Sermon Notes - Joshua 10:28-12:24 - Littleby Baptist Church - October 19, 2025

1.        Last week we were continuing what started in chapter 9.

a.        Where the people were trying to figure out how to rise up against Israel.

b.       The Gibeonites lied and become servants of Israel.

c.        Then 5 kings pooled their armies together and attacked Gibeon.

d.       This was the biggest challenge that Israel had faced.

e.        And boy did God do some amazing things.

2.        When Joshua had marched his troops overnight.

a.        They arrived exhausted.

b.       But then God worked.

c.        God confused the armies of the kings.

d.       God caused them to panic.

e.        Fear took over.

f.          They started to run.

3.        That wasn’t all that God did.

a.        He threw large hailstones on the fleeing troops.

b.       God literally was attacking the enemy armies.

c.        Scripture tells us that more soldiers died from the hail than they did from Israeli swords.

d.       God was helping Israel.

e.        God was making a statement.

f.          That He was giving this land to His people.

4.        If that was not enough, Joshua asked God to stop the sun.

a.        It stayed in place for the equivalent of another day.

b.       This allowed Joshua and the Isreal army to destroy their enemy.

5.        In all of this we saw Joshua remember to turn to God and ask for guidance.

a.        We saw Joshua encourage others.

b.       Both are great reminders for us.

c.        We saw some other examples that should help to build our faith.

d.       Examples that God has done some amazing things.

e.        If we believe the words found in Scripture.

f.          We need to believe these events and know that if God did these things.

g.        He can help us with what we are facing.

6.        We are continuing with God handing over the land to Joshua and Israel.

a.        We are going to cover a lot of ground this morning and the next couple of weeks.

b.       As in a lot of verses.

c.        As well as talking about a lot of ground that was fought over.

7.        Joshua 10:28-39

a.        There are several instances in these verses that talk about the Lord handing over the land or the king.

b.       At no point was this a battle that the people decided that they were going to venture out on their own.

c.        God was giving this land to them.

d.       That was the promise made to Abraham.

e.        And that is exactly what God is doing.

f.          The Israeli army was likely big enough to defeat some of these armies on their own.

g.        But this was God’s plan to cleanse the land.

h.        He was at work.

i.          He was handing over the land.

8.        Joshua 10:40-43

a.        Joshua was faithful as we see in verse 40.

b.       God gave them success as we see in verse 42.

c.        It shows us that God is faithful.

9.        2 Thessalonians 3:3

a.        Our God is faithful.

b.       He can be nothing but faithful.

c.        It is who He is.

d.       His Word tells us that He will give us strength.

e.        In other places in the Bible, we will find that God will give us Peace, Wisdom, Hope, Endurance, whatever is needed to carry out His will.

f.          And to protect us from the one who is trying to destroy us.

g.        In Joshua it was those who were trying to derail him from following God’s plan.

h.        For us it is those who are trying to get us to sin.

i.          To get us to turn away from our God.

j.          We need to trust in our God as He is always faithful.

10.   Joshua 11:1-5

a.        It is likely that the Israel army did not get long to recoup.

b.       The northern armies started marching.

c.        A multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore.

d.       A vast number of horses and chariots.

e.        A first century historian speculated that there were 300,000 foot soldiers, 10,000 calvary, and 20,000 chariots.

f.          Once again Joshua and the army of Israel were facing a challenge tougher than they have ever faced.

11.   Joshua 11:6

a.        God spoke.

b.       A message that or at least a part of one that Joshua should be familiar with.

c.        Do not be afraid.

d.       Trust me.

e.        The odds are overwhelming.

f.          But God was going to be with them.

g.        The God who is faithful.

h.        The guys needed to trust in their God.

12.   We need to do the same.

a.        Our God has proven His love for us.

b.       He died for our sins.

c.        He has paved the way for us to spend forever with Him.

d.       He holds our eternal future secure.

e.        We need to trust in Him.

f.          It can be scary.

g.        It may be overwhelming.

h.        But He has proven himself to us.

i.          Over and over again.

j.          We need to trust Him even when it is hard.

k.        In reality, especially when it is hard.

13.   Joshua 11:7-15

a.        God delivered.

b.       He delivered those who rose up against Israel into their hands.

c.        He delivered the land to Israel.

d.       In return Joshua led the people to faithfully do what God had told them to do.

14.   Joshua 11:16-23

a.        God used Joshua and Isreal to carry out His plan.

b.       To cleanse the land of those who had defiled it.

c.        He hardened hearts to ensure they would fight against Isreal.

d.       And we have seen time and again how God fought for Israel to give them success.

e.        Verse 23 gives us a summary and a look to the future.

                                                                              i.        Joshua took the entire land.

                                                                            ii.        Gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments.

15.   Were the Israelites perfect?

a.        No.

b.       They sinned against God.

c.        They did not seek God’s guidance.

d.       And those are only the things we are aware of so far in the book of Joshua.

e.        Yet God used them to carry out His will.

16.   If God can still use them, as flawed as they were, can He still use us?

a.        Absolutely He can and He does!

b.       He uses us.

c.        Each time we are able to share what He is doing in our lives with others.

d.       Each time we give to support a ministry.

e.        Each time we provide for a need.

f.          Each time we share the Gospel.

g.        Anything we do that shows our love for Him or others, He is using us.

h.        No matter how flawed we are.

i.          Our God still uses us.

j.          Thank you, God, for using us.

17.   In chapter 12 we come to a summary of the victories that Israel has had.

18.   First those under Moses.

19.   Joshua 12:1-6

20.   Then those under Joshua

21.   Joshua 12:7-24

22.   Then look back at 11:23b

a.        Rest from war.

b.       They will still fight for some land.

c.        But not on the same scale.

d.       But more on that in the coming weeks.

23.   Israel crossed the Jordan with nothing but Hope that God would do what He said.

a.        Now they have defeated 31 kings over 7,500 square miles.

b.       It is only a portion of the land that has been promised.

c.        But it is a start.

d.       They have a home.

e.        A place to build a life.

f.          They trusted in God.

g.        And He delivered.

24.   We all have different things in our lives.

a.        Some are on our prayer lists.

b.       Some we are holding close and have not shared.

c.        Whatever it is, we need to be sharing it with our God.

d.       Knowing He is faithful.

e.        Lean into Him.

f.          Trusting that He is bigger than our problem.

g.        Stronger than anything we face.

h.        We need to ask for peace, wisdom, strength, guidance, renewal, joy… or whatever we need.

i.          Trusting that our God will be with us.

j.          Trusting that He will work according to His will in our lives.

25.   As we seek Him.

a.        As we faithfully follow Him.

26.   I want to encourage you to draw near to your God.

a.        If you do…

b.       He will grow your faith.

c.        He will help you through your trial.

d.       He will be by your side.

e.        Whatever you are going through, Jesus is with you.

27.   If you do not know Jesus, the first step is to believe.

a.        Believe that He is God.

b.       That He died for you.

c.        To pay for your sins.

d.       He defeated death and is offering you a new life.

e.        One that allows you to spend forever with Him.

f.          All you have to do is repent of your sins and follow Him.

g.        If that is you, I would love to speak with you.