Joshua 1 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Joshua 1 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• The book of Joshua picks up where Deuteronomy left off. The Israelites were just about to enter the Promised Land after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C., which places the events recorded in Joshua 1 at approximately 1450 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Israelites (Hebrews) – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God granted them freedom after several hundred years in slavery in Egypt. Leading up to the book of Deuteronomy, the Israelites had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness as they made their way to Canaan, the land God promised to give them as a home.

• Joshua - Moses’ assistant while he led the people in the wilderness. God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites after Moses’ death.

• Moses – Moses led the nation of Israel out of slavery in Egypt by the power of God. His death was the final event recorded in Deuteronomy.

WHERE:

• Deuteronomy 1:5 tells us Moses spoke the words recorded in Deuteronomy while in Moab.

• Moses died on Mount Nebo (at the top of Pisgah). The Book of Joshua begins at the Israelites’ encampment near the mountain. The exact location of their camp appears to be a place called Shittim (3:1).   

OUTLINE:

• GOD COMMISSIONS JOSHUA AS LEADER OF ISRAEL (1:1-9):

  • Moses died on the top of Mount Pisgah and was buried by God (Deut 34).

  • After his death, God spoke to Joshua and told him to prepare to take the Israelites across the Jordan River.

  • God promised to give Israel the land west of the Jordan, from the wilderness to the Euphrates River and from the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea.

  • God assured Joshua that no opposing army would be able to defeat Israel because the Lord fought for them.

  • He encouraged Joshua to be “strong and very courageous” and to keep the laws of God on his mind continually.

• JOSHUA PREPARES THE PEOPLE FOR THE RIVER CROSSING (1:10-19):

  • Calling the officers of the people to himself, Joshua instructed them to go through the camp and prepare the people to cross the Jordan River within three days.

  • Joshua reminded the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh that, although they had decided to live east of the Jordan, they needed to keep their word and help their countrymen conquer the land west of Jordan (see Numbers 32 for more explanation).

  • The men from the 2 ½ tribes confirmed to Joshua they would keep their word and help their brothers fight until all the land was subjugated.
    

APPLICATION:

• Let’s be content to play a supporting role in God’s story.

• We are not the main character in the story God is telling.

• Not even a great man like Moses was the main character.

• When Moses died, the story continued, and when we die, the story will continue.

• God is the main character of His story; He is the one driving the plot.

• Learning that truth should be humbling, but it should also make us feel privileged, privileged to get a role in a production that is so much bigger than ourselves.