Joshua first appears leading Israel's fighters against Amalek while Moses prays on a hill. For years he was Moses' assistant. He stayed at the tent of meeting after Moses left. He was one of only two spies who told Israel to trust God and take the land.
God told him again and again to be strong and courageous, which suggests he needed to hear it. He led the crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho. He also lost at Ai and was tricked by the Gibeonites. At the end, an old man of 110, he called Israel to choose whom they would serve.
“
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Name means
The LORD is salvation (Moses renamed him from Hoshea, )
Home
Egypt, the wilderness, then Timnath-serah in Ephraim
Role
Moses' assistant, military leader, Israel's leader into Canaan
Read in
Exodus, Numbers, Joshua
Joshua's story
Defeat at Ai
Beginning
Fighting Amalek
Moses sends him to lead the fight. He wins while Moses' hands are held up on the hill.
High point
The faithful spy
He and Caleb tell Israel the land is good and the LORD is with them. The people want to stone them.
High point
Commissioned
Moses lays hands on him. After Moses dies, God tells him to be strong and courageous, for he will be with him.
High point
The walls fall
He leads Israel around Jericho as God commanded, and the wall falls down flat.
Turning point
Ai and the Gibeonites
Defeated at Ai, he tears his clothes before the ark. Later he makes a treaty with deceivers without asking counsel from the LORD.
Ending
As for me and my house
Old and near death, he gathers Israel at Shechem, recounts God's faithfulness, and renews the covenant.
Starts as a young aide who would not leave the tent. Ends as a leader who could say none of God's good promises had failed.
Where Joshua lived and went
Only places Scripture records. Softer, dotted pins are traditional or uncertain sites. Tap a pin for the passage.
HomeMinistryKey momentTraditional or uncertainPinch or use + to zoom. Tap a cluster to spread it out.
How Joshua is wired
The Loyalist
Enneagram 6, Investigator wing
He wants to be faithful to the one he follows and secure in God's presence.
This one is debated. Here's why we land here.
At their best, toward 9 Under stress, toward 3
Why we think so
1
Loyal to his leader. He stayed at the tent when Moses left, and he urged Moses to stop two men prophesying in the camp. ()
2
Needs assurance. God repeats “be strong and courageous” to him again and again, and so do Moses and the people. ()
3
Holds to the promise. Against ten fearful spies and the whole crowd, he stood with Caleb on God's word. ()
He was careful and planned ahead. He sent spies to Jericho and set an ambush at Ai. ()
The Peacemaker. At the end he was settled. The land had rest from war, and he led the people calmly into covenant renewal. ()
The Achiever. At Ai he sent a small force on a quick report, and with the Gibeonites he judged by appearances and did not ask the LORD. ()
The case for 8
He was a fighter and a commander who led armies and executed judgment. But his long years as an assistant and his need for repeated assurance fit a 6 better.
Other lenses
Big Five. Read from what is recorded in Exodus through Joshua.
ReservedOutgoing
SteadyReactive
ChallengingAccommodating
SpontaneousDisciplined
TraditionalCurious
DISC style: Steady under orders.
Strengths & struggles
What's good in Joshua
Loyal over decades (). Trusts God's promise against the majority (). Obedient to strange commands (). Brings the people to renew the covenant ().
Where Joshua struggles
Moved ahead on appearances without asking God (). Underestimated Ai (). Jealous for Moses' honor when others prophesied ().
What Joshua wanted most
For Israel to receive what God promised and stay faithful to him ().
What Joshua feared most
That God would not be with him as he was with Moses ().
Joshua bears the same name as Jesus and points to the one who gives a rest that lasts.
Joshua brought Israel into the land, and the land had rest. But that rest did not hold. “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.” ()
Questions to sit with
1
Where do you need to hear God's “I will be with you” again?
2
When have you moved ahead on appearances without asking God?
Study Joshua with your group
Ready-to-lead group studies with discussion questions and a leader's note are on the way.
