Journal Through the Bible: Week 32 Wednesday

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Joshua 13:1-14:15

These chapters recount the territory left to be conquered and the territory already settled on both sides of the Jordan River.  Of special interest is the territory given to Caleb, the only other spy besides Joshua to return to Moses with a good report of the land. The other spies were afraid of the Anakims that lived in the mountains. At the time of the original scouting assignment Caleb was 40 years old. Now, 45 years later, he requested that he be given the mountain where the Anakims lived as his inheritance. He was as fit for battle at the age of 85 as he was at the age of 40!

Does God issue any commands?

• (13:1-7) There was still much land to conquer but due to Joshua's advancing age God commanded him to divide it between the 9 1/2 tribes that were to inherit on the western side of the Jordan River.

Does God make any promises?

• (13:6) God promised to help the Israelites drive out the Canaanites that remained in the land.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Caleb is a type of Christ. "Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God." (14:7-8)  Jesus came unto his own but his own received him not (John 1:11) but they spoke against him and turned the hearts of the people away from Him. Nevertheless, the Prophet that was without honor in His own country wholly followed the LORD His God.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Caleb's sustaining strength over the 45 years was testimony to the fact that God can put an end to the aging process when He so chooses. Isaiah 65:20 makes it clear that in the Millennium age will have no affect upon a person. And Revelation makes it clear that a Christian who has died physically will never die again.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 32 Tuesday

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Joshua 11:1-12:24

As one would expect, the Canaanites would not go down without a fight! They combined forces in an attempt to defeat the Israelites.

And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.       Joshua 11:4-5

These chapters are an account of the kings and peoples that were conquered by Joshua on the west side of the Jordan River and by Moses on the east side before his death. No other inhabitants besides Gibeon even attempted to make a peace treaty with Israel and this was the LORD's doing.

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• God told Joshua not to fear the multitudes that made up the opposing armies. They were to hough the horses and destroy the chariots.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to deliver the multitudes into the hands of the Israelites. 

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• Joshua is a type of Jesus as the victorious conqueror.

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• Nothing that I identified.

Journal Through the Bible: Week 32 Monday

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Joshua chapter 10

After being deceived by the men of Gibeon into making them tributaries the men of Israel had to defend these servants from the Amorite kings and warriors from the city-states of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. God provided mighty weapons of great hailstones in the battle and an extra amount of daylight to get the job done. Afterward the Israelite army conquered Makkedah, Gezer, Debir, Kadesh-Barnea, Goshen, and Libnah.



Does God issue any commands?

• God told Joshua not to be afraid of the Amorites that they would be facing in battle.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to deliver the 5 kings and their cities into the hands of Joshua. He even answered Joshua's command to the heavenly bodies to stand still in the sky until the battle was concluded. (This is a reminder of Jesus' claim that faith as a grain of mustard seed could command mountains to move.)

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• Jesus is the Captain of the Host. He is not mentioned in this military campaign but He was introduced to Joshua at the start of Joshua's installation as general so we can be sure He is the member of the Godhead raining hailstones upon the enemy troops and causing the sun and moon to pause in their courses.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The final battles between the forces of God and the forces of Satan will end in decisive victories for God's people. Then they will obtain their inheritance that God has prepared for them.

TAKE TIME: Reading Assignment for August 12-17, 2013

Introduction: As we continue reading the book of Joshua this week we will read about more conquered territory and how they determined who settled where. Some of the territory was designated for Caleb, the only other of the original spies to inherit in the Promised Land.


Reading Assignment:

• Monday - Joshua chapter 10
• Tuesday - Joshua 11:1-12:24
• Wednesday - Joshua 13:1-14:15
• Thursday - Joshua chapter 15
• Friday - Joshua 16:1-17:18
• Saturday - Joshua chapter 18

Memory Verse

(Review last week's verse:) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8


Prayer Journal (ACTS)

• Adoration - This week take time each day to praise God for being the Provider.
• Confession - Ask God to reveal hidden sin in your life and then confess it.
• Thanksgiving - Thank God for your home.
• Supplication - What are your prayer requests this week? List them for future reference so that you can see how God answers.

Search the Scriptures

Look for references for each of the following:

• Promises that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?
• References that either refer to or infer something about future events.
• What does this passage teach about Jesus?
• Commandments that God made and to whom He made them. Do they apply to you?

Putting the Word into Action

Caleb is one of those men who believed the promises of God even though he was part of the minority. (Only Joshua agreed with Caleb's assessment as one of the original 12 to spy out the land of Canaan.)  As a result God rewarded Caleb. Take some time this week to read about other real-life heroes of the faith (more modern ones). Nothing helps motivate us toward good works than to see what other Christians did and how they were blessed for their efforts.