Week 10: Joshua 15-Judges 13

Reflection: The bookends of Joshua reveal the theme of God's glory being magnified through the obedience of His people. In the opening chapters, Israel enters the promised land and experiences victory, not by military might but by trusting in the word of the Lord and following His commands. The conclusion of Joshua sees the people renewing their covenant with God, pledging to serve Him alone. However, much like Adam and Eve who failed to maintain their state in the garden, Israel too falters. The book of Judges quickly reveals Israel's failure to fully conquer the land as commanded and their rapid descent into doing what was "right in their own eyes" after Joshua’s death.

Joshua 15-18: The Allotment of the Land. Matthew Henry once said of this part of Joshua, “We are not to skip over these chapters of hard names as useless and not to be regarded; for where God has a mouth to speak and a hand to write we should find an ear to hear and an eye to read; and God will give us a heart to profit.” The 15th chapter of Joshua, causes us to recall the 15th chapter of Genesis where God calls to Abraham and says "...I am the LORD who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess" (15:7). Thus begins the allotment of land for the tribes on the west side of the Jordan, but we cannot overlook the problem in that the tribes did not completely drive out the Canaanites as they ought to have.

Joshua 19-22: The Inheritance Accomplished. These chapters mark the fulfillment of God’s promise to give the Israelites their inheritance, despite their failures in fully driving out the Canaanites. The author emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness in Joshua 21:45, declaring, "Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass." This reminder of God’s sure and complete fulfillment of His promises encourages believers to trust in His word, even when circumstances may tempt us to doubt. God's timing and plan are perfect, and His promises never fail. For Christians, these chapters point to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in Christ, the true inheritor of all God’s blessings. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 1:20, "all the promises of God find their Yes in Christ," and it is through Him that we receive the fullness of the inheritance that God has promised to His people.

Joshua 23-Judges 2: True Obedience. Joshua 23–Judges 2 presents a pivotal moment in Israel's history as Joshua challenges the people to remain faithful to the Lord and serve Him alone. With the land now divided, the Israelites were commanded to drive out the Canaanites completely, a task they failed to fully accomplish. Instead, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor, believing they were fulfilling God’s command, but in reality, their partial obedience was a rejection of God’s covenant (Judges 2:28). The consequences of this disobedience were severe: the Canaanites would remain as a constant threat, becoming "thorns in your sides" and leading Israel into idolatry (Judges 2:3). This serves as a stark reminder that true obedience to God involves wholehearted and complete submission to His commands, not selective compliance. For believers today, this passage underscores the sufficiency of Christ, who fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf, and reminds us that partial obedience or compromise with sin will always lead to spiritual harm. The call to obedience is still clear: we must serve the Lord alone, trusting in Christ’s work to empower us to follow Him faithfully.

Judges 3-6: Downward spirals. The remainder of Judges highlights the the tragic downward spiral of Israel, as the people continually cycle through disobedience, judgment, repentance, and deliverance. The pattern begins with Othniel, but it becomes increasingly evident throughout the book: Israel sins by doing evil in the sight of the Lord, which provokes His anger. In response to their cries, God raises up a deliverer—a judge—who leads them to temporary peace, only for the cycle to repeat itself when the judge dies (Judges 3:9-11). This cycle underscores the inherent weakness of human effort and the persistent failure of Israel to remain faithful to God. The cycle of sin and deliverance points to the need for a greater, permanent Savior, which is found in Jesus Christ, who delivers His people not through temporary peace but through an eternal redemption. The book of Judges serves as a reminder of the necessity of trusting in God's provision, not just in times of crisis but continually, as only Christ’s finished work can break the cycle of sin and bring lasting peace.

Judges 7-9 Lesser Loves. Gideon is one of my favorite Old Testament characters. Though he does not end well, it is abundantly clear to this generation that God is more powerful than any nation that may rage against Him. We see the depth of their spiritual adultery when we read "as soon as Gideon died, the people of Israel turned again and whored after the Baals an dmade Baal-berith their God" (8:33). This cycle of sin and spiritual adultery is convicting, reminding us how easily we forget God's past faithfulness and turn to lesser loves. It is a call for us to examine our own hearts and to remain steadfast in our devotion to God, remembering that even in our moments of greatest victory, we are prone to wander.

Judges 10-13: Rash Vows. Does God delight in sinful obedience? Judges 10-13 emphasizes the danger of rash vows and misguided attempts at obedience. In the case of Jephthah, he makes a foolish vow, promising to sacrifice whatever comes out of his house if God grants him victory over the Ammonites (Judges 11:31). When his daughter, his only child, emerges to greet him, Jephthah is devastated by the consequence of his rash promise. This tragic event reveals that God does not delight in sinful obedience—particularly in disobedient acts like human sacrifice, which He had explicitly forbidden (Lev. 18:21). Jephthah’s vow also highlights the seriousness with which we should approach our commitments and promises to God, as they should align with His will and word. It serves as a warning to believers today to be cautious in our speech and actions, remembering that true obedience is not about making grand promises but about faithfully following God’s clear commands. This passage points forward to Christ, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice, fulfilling God’s will perfectly and once for all, securing the deliverance we need without resorting to sinful acts.

Family Discussion Questions

• When the Israelites repeatedly fall into sin and idolatry in Judges, what does this tell us about human nature? How can we guard our hearts against idolatry and stay focused on worshiping God alone in our lives today?
• Why do you think Jephthah made such a rash vow to God? How can we learn to make decisions and promises more wisely, trusting in God's will instead of our own understanding?