THE CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND
A Devotional Study of Joshua
by Max Frazier, Jr.
Introduction and Table of Contents
I would like to share with you some thoughts from one of my favorite Old Testament books. The Book of Joshua was written by the man who succeeded Moses as the leader of the people of Israel. It relates the events of the conquest of the land promised to these people by God. It is not a definitive account, but is a record of the major events of that conquest. The book closes with the land being divided to the various tribes.
The name, Joshua, means "God is salvation." Throughout this book, Joshua is depicted as a man of prayer, courage, dependence upon God, faith, leadership, enthusiasm, and fidelity. He ranks second only to David as being one of the greatest military leaders Israel has ever had.
The theme of the Book of Joshua is "the conquest of the promised land." I have chosen as the key verse of the book, Joshua 1:9, which states, " Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." What a fantastic promise is made to us in that verse.
"Don't be afraid!" That is what God told Joshua. In fact, the Bible tells us 365 times that we are not to be afraid. (I find it more than a coincidence that God gives us one command not to fear for each day of the year. I believe that God knew that being fearful would be one of the great problems mankind would face everyday.)
A study was conducted concerning those things which caused people to become afraid. The results of that study were interesting. Only twenty percent of our worries or fears are legitimate. That means that eighty percent are either unreal or things over which we have no control. Someone has said, "Worry (which really is at the heart of many of our fears) is assuming responsibility God never intended you to have." The late Corrie ten Boom, a survivor of the Nazi holocaust, wrote, "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength."
God can set us free from fear, but He does not always set us free from the difficulties nor the problems which might become a catalyst for fear. Joshua faced many uncertainties:
1. The death of Moses: Would the people accept him as the new leader?
2. A flooded Jordan: How would they get across?
3. Jericho and beyond: How would they defeat the giants which were in the land?
4. His age: Joshua was well past the age of 80. Could he bridge the generation gap?
Joshua was afraid, so God had to give him a pep talk in being strong and courageous. Tomorrow we will begin to examine those truths which God shared with this great leader.
Friends, give your fears to God today. He knows your heart and your situation. He is asking you to be strong and courageous, and you can do this with His help.
Lord, we thank You for Your faithfulness. We thank You for Your promises. We ask that we might cast all our fears and cares at Your feet because we rest in the promise that You care for us. Make us strong and courageous today for those events which You will bring into our lives. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
| Devotional Study of Joshua - Table of Contents | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua 1 | Joshua 6 | Joshua 11 | Joshua 18-19 |
| Joshua 2 | Joshua 7 | Joshua 12 | Joshua 20 |
| Joshua 3 | Joshua 8 | Joshua 13 | Joshua 22 |
| Joshua 4 | Joshua 9 | Joshua 14 | Joshua 23 |
| Joshua 5 | Joshua 10 | Joshua 17 | Joshua 24 |
We have one request of you: Please read the appropriate passage of Scripture before you join us in these studies. Better yet, read the passage of Scripture and choose your own key verse, which to you reflects the key message of the chapter. This will encourage you in your own searching of the Scriptures!
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