Make sure you have a notebook and pen on hand for writing down your thoughts as you study this lesson.

Objective

In this lesson, we’ll discover how Joshua’s faithful leadership demonstrates the importance of having a strong spiritual foundation and clear biblical direction for following God.

Key Verse

Deuteronomy 31:23: Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”

Introduction

The name Joshua is the Hebrew form of the same name as Jesus. This is no coincidence! Joshua was the faithful captain who led Israel into the Promised Land, and Jesus is the faithful Captain who leads us into salvation and eternal rest. When we study Joshua’s life and ministry, we discover beautiful pictures of how our Savior works in our lives today.

Hebrews 2:10: For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

We remember Joshua primarily for his leadership of Israel as they conquered the Promised Land. But before Joshua became Israel’s leader, he spent many years as Moses’ faithful assistant. He had a long preparation for the great work God would call him to do. Joshua’s example teaches us that God uses time and experience to prepare His servants for the tasks He has planned for them.

The parallels between Joshua and Jesus Christ are remarkable and help us understand God’s plan of salvation:

Joshua	Jesus Christ
Name means “The LORD saves.”	Name means “The LORD saves.” (Matt 1:21)
Led Israel into the Promised Land.	Leads believers into true rest. (Heb 4:8-9)
Conquered enemies for Israel.	Conquers sin and death. (Col 2:15)
Fulfilled Moses’ mission.	Fulfills the Law and prophets. (Matt 5:17)
Saved Rahab, a Gentile, by faith.	Saves all nations by faith. (Gal 3:28)

In this lesson, we’ll focus on two essential qualities that made Joshua such an effective servant of God:

• Joshua had a strong spiritual foundation
• Joshua had a clear biblical direction

A Strong Foundation

Moses had trained Joshua well to become a leader. He relied upon Joshua and gave him significant responsibility throughout their years together in the wilderness. This partnership gives us a wonderful example of how experienced believers should invest in younger Christians, bringing them alongside in ministry and service to God.

How was Joshua prepared for such enormous responsibility? When we examine Scripture carefully, we discover five important ways that God built a strong foundation in Joshua’s life.

First, Joshua was trained in spiritual warfare. This early battle experience taught him that victory comes through dependence on God rather than military might alone.

Exodus 17:8-13: The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will take my position on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.” So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were gaining ground. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under Israelites and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady until sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Notice several important aspects of Joshua’s preparation through this battle. Joshua was given the authority to choose his own army, showing that Moses trusted his judgment. Joshua didn’t hesitate or question Moses’ command, but immediately obeyed. Most importantly, Joshua completed the task successfully, demonstrating his reliability under pressure.

This battle was more than military training—it was preparation for spiritual warfare. As believers, we are engaged in a real spiritual battle against the forces of darkness. God calls us to be faithful warriors in this ongoing conflict.

2 Timothy 2:3: Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Second, Joshua served closely alongside Moses and witnessed God’s glory. Being the closest person to Moses meant Joshua was also positioned to experience the manifest presence of God in profound ways.

Exodus 24:13: Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God.

Joshua was the person closest to Moses, which meant he was also close to the glory of God revealed on the mountain. This intimate exposure to God’s presence shaped Joshua’s character and prepared his heart for future leadership. When God manifests His glory, it transforms those who witness it.

Jesus also took His closest disciples up on the mountain where they witnessed His divine glory revealed in the transfiguration.

Matthew 17:1-2: After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

Those who serve God faithfully should allow others to see God’s glory reflected in their lives. Just as Joshua was shaped by witnessing God’s presence with Moses, we grow spiritually when we spend time with mature believers who walk closely with the Lord.

Third, Joshua spent personal time with God in the tabernacle. While others returned to their regular activities, Joshua understood that lingering in God’s presence was the most important work he could do.

Exodus 33:11: The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

This verse reveals something beautiful about Joshua’s heart. While others returned to their daily activities, Joshua lingered in God’s presence. He wasn’t too busy or too important to spend unhurried time with the Lord. His ministry was built upon the solid foundation of personal worship and communion with God.

This same desire for God’s presence marked David’s heart throughout his life:

Psalm 27:4: One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 84:10: Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Jesus perfectly demonstrated this priority of spending time with the Father, even during His busiest seasons of ministry.

Mark 1:35: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

(Notebook Moment: How does Joshua’s example challenge you about the priority you give to spending personal time with God? What keeps you from lingering in God’s presence like Joshua did?)

Fourth, Joshua demonstrated courage and faith when facing opposition. When the majority chose fear over faith, Joshua stood firm in his trust in God’s promises and power.

Numbers 14:6-9: Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

When ten of the twelve spies brought back a fearful report about the giants in the Promised Land, Joshua and Caleb stood firm in their faith. They didn’t deny that the challenges were real, but they focused on God’s power rather than human obstacles. This courage under pressure proved that Joshua’s faith was genuine and that he could be trusted with greater responsibility.

Numbers 14:37-38: These men who were responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the Lord. But Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who explored the land, lived.

God preserved Joshua and Caleb because of their faithfulness, while the ten faithless spies died in judgment. This teaches us that God honors those who trust His promises even when circumstances seem impossible.

Fifth, Joshua was specifically chosen and anointed by God for his calling. God’s sovereign selection and empowerment became the ultimate foundation for everything Joshua would accomplish.

