self-reflection essay

I. Introduction The book of Joshua describes how God enabled Israel to conquer the Promised Land. Under the leadership of Moses’ successor, Joshua, the new generation of Israelites entered and took the land from the Canaanites by defeating them in battle. While this story shows God’s faithfulness to his people to give them the land, it also raises the difficult question of Holy War. Is it alright for God to order the killing of the Canaanites so that Israel can take their land? We will try and answer this question in this lecture.

II. Who is Joshua? Who is Joshua

“Joshua, Moses’ unique successor, serves as a model for Israel’s kings.” (Bruce Waltke, Biblical Theology Old Testament)

1. Joshua as successor to Moses

2. Joshua as model for Israel’s kings

III. Holy War

1. Purpose of ‘holy war’

2. Two misconceptions to avoid

3. Holy war not for ________________________________

4. Holy war not for _______________________________

IV. Outline

1. Taking the land (chs. 1-12)

i. Israel’s foreign policy (Dt. 20)

ii. Spying the land (ch. 2)

iii. Crossing the Jordan (ch. 3)

iv. Battle of Jericho (chs. 5-6)

v. Failure at Ai (chs. 7-8)

vi. Treaty with the Gibeonites (9)

vii. Conquering the Southern Coalition (ch. 10)

viii. Conquering the Northern Coalition (ch. 11)

2. Assigning the land (13-21)

3. Keeping the land (22-24)

i. Joshua’s farewell speech 14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”