” Israel. He is “for” those who “follow” Him. The issue now is for Joshua to understand the
holiness of God.
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