Restoration & Praise Sunday School

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Devotional Reading: Psalm 108

Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 7; Joshua 6; 8:1–29; 10:28–43; 11:1–23

Joshua 11:6–9, 16–23

6 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not

afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

8 And the Lord delivered them into the

hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.

9 And Joshua did unto them as the Lord

bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills,

and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;

17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.

18 Joshua made war a long time with all

those kings.

19 There was not a city that made peace

with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.

20 For it was of the Lord to harden their

hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

21 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.

22 There was none of the Anakims left in

the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

Key Text

For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses. —Joshua 11:20

Lesson Aims

1. Identify challenging phrases and contexts in the text.

2. Explain how Joshua’s actions made way for the receipt of the Lord’s inheritance.

3. Discuss why this text presents challenges to modern readers.

Introduction

Brazen Audacity

One observer described the two-man action as “surreal.” Another called it an act of “brazen audacity.” But war often creates shortages, and wartime shortages lead people to take actions they wouldn’t otherwise contemplate.

Such was the case during the war in Ukraine in 2024. After a failed Russian attack, Ukrainian defenders came across an abandoned Russian T-72

tank on the battlefield. The Ukrainians needed a tank, so two soldiers went after it while under enemy fire in the darkness of night. They found the tank was in perfect working condition, aside from being immobilized by wire entangled in the treads. They removed the wire, started the engine, and the tank was theirs.

The wartime actions in today’s lesson are equally brazen, if not more so. At first glance, it might appear that the Israelites wasted valuable wartime resources. However, a different story emerges when we consider their source of power.

LESSON CONTEXT

Historical

After crossing the Jordan River (see Lesson 2), Joshua led the Israelites through the land of Canaan. This campaign included the victories at Jericho (Joshua 6; see Lesson 4) and Ai (8:1–29). However, the Israelites were deceived by the Gibeonites, resulting in an inappropriate covenant with them (Joshua 9). In the cases of both Ai and the Gibeonites, Joshua’s decisions

revealed a key spiritual weakness by his deciding courses of action without consulting the Lord first (7:3–5; 8:1; 9:14–15). Despite this shortcoming,

Joshua and the Israelites defeated many kings and their armies in the southern parts of Canaan (10:16–43).

Having heard of the Israelites’ advances, rulers in the northern Canaan formed an alliance (Joshua 11:1–5). Although the leaders of this coalition were each designated as a “king,” their respective kingdoms were comparatively small and weak in power. By coming together, they thought they could present an effective, united front that could not be overcome—at least it seemed to be so.

Literary

The book of Joshua is part of the section of the Old Testament designated as the Historical Books; there are twelve of these. The principle of writing a coherent historical account requires that the included elements come together to reveal a narrative regarding plot development and character development. The book of Joshua is no exception to this principle. Many accounts in this book emphasize the unity of the Israelites and their obedience to God, while other accounts pinpoint instances of the people’s disobedience and resulting

consequences (example: Joshua 7). Together, these accounts convey the central message of the book of Joshua: the Israelites’ obedience to God

results in their success in taking the land, thus solidifying a unified identity.

Additionally, modern readers might view the text of Joshua as a testimony to God and His people. This testimony reveals God’s redemptive power despite human sin. At times, the narrative of Joshua delves into the depths of human

depravity experienced by individuals before their rescue. The details, albeit negative, enhance the remarkable nature of God’s actions—the greater the transformation from sin to righteousness, the more honor God receives.

CONCLUSION

Sobering Events of Salvation History

Scripture’s accounts of the conquest of Canaan raise questions and concerns for modern readers. The themes of extreme violence, scorched-earth warfare, and the merciless destruction of cities and people challenge our sensibilities. We wonder why God would not only allow but also command such things.

However, as we read these accounts, it’s essential to consider the context in which they were written. These warfare texts should not be read as glorifying senseless destruction and violence. Instead, they were written for the Israelites at a particular time to remind them of the necessity for spiritual purity in the land.

The sin of the Canaanites had stained the land, and if they remained in the land, their pagan practices could lead others into sin (Numbers 33:55–56). Thus, their corrupting influence needed to be removed to provide God with a specific location where His holy purpose and presence might be established—a purpose and presence focused on bringing the Messiah into the world. Is that

how you view the sometimes-sobering events of salvation history?

What Do You Think?

What aspects of today’s lesson might feel challenging or unsettling to modern

readers of Joshua?

Digging Deeper

How has this study shaped how you will approach the book of Joshua in the

future?