A Review of the Whole Book of Joshua – Getting What’s Rightfully Yours.

Welcome to the Episode!

In today’s episode, we take a step back to look at the book of Joshua as a whole. After journeying through this powerful biblical text over the past couple of months, we now explore its central message: obtaining what is rightfully ours in Christ.

Have you ever wondered why you don’t always feel the full love, peace, and joy that God promises? Joshua teaches us that these blessings are already ours—we simply need to claim them. Just as God gave Israel the Promised Land and instructed them to take possession of it, He has given us spiritual blessings in Christ. But we must prepare, step forward in faith, and actively live out His promises.

Join me as I recap Joshua’s major themes:

• Entering the Promise (Chapters 1–5): Preparation and knowing what God has promised.
• Conquering the Land (Chapters 6–12): Spiritual battles and trusting God for victory.
• Claiming the Inheritance (Chapters 13–21): Taking hold of God’s blessings.

This episode will help you see how Joshua is not just a historical account but a practical guide to living a victorious Christian life. Let’s explore how to step into the fullness of God’s promises and get what is rightfully ours!

Key Takeaways:

• Understanding God’s promises is the first step to experiencing His blessings.
• Spiritual battles are won through faith, obedience, and God’s power.
• Fully possessing God’s promises requires action and perseverance.

Thanks for listening, and may you be encouraged to walk boldly in the spiritual inheritance that is already yours!

Transcript

A Review of the Whole Book of Joshua – Getting What’s Rightfully Yours.

Transcript:

This morning, I want to begin by asking you an intensely personal questions: 

Do you feel that you have all the love you truly deserve? 

Do you experience the peace and joy that you believe should be yours? 

I firmly believe that as a child of God, you are entitled to an immeasurable amount of these blessings. I’m not merely offering a pretty picture of what could be; I’m saying that these spiritual blessings are already yours. 

If you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died on the cross to pay for your sin and rose again as your Savior, then Scripture assures us that you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places (see Ephesians 1:3). Furthermore, the Bible teaches that God’s love has been poured into your heart (Romans 5) and that the peace He gives is not like the world’s fleeting peace (John 14). That peace is your birthright as a believer.

Overview of Joshua: (review what I’ve learnt what  was new to me after traveling together through this book for over a month now.

Today, I want to give an entire book of Joshua seeing this text we have just journey through for a couple of months as one cohesive narrative about obtaining what is rightfully yours….

The book of Joshua is typically divided into three parts:

Chapters 1–5: Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land,

Chapters 6–12: The conquest of the land, and

Chapters 13–21: The division of the land among the tribes, with a few chapters serving as an appendix.

At its heart, Joshua tells us that: “The Promised Land is yours.” God declared it, and then He said, “Now go and possess it!” 

Spiritually speaking, this is analogous to God saying, “I have given you the title to the blessings in Christ; now go claim them.” So. the real subject of Joshua is not merely this historical conquest—it’s about learning how to obtain what already belongs to you.

The first five chapters of Joshua serve as his and the peoples preparation. 

In chapter 1, God clearly promises Joshua and the Israelites, “All this land I have given you.” That promise is repeated throughout the chapter, emphasizing that you cannot claim your inheritance without first knowing what God has promised you. 

Now for us that means that just as a doctor must know medicine or a lawyer must understand the law, you must know God’s Word in order to possess His blessings.

But knowing the promise is not enough. You have to embrace it.

In chapter 2, Joshua sends spies to survey the enemy. This teaches us that while God’s promises are secure, we must also be aware of who the enemy is and how overcome the enemy’s opposition by understanding who they are.

So, the opening of Joshua calls us to:

·        Know Your Inheritance: Understand what God has promised you by studying His Word.

·        Recognize the Opposition: Be aware that while the blessings are already yours, the enemy still tries to impede you.

·        Go and Possess It: Actively step into the full possession of your spiritual inheritance.

That set the stage for our journey through Joshua—a journey that teaches us how to get what is rightfully ours in Christ.

Scripture like these opening chapter of Joshua I believe are meant to serve as tools to instructs us and to help us understand the nature of our spiritual enemies.  But we also need to note that through them we can recognize that the world, the flesh, and the devil are not unconquerable forces, they have already been defeated for us in Christ. 

In 1 John, we are told that if you trust in Jesus, you have overcome the world. Similarly, Paul reminds us in Galatians 5 that when we walk in the Spirit, the lust of the flesh is no longer our master. Colossians confirms that Satan was defeated on the cross, and James assures us, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

So even before entering the spiritual battle, it is vital to know that God has promised us victory. 

This truth is for the first time in the bible (many times later) powerfully illustrated in Joshua chapter 2, where the spies report that the inhabitants of the land are terrified because God’s power has already subdued the enemy.

Then in Joshua chapter 3, God miraculously parted the Jordan River, allowing the people to cross on dry ground. This extraordinary act is a clear demonstration of the power behind God’s promise. 

