What's the Background of the Book of Joshua?

     The Book of Joshua gives us a window into God's move on the earth. I wouldn't have seen this at all if it weren't for the Life-Study of Joshua. Witness Lee says in the first chapter that God's move began in Genesis and it continued throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. 

     In Deuteronomy before Moses died , he warned them that if they worshiped idols God would judge them. The book of Joshua opens with the people on the plains of Moab ready to take possession of the land of Canaan. 

    I appreciate Witness Lee's explanation on page 8 in chapter two of the Life-Study of Joshua, Judges, & Ruth concerning how critical the situation was at this time:   

 

"In chapter one of Joshua, God's move had reached a certain situation. At that time the entire earth was full of idols and demons. In a sense, God had been chased away from the earth, which He had created for Himself, and did not have a way to be Lord of the earth as well as of the heavens. However, among all the nations and peoples, God had separated Israel, His elect, for the carrying out of His economy. They had nothing to do with idols or demons. On the contrary, they were occupied with the God of the heavens and the earth" (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Joshua.  Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1993, Print).

       A few years ago I read an eye-opening chapter called Worship in Volume 46 of Watchman Nee's Collected Works.  Through Scripture he shows how the battle  between God and Satan in this universe is over worship. Satan didn't want God to have all the worship.  So he instigates man to make idols of wood and stone and worship them. We can see this happening even in Genesis.   

      Like most believers I love the story of Abraham.  In Halley's Bible Handbook it says that Ur of Chaldea where God appeared to Abraham was a land full of idols.  It's almost astonishing that at this time there was no one on the earth that loved and served God.  It was so bad that God had to actually call Abraham out and tell him to go to another country so God could have another start.

     When Abraham finally got to the land of Canaan, Genesis 12 tells us that God made a covenant with him and promised to make him a great nation. We know from the accounts in Genesis that this is about the children of Israel. Later in Exodus after God brought His people out of Egypt after 400+ years of slavery, and gave them the ten commandments. The first three commandments center on man worshipping God and not making and worshipping any idols (Exodus 20:3-5; 34:12-17). 

 

    On the mountain God also gave Moses instructions for building the tabernacle. For 40 years they worshipped God by caring for the tabernacle and offering sacrifices. All of these activities separated and sanctified the Israelites from all the other nations. In the book of Leviticus God gives Moses further details about offering sacrifices because God cares about how His people worship Him. And we see in the book of Joshua that our worship matters because through it God regains the earth! 

   You can listen to excerpts of Witness Lee's speaking the Life-Studies of Joshua, Judges, & Ruth on Life Study of the Bible  with Witness Lee.   You can also read the online Life-Studies of Joshua, Judges & Ruth and check out other resources available to enhance your study of the Bible on Living Stream Ministry's website.

Other Posts on Joshua, Judges, & Ruth:

What's the Background of the Book of Joshua?
Seeing that the Account of the Battle of Joshua & the Battle of Jericho
  Shows God's Move with Man
What Happened in the Book of Judges?
What's the Spiritual Picture Seen in the Book of Ruth?