Joshua 23 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Joshua 23 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land began around 1450 B.C. and lasted approximately 5-7 years.

• The events of Joshua 23 took place “a long time” after the conquest of Canaan, when Joshua was “well advanced in years.”

CHARACTERS:

• Joshua – The leader of the Israelites.

• Israelites – The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were slaves in Egypt for 100s of years, but God used Moses to free them and lead them to the Promised Land.

WHERE:

• Joshua 23 doesn’t tell us the location where the words recorded in this chapter were spoken.

OUTLINE:

• JOSHUA ADDRESSES THE PEOPLE IN HIS OLD AGE (23:1-16):

  • A “long time” after the events of Joshua 22, when Joshua had grown old, he called all Israel to himself to address them a few final times.

  • Joshua 23 and 24 contain Joshua’s two farewell addresses.

  • In chapter 23, Joshua began by reminding the Israelites of all the Lord had done for them.

  • God had driven out their enemies and given them the Promised Land.

  • God promised to continue to fight for them until all the foreign inhabitants were driven out.

  • Joshua reminded the people not to get involved in the idolatry that once permeated the land.

  • Israelites were forbidden from intermingling with the pagans.

  • If the Israelites disobeyed God’s instructions, God would withdraw His aid from Israel.

  • Some of God’s promises were conditional on the Israelites’ obedience.

  • God had always been faithful to Israel, now Israel needed to remain faithful to God.

APPLICATION:

• God’s promise to continually bless the Israelites was conditional on their obedience.

• Some of God’s promises that apply to us are also conditional, and we need to pay very close attention to the conditions.

• Example – Acts 2:37-38

  • Promise: Receive the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  • Condition: Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus.

• Example – 2 Timothy 2:11-12

  • Promise: We will live and reign with Christ.

  • Condition: We must die with Christ and endure the difficulties of this life.

• It is 100% true that we are saved by the grace of God, but that doesn’t mean nothing is required of us.

• The New Testament is full of similar conditional promises.