In chapter 1, God had declared, “All this land is yours.” And in chapter 3, He showed that He is fully able to fulfill that promise. 

In Joshua chapter 4, as they prepared for the coming battles, the Israelites were commanded to set up a memorial—a pile of stones—to remind them that “the hand of the Lord is mighty.” This memorial was not merely about remembering past miracles; it was meant to cultivate a reverent awe of the Lord, a fear of God that is deeply intertwined with faith and trust.

When we take these lessons together from the first five chapters of Joshua, we see a clear pattern:

·        God makes His promise.

·        They learn about the enemy and His vulnerabilities.

·        They witness the power of God in miraculous ways.

·        They are taught to fear (in the sense of trust and reverence) and obey the Lord before engaging in battle.

Of course these same principles apply to our own spiritual lives. 

The Apostle Paul in Ephesians 1 tells us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places, and he prays that our hearts may be enlightened to understand the hope of our calling. 

So similarly, in the book of Romans, we learn that recognizing our sin and receiving justification by faith is only the beginning. True sanctification—and the full realization of our spiritual inheritance comes as we grow in our understanding of God’s Word and live it out in our lives.

Simply put: You cannot possess what is rightfully promised to you, if you do not first know what God has promised. 

Just as the Israelites had to be thoroughly prepared, both by understanding the promises and recognizing the reality of the opposition, so must we diligently study and obey what the bible teaches if we are to experience the full blessings that God has for us.

We have a country in Europe called IKEA, they sell this great self-assembly furniture. Do you know what I used to do when I bought it, I opened the box and started assembling it. 

And it would never be right, a bit wouldn’t fit here or something would drop off. Do you know what I did then, I read the instructions. 

If you don't read the instructions, you're going to make a mess, but if you then you read the instructions. It'll work. 

Please hear me. You got to know what the word of God said. And if your life isn't fitting together and working it is because you aren't following the instruction. 

Think about that. The reason you don't possess all of the love and joy and peace that God intended for you to have? Is probably because you aren't following the instructions, it’s not rocket science. 

If you don't know about the promises of God and the power of God. If you don't know just how defeated your enemy really is and you don't know the key to all that. Then you’re already in trouble. 

So, if you're to get what's coming to you, you must, prepare to possess your possessions by knowing about the Word of God. But there is more. 

The Second part of the book: Taking the Land by Conquering the Enemy.

The second major section of Joshua focuses on Israel’s actual conquest of the land. This teaches us that it isn’t enough just to prepare, you must actively go and drive out the enemy. And that’s exactly what Israel did next.

In Joshua chapters 6 through 12, we witness a series of epic battles. 

Chapters 6–8 describe the central campaign, while chapters 9 and 10 recount the southern campaign, where Israel moved south and defeated its foes. 

At I first began to work through this book these last 27 episodes, I half expected it to be a display of human effort in battle, an emphasis on obeying God and fighting fiercely. But as I studied further, I discovered a humbling truth: in every campaign, every city conquered, every enemy defeated, it was God who ultimately granted the victory.

Israel’s success wasn’t merely the result of their efforts, but it was the result of God’s supernatural intervention.

In Joshua 6 the account of Jericho’s fall is striking indeed. Joshua instructs the people to march around the city, and on the seventh day, when the priest sounded the trumpet, Joshua proclaimed, “The Lord has given you the city!” The victory was achieved simply by obeying God’s instructions; God Himself brought down the walls of Jericho.

Likewise, in Joshua 8, we read about the defeat of another city. In verse 7, Joshua is told to arise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord will deliver it into his hands. 

The pattern repeats in chapter 10, which details the southern campaign: God routed the enemy before Israel. And in chapter 11, the Lord reassures Joshua, “Do not be afraid, for tomorrow I will deliver all your enemies into your hand,” a promise that was fulfilled as the northern forces were vanquished.

Time and again, we see that God’s power was the decisive factor. Hebrews 11:30 reminds us, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” 

The clear message is this: trust in God, for He is the one who brings victory.

This is exactly what the New Testament teaches about our spiritual life. In Galatians chapter 2, Paul declares,

“I have been crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live—not I, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

(Galatians 2: 20)

I must repeat it: the bottom line of the Bible is faith. It is by faith that we receive salvation, and it is by faith that the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.

Think of it this way: our salvation is entirely by faith, and you can do nothing to earn it. But our ongoing spiritual life, our sanctification, involves both trusting in God’s power and actively engaging in the fight against sin. 

The Israelites were not passive; they acted when God commanded, and that is our model. We rely on God’s supernatural power, yet we must also step up and fight the battles in our lives.

The Bible says, "Walk in the Spirit, and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." It does not say sit or sleep in the Spirit. Walking takes effort. In fact, "walking" is the most frequently used term in the New Testament to describe the spiritual life. And you walk that way also.

Let me make a quick observation at this point, something I’ve just really grasped properly for the fist time whilst we have been studying the book together.

