Session 16: Joshua leads Israel into the promised land

Book of Joshua

After leaving Egypt, the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. A new generation of Israelites has grown up, and Moses passes the mantle over to Joshua to lead the Israelites. Read Joshua 1 or watch the following video with the kids:

Video 1: Joshua becomes the leader of the Israelites

Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqhPOd0JxBs

What does God tell Joshua to do?

God tells Joshua to lead his people into the promised land. He tells Joshua to be courageous, that God will be with him and will not fail or forsake him. He also reminds Joshua to abide by the law which Moses taught them, and meditate on it day and night, so that he would be careful to do according to all that is written in it. If he did this he would succeed.

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To prepare for their entry into the promised land, Joshua sent spies into Canaan, asking them to pay special attention to the land of Jericho. Read or watch a video on Joshua 2:

Video 2: Rahab and the Spies

Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWkbq50tH5A

Just like Moses did 40 years ago, Joshua sends spies into the promised land. Do things go better this time?

Yes. Joshua sends 2 spies into Jericho. Although the king of Jericho sent men to look for them, God uses a Canaanite harlot (prostitute) to help them. Rahab helps the men in order to save herself - along with everyone else, she has heard about how God has saved Israel from the Egyptians and parted the Red Sea, and is afraid. She helps them and asks that in return they deal kindly with them when they take over the promised land.

This time, when the spies return to the Israelites camp, they tell Joshua that "Truly, the Lord has given all the land into our hands; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of us." (Joshua 2: 24)

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Read Joshua 3-6 or watch a video on how Israel conquers Jericho

Video 3: Israel enters Jericho

Source: Saddleback Kids on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAkwWE2UGLo

How does Israel enter Jericho? How do you think the Israelites won the war?

The city of Jericho was surrounded by a high wall. God told Joshua that to enter the city, the priests should carry the Ark of Covenant in front of the Israelites as they marched around the outside of the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times. During the last round, the priests blew on trumpets and all the people shouted. The wall crumbled and the Israelites could go in.

God leads the charge in the battle, with the ark of the covenant and the priests leading the procession. Forty years earlier, Israel was too afraid of the Canaanites to enter the promised land. Now, they are shown how to enter it properly - not by their own strength, but by announcing that Yahweh has come. They are obedient, putting God first and allowing him to drive out the enemy. When the walls come down, they would know that it is because God is with them.

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When Israel enters Jericho, they remember their promise to Rahab and they give her family protection. Rahab is believed to have eventually married Salmon, from the tribe of Judah, and became the great great grandmother of David and an ancestor of Jesus.

Israel subsequently won many battles and took over many cities within Canaan. They come into the promised land and inherited what God had promised Abraham many years ago. Joshua divided up the land between the 12 tribes. The tribe of Levi did not receive its own territory because the Levites were designated for priestly duties and would live amongst the other tribes.

Joshua passed away at 110 years old. Before he died, he gathered all the leaders of Israel to renew the Covenant. He reminded them of what God had done for them and their ancestors, and reminded them to be faithful to God.

In the next few sessions, we will see how Israel fared in the promised land.