Sermon Notes - Joshua 13-14 - Littleby Baptist Church - October 26, 2025

1.        We covered a lot of ground last week.

a.        I personally loved the reminder that our God is faithful.

b.       He can’t be anything but faithful.

c.        It is who He is.

d.       If nothing else, we can trust in our God’s faithfulness to do what He says He is going to do.

e.        If His Word says He will be with us, we can trust that He is faithful to do it.

f.          When His Word tells us that He will give us wisdom when we ask, we know that He is faithful to do so.

g.        When it tells us that our Hope is secure in Jesus, we can trust in our God’s faithfulness that it is secure.

2.        We were also reminded that God worked through the Israelites even though they were not perfect.

a.        I for one am very thankful for that.

b.       I am not perfect, and God still uses me.

c.        He uses the imperfect and broken things of this world to carry out His plans.

d.       He uses us to reach the lost and to love others.

e.        Thank you, God, for using us.

3.        As we pickup in chapter 13, we are starting a long stretch that may seem like a mundane listing of who gets what in the new land.

a.        But this is a special moment in the history of the young nation of Israel.

b.       After hundreds of years as slaves in Egypt.

c.        After close to 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

d.       After battle after battle.

e.        Israel has a home.

f.          They can build homes.

g.        They have soil to farm.

h.        A land to call their own.

i.          This was a happy time.

4.        Joshua 13:1

a.        It can be annoying sometimes when someone calls you old.

b.       You might get a little defensive.

c.        But it would be hard to argue the point if it is God saying it.

d.       It is believed Joshua is more than 100 years old at this point.

e.        They had conquered a good chunk of land, 7,500 square miles.

f.          But far from all of the land promised.

5.        Joshua 13:2-3

a.        This would essentially be the coastal area of Israel today.

b.       For the most part this is along the lines of what would be Gaza and a bit farther north.

6.        Joshua 13:4-7

a.        These are areas that they had not cleared and taken but needed.

b.       Parts of Syria.

c.        And Lebanon.

7.        As God is talking to Joshua we see once again that God is going to deliver the land to the people.

a.        Read the underline in verse 6.

b.       God is going to drive them out.

c.        The people need to faithfully follow God.

d.       Joshua’s part is to divide the land.

e.        Let the people know which part of the promised land is each tribe’s inheritance.

f.          And God will deliver it to them.

8.        Joshua 13:8-13

a.        Like in chapter twelve, here is a recap of what was done for the 2 ½ tribes on the east side of the Jordan.

9.        Joshua 13:14

a.        The Levites did not receive an inheritance as the other tribes did.

b.       Numbers 35:1-5

c.        They receive towns scattered throughout and food from the offerings made to God.

d.       We will get into this in more detail in the coming weeks.

10.   Joshua 13:15-33

a.        Two and one-half tribes settled on the east side of the Jordan.

b.       They liked the land.

c.        It looked good for their cattle.

11.   One might wonder if the choice to settle there a wise one?

a.        History would tell us no.

b.       1 Chronicles 5:25-26

c.        They were unfaithful to God.

d.       And God used the king of Assyria to carry away those on the east side of the Jordan.

e.        The Bible also tells us that there was division between those on the east and the west sides of the Jordan.

f.          They chose on the basis of appearance.

g.        They chose as the world does.

h.        I wonder how different things would have been if they had stuck with God’s plan.

12.   I wonder how often we force things instead of waiting on God?

a.        We see something we like.

b.       We think the path we see is the best.

c.        We think we know the answer.

d.       So, we march forward on our own.

e.        Falls in line with our conversation a couple of weeds ago about praying or not praying about decisions.

f.          If we think about it and do NOT pray about it, we are doing it from a human perspective and get human results.

g.        Imperfect and not what God wanted for us.

h.        Instead, we need to pray about it and let God guide.

i.          Trusting that He will lead us.

j.          What God guides us to, will always be better than what we choose.

