CANAAN IS CONQUERED (Joshua 11) Lesson # 26 BIBLE REFERENCE: (The book of Joshua) BOOK OF STUDY: Joshua Season of Study: Season of Bringing the

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1 CANAAN IS CONQUERED (Joshua 11) Lesson # 26 BIBLE REFERENCE: (The book of Joshua) BOOK OF STUDY: Joshua Season of Study: Season of Bringing the Savior into the world HISTORY The book of Joshua belongs to the history section of the Old Testament. Joshua is embraced in the Season of Bringing the Messiah into the world. Joshua records the history of the Children of Israel from the death of the great leader and lawgiver Moses, to their entering the land of Canaan (the Promised Land) and until a great portion of the land was possessed by them as a people. The Children of Israel, during Joshua s life, did not possess all the land promised them by God. Joshua, the minister to Moses, is credited with the authorship of this book bearing his name. The name Joshua is of Hebrew origin and means Jehovah is Salvation. Joshua is one of the two (2) men who departed Egypt with Moses and 1

2 was blessed and honored to cross into the Promised land. The other was the man Caleb. All other men who departed from Egypt perished in the wilderness because of disobedience. The ATS Bible dictionary says of Joshua, His last grand convocation of all Israel, at Shechem, and his solemn address to them and renewal of their covenant with God, form the worthy close of a life on which in the sacred records no blot rests. The book can be divided into three (3) sections: The defeat of the Canaanites, chapters 1 12; The Division of the land, chapters 13 21; and The Death of Joshua, chapters INTRODUCTION The last verse in Joshua chapter 11 says, So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war (Joshua 11:23). The conquest of the land of Canaan was another stage completed in Israel s purpose for bringing the Messiah into the world. God had established His leadership over the nation. God had given the law through Moses, and now God allowed the Children of Israel to conquer the land in which they would establish a nation to birth the Christ. The remaining chapters in Joshua (12 24) records the division of the land, and the death of Joshua. THE PRINTED TEXT (Joshua 11: 12 23). 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. 14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. 2

3 15 As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; 17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. 20 For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses. 21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. EXPLORING THE PRINTED TEXT I. PEOPLE TO THE NORTH (Joshua 11: 12 18). When studying the book of Joshua, we must keep in mind that the Children of Israel were not a warring people. Israel was a people purposed to bring the Messiah into the world. Israel was a people of worship. They were the children of Abraham, shepherds and sheep herders having suffered 430 years of slavery in Egypt. Being delivered from Egypt, the children of Israel spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness around Mt. 3

4 Sinai. These years were hard years for this Israel. They were more concerned with finding provisions in order to survive than in training for war and developing an army. However, once they crossed over into the Promised land their battle record was superior to any trained armies they faced. One has but to study a map of the period of war and battles Joshua fought over the years and conclude there must have been a superior power that fought on their side, giving them the victories they won. This power was the Almighty God, determined to bring His Son into the world. Joshua, in crossing the Jordan River, burst into the center of Canaan and beginning with Jericho, conquered all the middle country dividing Canaan. Having split the country in two, Joshua then marched south and conquered all the cities in the southern part of Canaan. Lastly, Joshua swung his army northward and for a number of years, according to the scripture, Joshua spent them conquering the cities of the north. Walking in the promise of the Almighty, Joshua and the army of Israel possessed the Promised Land. II. PEACE NOT AN OPTION (Joshua 11: 19) It is amazing that mankind without God seeks peace through war! However, peace is a characteristic of Jehovah. Jesus, who is God, declares, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). In verses 19 of Joshua chapter 11, it states, There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. Only one city in all of Canaan, the city of Gibeon, approached Israel desiring peace as Joshua fought to possess the land of Canaan. 4

5 This verse suggests that peace was an option for all the cities of Canaan. These multiple cities could have negotiated with Joshua and Israel for peace. However, the inhabitants of the land did not see peace as an option. Without God, these people were programmed for war and battle, and their approach to Israel s coming into the land was to fight. To them fighting was the only means of delivering themselves. The people of Canaan did not realize that in facing Israel they were facing the loving God of the universe. They had but to come and surrender to Israel, and they would have received deliverance from the Almighty God. III. PETRIFIED HEARTS (Joshua 11: 20) A very difficult passage in this 11 chapter of Joshua says, For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses. This does not mean that God purposely harden the hearts of the Canaanites so they would not accept Him. It was the people s choice to not accept and acknowledge the True God, that led to the hardening of the heart. Human resistance and rejection to God s love makes the heart hard! Hardening of the heart is not an activity of the holy, but an act of the human! Paul s writing to the Church of Rome addressed the process of heart hardening. Paul says, For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 5

6 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1: 20 25). IV. POSSESSION OF THE LAND COMPLETED (Joshua 11: 21 23). This chapter closes with the words, So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war. Completion of this stage in the divine plan (the Season) to bring the Messiah into the world, positioned Israel, the Children of Abraham, with all the divine provisions necessary to fulfill their purpose in the Almighty. Obedience would be the human element needed to add to the holy plan of God, to accomplish the will of Jehovah in bringing Jesus, the Christ, into the world. Israel came this far into God s plan through obedience, and it would be through their future obedience, by which the world would be blessed with the Savior! LIFE APPLICATION A man walked to the top of a hill to talk to God. The man asked, God, what s a million years to you? and God said, A minute. Then the man asked, Well, what s a million dollars to you? and God said, A penny. Then the man asked, God..can I have a penny? and God said, Sure..in a minute. 6

7 1. God Is 2. God Speaks WHAT WE KNOW ALREADY: PREMISE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: 3. God Speaks Through That Which Has Already Been Spoken - We believe the Bible to be the inerrant Word of God. WORKING DEFINITION OF GOD: God is the Personal Spirit, who in Holy Love, Creates. Orders, and Sustains all. SEASONS TO SPIRITUAL PERFECTION God created the physical universe in six (6) days. God creates the perfect universe in six (6) seasons. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of the heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:1-2). 1. Season of Beginnings - Genesis Season of Boundaries and Borders - Genesis Season of Bringing Christ or the Messiah into the World - Genesis 12 thru the Gospel of John. 4. Season of Broadcasting Christ to the World - Acts - Revelation 5. Season of Burdens and Tribulations - Revelation 6. Season of Birthing a New Creation - Revelation 7