If you examine the book carefully, you will see something remarkable about how God works. There are times when God does it all, Jericho is the perfect example. The Israelites marched around the city, and the walls fell flat. They did not need to fight; God worked supernaturally and single-handedly secured the victory.

Then, there are times when God works and calls you to work too. Again, look at Jericho: after the walls collapsed, the Israelites still had to take the city. 

There were subsequent battles where God promised victory, but the people had to fight for it. God empowered them, but they had to go through the struggle.

There are also times when it appears that you are doing it all yourself. But in reality, God is at work behind the scenes. 

The spiritual life operates in the same way. 

Some speak as if God does everything and we do nothing, while others emphasize that we must do everything ourselves. The truth lies in between. 

Sometimes God does it all; sometimes we work with Him; sometimes it looks like it’s all up to us. Yet, through it all, God is the one who gives the strength, the power, and the ability to succeed.

Sometimes when my children were little, I would pretend to struggle to open the ketchup bottle, but instead I’d just loosen it. I would then hand it on to my son and daughter and say, “you try”. They would try and the cap came off quite easily, and they would proudly declare, "Look, Daddy, I did it!" I think the shoe is on the other foot now, and my wife does the same to me to massage my ego, that she still needs me around these days. 

Likewise, there are times in our lives when we struggle, thinking it’s all on us. But God has been working all along, loosening the cap so that when the time is right, we can accomplish what seemed impossible.

This brings us to the third and final section of the book of Joshua. 

By chapter 12, Israel had defeated the enemy, but they had not yet fully possessed the land. From chapters 13 to 21, they had to go and take hold of what was rightfully theirs.

This is the final step in spiritual life, you must not only prepare and conquer, but you must also claim what God has given you.

These chapters outline different approaches to fully possessing the land:

In Chapter 13, the two and a half tribes chose to settle on the east side of the Jordan instead of receiving their allotted portion in the Promised Land. 

Their decision was based on what they thought was best for their livestock rather than following God’s plan. History proved their choice unwise; they were the first to be conquered when enemies attacked. They represent those who choose based on their own desires rather than God’s guidance.

The most outstanding lesson comes from Caleb and The Tribe of Judah who even as an old man, asks for the toughest part of the land.

His request, "Give me the mountain," exemplifies a faith-driven desire to fully embrace God’s promises. He possessed his land with boldness and experienced the fullness of God's blessing.

The Tribe of Joseph in Chapters 16-17 are given the most beautiful land, yet they complained it wasn’t enough. 

Instead of using what they had, they grumbled. Joshua told them to stop complaining and start conquering. They represent those who have been given much but fail to utilize their blessings because of discontentment.

The Remaining Tribes (Chapters 18-19): Unlike the others, these tribes did nothing. They were content to stay in tents instead of claiming their inheritance. But their complacency cost them the opportunity to fully experience God’s blessings. 

There’s a difference between godly contentment and being complacent and settling for less than what God has promised.

Many believers today fall into this category. They know God's promises, they understand His power, yet they remain passive, failing to step into what God has prepared for them.

The spiritual lesson is clear: knowing about God’s promises and power is not enough. It is not enough to defeat the enemy; you must also take possession of the life God has for you. Some make the wrong choices, some complain, some do nothing. But those who trust God and step forward in faith will experience His full blessing.

The choice is yours: will you settle, complain, remain idle, or step forward in faith to possess what God has for you?

The idea seems to be that to receive all that’s coming to you, you must truly take ownership of your blessings. Jesus’ use of parables like the one about the Sower touches on themes of growth and fruitfulness. 

Essentially, to become everything God intended for you, you must be active and bear fruit. It's about not being content, but like Caleb, conquering and taking possession of what’s yours. In essence, it's all about owning your blessings.

Owning your blessings requires both trust and obedience. You need to trust that God will work on your behalf but also obey and put in the effort yourself. 

It's a hard battle, but the reward is the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control.

On the other hand, there's the option to wander aimlessly, like the prior generation. Ultimately, whether in the wilderness or the promised land, you will face struggle, but the choice is yours. Are you embracing your blessings?

It strikes me that the key point God wants us to grasp is faithfulness. While some seeds are lost to distractions, God asks us to remain steadfast in Him. But faithfulness isn't enough—God wants us to be fruitful. It's not about being satisfied with a little fruit but striving to produce as much as possible. 

God wants us to produce as much fruit as possible. Read Isaiah. Read the parable of the Sower. This is made explicitly clear in the Word of God. 

Jesus said in John chapter 15. Without me, you can do nothing. But at the same time, you got to go to work friend, and God isn’t going to work until you do. If he waits for that, his work is going to be Him just chasing and chastising you to get on and get his work done. 

God performs the possible and the impossible, but we are required and obligated to do our part ourselves, God will work, but God has given you some things to do also and I don't think you have the right to ask him to work until you've done what he told you to do. 

And if you're going to get all that is yours in this life then that’s what's going to have to happen.