13.   Joshua 14:1-5

a.        Each tribe received their portion of land based on the number of people they had.

b.       That is how God wanted it.

c.        Was casting lots luck?

d.       Proverbs 16:33

e.        Every lot was decided by God.

f.          Every border and location of land was part of God’s plan.

g.        There was a purpose for it.

14.   Joshua 14:6-9

a.        They were about to cast lots for Judah and Caleb stepped forward.

b.       Caleb and Joshua were two of the twelve spies who went into the promised land.

c.        They were sent by Moses to see what was there.

d.       When they returned there were two different recommendations.

e.        They all agreed it was beautiful land.

f.          Ten spies did not think they could take the land.

g.        Even after crossing the Red Sea.

h.        Even after watching what God did to Egypt with the plagues.

i.          Even with the pilar of fire guiding them.

j.          But Caleb and Joshua believed.

k.        They knew that God was greater than the obstacles before them.

15.   Caleb had faith in God.

a.        He did not minimize the fortified cities.

b.       He did not discount the giants.

c.        Instead, He put His trust in His God.

d.       He believed that God was greater than the problem that was before Him.

16.   Here is a challenge for all of us.

a.        When we are facing a problem.

b.       Our challenge may be big.

c.        Do not discount it.

d.       It is real.

e.        It is a challenge.

f.          But remember our God is bigger.

g.        Jesus created all that we can see and touch.

h.        Jesus defeated death.

i.          He is greater than anything we face.

j.          We need to follow Him.

k.        Trust in Him.

17.   Joshua 14:10

a.        This verse helps us understand the timing of the book of Joshua a bit.

b.       It took Israel 2 years to get to the point of reaching the promised land the first time.

c.        Caleb was 40 when he was a spy in the promised land.

d.       They wandered in the wilderness for 38 more years.

e.        That means they have been fighting to conquer the 7,500 square miles for 7 years.

18.   Joshua 14:11

a.        God has blessed Caleb.

b.       He promised to give him the land that he walked in, which God is about to do.

c.        He kept him alive through a rough 45 years.

d.       He has given Caleb unusual strength for an 85-year-old man.

e.        There should be no doubt that God was with Caleb.

f.          Our God is faithful.

g.        He does what He says He is going to do.

h.        A message we continue to see throughout the book of Joshua.

19.   Joshua 14:12-15

a.        Joshua gave the land as God has promised all those years ago.

b.       Caleb trusted in His God.

c.        He believed that since God gave him the land that his conquest would be successful.

d.       And it was.

20.   We need to trust in our God.

a.        Follow His plan.

b.       Believe in His provision.

c.        Know that if He has called us to something.

d.       That He will see us through it.

21.   Isaiah 41:10

a.        An amazing promise right here.

b.       God will be with us.

c.        He does not want us to fear.

d.       We don’t need to be filled with doubt.

e.        We need to trust in our God.

f.          He will give us the strength we need.

g.        This verse says He will give us help.

22.   The Father has sent His Son to us.

a.        He has given us the Holy Spirit.

b.       He has given us eternal Hope.

c.        His Word tells us that if we ask for it, we have wisdom.

d.       That is also true for:

e.        Strength

f.          Joy

g.        Peace

h.        Boldness

i.          And whatever we need to carry out the Father’s will.

23.   The Holy Spirit is at work in us.

a.        He will Hold on to us with His righteous right hand…

b.       He will keep us steady when we are weak.

c.        He will help us stand in adversity.

d.       He will be with us.

24.   Jesus is the vine that we need to abide in.

a.        He is our all.

b.       No matter what we are going through.

c.        No matter what He has called us to do.

d.       If we abide in Him.

e.        Trust in Him.

f.          He is with us.

25.   It all starts with believing in Jesus and repenting of your sins.

a.        He died to forgive you of your sins.

b.       Defeating death to give you new life.

c.        Make the choice, don’t delay.

d.       If you would like to know more about Jesus.

e.        I would love to talk with you.