What is it that you know about Joshua, the man and the Old Testament book named after him? Most of us remember him as the special man of God who led the Israelites to march around the ancient city of Jericho. ‘Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, and the walls came a tumblin’ down!’ And many of us can recall the Lord’s command to him to “Be strong and courageous” found in 1:6. And then there are those truly inspiring words uttered by Joshua at the end of the book in 24:15–“choose this day whom you will serve . . . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

But why is this book in the Bible? What is its significance and place? What does this very old book have to do with us? A book that is filled with war, conquests, and bloodshed on top of that!

Well, as you might remember, we have been on a journey through the Scriptures, and we have been looking at those great events that string together the larger story of the 39 books that are called the ‘Old Testament.’ For there is one Grand Story being told in each of these books, and incredibly, it is one that directly leads us to the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Now, this is something that you may have never really considered before. But the truth is that all of the Word of God–from Genesis, the book of beginnings, to Malachi, the last of the Old Testament books, and on to Matthew and then to the final book of the Bible, Revelation–is about our Lord Jesus and His saving work! And if this is the case, then the Book of Joshua is profoundly important for us! It is an essential component of the larger story of Redemption, for this is the message of the Word of God and why we have made Joshua the next stop on our journey through the Scriptures!

This Lord’s Day we will consider the opening lines of Joshua 1:1-9 and get more familiar with the background and setting of the inspired record that tells both his story and His Story!