MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY
JOSHUA: THE POWER OF GOD’S PROMISES
“ So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.” Joshua 6:20
WEEK IV
CLAIMING GOD’S VICTORIES (Ch. 5:13-6:27)
Conquering the Promised Land was an enormous task. Forty years prior ten of the twelve spies sent to search the Promised Land reported that the people were too great for them to defeat. Yet, despite the obstacles Joshua and the children of Israel faced, they set out to conquer Jericho. As they did, the Lord taught them how to be victorious.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE VICTORIOUS
VICTORY DEFINED: the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist
achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties
Although God has promised us certain things, we must be certain that we are in the proper position in order to claim what is promised; God has a part and we have our part
1) Reflect on your spiritual battles. What has been God’s part and your part in finding victory?
God’s part is to remain faithful to what He has promised. Our part is to pray and trust that God will do what He
promised and to be obedient to what He has called us to do
2) What facts make it clear that this was God’s victory?
–The destruction of Canaanite cities was based on religious, not political or military considerations (no
negotiations, no military strikes were needed; Deuteronomy 7:2-6; 12:2-3; 20:10-18)
-Joshua was directed by the commander of the Lord’s army (v. 5:14)
-There was no actual fighting (v. 6:20)
-The people in the land did not attack the children of Israel
-all the people obeyed Joshua’s commands
-the city and all its contents were devoted to the Lord (v. 6:19, 24)
3) How do you think the visit by the commander of the army of the Lord affected Joshua (v. 5:13-15)?
Joshua realized that he had a great responsibility to lead the people into the Promised Land. When Moses sent
him to spy out the land, He had claimed that God was able to deliver the people into the hands of the Israelites,
now he was at the point where he had to trust that God would make good on that word.
Joshua was in awe and humbled that God sent the commander of His army to speak directly to him. This was a
reassurance to Joshua that God was with him.
4) What is the difference between the Lord joining our side and our joining the Lord’s side (v. 5:14)?
When we join the Lord’s side, we show an act of submission to God; however, there is a chance that we might
step away from being on God’s side when things don’t go the way we want or they become more than what we
choose to accept. When the Lord joins our side, we can be assured that God is always with us (Hebrews 13:5),
even when we are wrong.
A STRANGE WARFARE
God reminds us that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. Sometimes what God chooses to use to
defeat the enemy may seem strange to us (II Corinthians 10:4). But God calls us to trust Him and to follow His
plan in order for us to receive the victory He has prepared for us.
5) List the symbolic aspects of the Lord’s instructions for the conquest of Jericho and the significance of each
(v. 6:1-5).
-The trumpets carried by the priests were used to call the people to worship and to battle
-seven priest, seven trumpets, seven days, and seven marches around the city on the seventh day all emphasize
the religious nature of the conquest
-the central place of the Ark of the Covenant stressed that the Lord Himself was conquering the city
6) If you had been one of the Israelites, how would you have felt during this seven-day spectacle (v. 6:6-16)?
I would probably have been tired, wondering what was going on; why we needed to march around the wall; and
how was that going to help us defeat our enemy.
What impact would this have had on you if you had been and inhabitant of Jericho?
I probably would have been trying to figure out what the people were doing.
7) What lessons was God teaching the Israelites during their seven-days of marching?
-patience
-persistence
-obedience
-faith
-trust
-planning
-timing
God wanted the Israelites to trust Him to help them defeat the people at Jericho despite how things might have
appeared
8) How is our spiritual warfare today similar to and different from Israel’s conquest of Jericho?
God is still calling for His people to trust Him despite how things might appear. The enemy tries to deceive us,
distract us, or discourage us and cause us to fall short of our victory, but God wants us to remain faithful to His
word. Our weapons are not physical, but spiritual in nature
-There are things God has called us to do today to defeat our enemies that may seem strange
-We are not always obedient to what God commands us to do
-Claiming our victory depends on our obedience; Joshua trusted in the Lord to fight his battles
VICTORY BELONGS TO GOD
9) What did it mean for this city and its contents to be devoted to the Lord (v. 6:17-25)?
Only certain things were allowed to be kept. These were reminders of the Israelite’s conquest (victory).
10) Why didn’t God allow the Israelites to keep any of the spoils of war?
They were cursed; they had been used in worship to idol gods. Bringing them back to their camp would have
cursed the entire camp
What does this teach about the things we “earn”?
All that we have belongs to God. He is the one who enables us to obtain what we get. We should be thankful to
God for allowing us to be able to gain what we have. God only requires that we give back a portion of what we
have to God for His service. We should be willing to share with others (Matthew 10:8).
11) What spiritual battles are you currently fighting?
12) What principles of victory have you learned from Israel’s conquest of Jericho?
-obedience -timing
-persistence –faith
-planning – God always does His part; if we do our part we can claim our victory
Nothing dies quicker than a new idea in a closed mind. If we are not open to receive what God has for us we
can miss out on our blessings. Claiming victory God promised requires that we be in the right position to
receive it. Many people miss out on what God has promised them because they fail to position
themselves to receive the promise.
Distractions, discouragement and disobedience are some ways in which people may find themselves out of
position to receive their promised blessings.
13) Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the armor of God. List each piece of armor and give an explanation of how it
can help you in your spiritual battles.
–loins girt about with truth: truth is the only thing that will stand; we must always speak the truth (in love)
–breastplate of righteousness: Believers are called to live righteous. It is important for believers to be separate
from the world
–feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: peace is always a good defense against those
who wish to stir up strife and contention; it is hard to argue by yourself
–shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked: trusting God is
important when the enemy tries to put things in your path to distract or deceive you
–helmet of salvation: we are saved by grace; we don’t have to do anything but believe and accept Jesus Christ
as our Lord and Savior and know that as heirs with Christ we have all the promises of God. A helmet helps to
guard against thoughts that the enemy tries to put in our minds to take our focus off the things of God
–sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: our strongest weapon against the enemy is the word of
God. When we study and recall what God’s word says the enemy can’t stand against it
–Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints: prayer and supplication help keep us connected and invites the
Holy Spirit to take charge of any situation