AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JOSHUA

The Book of Joshua describes the conquest of the land of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua, the successor of Moses. Joshua had been an excellent understudy of Moses throughout the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Joshua had been with Moses at Mount Sinai (Exo.24v13) when Moses received the Ten Commandments. He was also one of the twelve spies (Num.13v8; Num.13v16). Of the older generation, only Joshua and Caleb were permitted to cross the Jordan River. Joshua was indeed a great man of tremendous faith, courage, and leadership ability, who believed that God could do everything that He promised. The Greek form of his name is "Jesus" (Heb.4v8 in the King James Version).

The deliverance which had begun in the Book of Exodus was completed in the Book of Joshua. Israel had to cross two bodies of water enroute to their final destination: (1) the Red Sea; (2) the Jordan River. Many never made it past the first one because of their unbelief and disobedience (Heb.3v7-19). Joshua was victorious in destroying the Canaanites because of a new breed of Israelite, those who took God at His word.

The main purpose of the book of Joshua was to show how God kept His original promise to Abraham and how wicked people were expelled. The children of those who had been redeemed out of Egypt by the blood of the Passover were now claiming the blessing of that redemption.

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