Numbers 27:18-20: So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.”

Deuteronomy 34:9: Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

God’s calling was the greatest foundation for Joshua’s ministry. All the training and preparation were important, but ultimately Joshua succeeded because God had chosen him and empowered him for this work. The same principle applies to every believer—our effectiveness in serving God depends not on our natural abilities alone, but on God’s calling and enablement.

2 Timothy 1:6-7: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of sound judgment.

A Clear Direction

Every faithful leader must know where God is directing them to go. People cannot follow someone who lacks clear direction or who constantly changes course without good reason. Joshua’s leadership teaches us three important lessons about following God’s direction in our lives.

First, Joshua knew that he was crossing Jordan into God’s promised inheritance. The destination was clear, and the path to get there was equally clear—follow the ark of the covenant.

Joshua 3:1-4: Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

The direction was absolutely clear—Israel was to follow the ark of the covenant across the Jordan River. The ark represented God’s presence among His people. As long as they kept their eyes on the ark and followed where it led, they would reach their destination safely.

This gives us a beautiful picture of how we should live as Christians. We follow Christ, our faithful Leader, into the spiritual inheritance He has promised us. Just as Israel had never traveled this way before, we often face unfamiliar situations in our Christian lives. But we can trust our Savior to guide us safely to our destination.

Second, Joshua understood that God’s directions sometimes require patient obedience. Even when God’s methods seemed unconventional or even foolish by human standards, Joshua trusted divine wisdom over military strategy.

Joshua 6:2-5: Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

From a military perspective, God’s battle plan for conquering Jericho made no sense at all. Experienced generals don’t usually plan to defeat a fortified city by marching around it and shouting! But Joshua had learned to trust God’s wisdom even when it contradicted human reasoning.

(Notebook Moment: Can you think of times when God’s direction in your life seemed to contradict conventional wisdom? How did following God’s way instead of the world’s way demonstrate His faithfulness?)

Joshua 6:20: When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.

God’s unusual strategy worked perfectly! The walls of Jericho fell down flat, and Israel won a complete victory. This teaches us that God’s ways are always right, even when they seem strange to us. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways are higher than our ways.

Third, Joshua knew the importance of maintaining clear direction throughout life. Even as an elderly leader, he continued to call people to wholehearted commitment to following God’s path.

At the end of his life and ministry, Joshua called Israel together for one final challenge. He urged them to continue following God with wholehearted commitment.

Joshua 24:14-15: Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Joshua’s famous declaration—”as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”—shows us the kind of unwavering commitment that pleases God. Joshua had experienced God’s faithfulness for decades, and his confidence in God’s goodness had only grown stronger over time.

Joshua 24:23: Now then, throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.

The word that means “yield your hearts” in this verse also means “to pitch a tent.” Joshua was calling the people to pitch their tents in God’s direction—to orient their entire lives toward serving and obeying the Lord. This is the kind of wholehearted dedication that God desires from each of us.

(Notebook Moment: How would your daily priorities and decisions change if you truly “pitched your tent” in God’s direction? What specific areas of your life need to be reoriented toward serving Him?)

Conclusion

One of the most important keys to faithful Christian living is the central place of God’s Word in our hearts and lives. We see this truth emphasized at the very beginning of Joshua’s leadership, when God gave him the foundation for everything that would follow.

Joshua 1:8: Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

God’s Word must be central in our personal walk with Him and in every decision we make. Joshua’s greatest victories came when he listened carefully to God’s Word and obeyed it completely. His most difficult defeats occurred when he forgot to seek God’s guidance through His Word.

When Israel was defeated at Ai, it was because Joshua failed to inquire of the Lord about Achan’s hidden sin. When the Gibeonites deceived Israel into making a treaty with them, it happened because Joshua and the leaders “did not inquire of the Lord.” These failures teach us that even mature believers need to consistently seek God’s wisdom through His Word rather than relying on their own understanding.

Joshua 9:14: The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.

We need spiritual discernment to navigate the challenges and deceptions we face in this world. This discernment comes only through regular study of God’s Word and dependence on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Just as Joshua needed God’s direction for every battle and decision, we need biblical wisdom for every aspect of our daily lives.

The beautiful truth that emerges from Joshua’s story is that the same God who faithfully led Israel through Joshua is the same God who leads us today through Jesus Christ. Joshua brought Israel into their earthly inheritance; Jesus brings us into our heavenly inheritance. Joshua conquered physical enemies; Jesus has conquered our spiritual enemies of sin, death, and Satan.

When we face overwhelming challenges—whether they are as massive as the walls of Jericho or as deceptive as the Gibeonites—we can trust that our faithful Captain, Jesus Christ, will lead us to victory. Like Joshua, we must build our lives on the strong foundation of God’s Word and follow the clear direction that Scripture provides for every believer who seeks to honor God with their life.

Check Your Understanding

Take this 5-question quiz to check your understanding of this lesson.

Congratulations on completing this lesson! Click on the “Next Lesson” button below when you are ready to continue.

[revision notes: Rahab isn’t mention at all in this study. I will focus on her in a short section under “Ruth” as well as in the elective course on “Redemptive History.” However, I’d like to mention her in a paragraph here, where relevant and appropriate, highlighting that she is mentioned in Hebrews 11 and is in the line of Christ.]