Theme
The spiritual battle did not end with the last generation, will not end with this generation, and won’t end with any generation until the Lord makes all things new.
Introduction
In chapter 12, we considered all the victories that Israel had obtained through faith in God, each one representing the work of God in delivering their enemies into their hand.
In chapter 13, we see that the next generation cannot be content to rest in the victories of the past.
There are battles to be fought in each generation, and there are victories to be won by faith for every congregation.
The Battle for Each Generation
(Joshua 13:1-14)
We have two subpoints here:
- There is land to be conquered
- There are enemies to be subdued
Or, to put it another way:
- There are spiritual heights to be attained
- There are spiritual enemies to be fought
There Is Land to Be Conquered
The Problem of Aging Leadership
Joshua had grown old and was no longer able to go out and lead Israel’s armies in battle.
“We don’t know Joshua’s exact age at this time… Joshua lived to be 110…”
Other commentators indicate that Joshua was likely over 100 years old, meaning he had less than 10 years before his death.
Joshua is old, yet there is still work to be done.
This symbolises the passing of the baton from the older men to the younger men of the next generation.
This is how a local church continues forward. There comes a time when the older generation must step back from leadership roles and allow the younger men God has raised up to stand in the gap.
Joshua himself had been raised up under Moses. When Moses died, Joshua was ready to lead.
Sometimes God raises people up within a church, and sometimes He brings them from elsewhere—but God always has His people for each generation.
The Problem of Unconquered Land
Verses 2–6 list lands that had not yet been conquered.
These lands were occupied by:
- Philistines
- Geshurites
- Sidonians
- Various other Canaanite peoples
- Territories in Lebanon and northern regions
This shows that Israel’s settlement was incomplete and required continued faith and obedience.
Israel was not to rest on past victories but continue conquering by faith.
The list of past victories was meant to encourage them:
Keep going. Keep fighting. Keep living by faith.
Spiritual Application
There are always greater spiritual heights to attain:
- A higher plane in prayer
- A deeper understanding of Scripture
- A greater stirring toward Holy Spirit-led holiness
The danger is compromise.
The modern church often adopts worldly practices, philosophies, and values instead of trusting God.
There Are Enemies to Be Subdued
(Joshua 13:10-15)
Verses 12 conclude victories under Moses, but verse 13 reveals unfinished work.
After Moses died, Israel stopped fighting and began compromising.
The enemy had not left—but God’s people had stopped contending.
The Geshurites and Maachathites remained because Israel chose to tolerate them.
Lessons for Today
Each generation must fight its own spiritual battles:
- Doctrinal battles
- Battles for personal holiness
- Battles in prayer
- Battles for lost souls
We must not be content with past progress.
The battle continues until we reach heaven.
Dependence on God
Every victory and every spiritual height is only achieved through God’s power.
- Souls are not saved apart from God
- Churches are not strengthened apart from God
- Revival does not occur apart from God
The Inheritance for Each Generation
(Joshua 13:15-33)
The Inheritance of Reuben, Gad, and Half Manasseh
(Verses 15-32)
Worldly Appeal and Spiritual Danger
The lands east of the Jordan were rich but spiritually dangerous.
These tribes chose land based on outward prosperity.
They preferred material gain over closeness to the tabernacle.
This created long-term problems for future generations.
They became a buffer zone between Israel and heathen nations, making them vulnerable to attack and ungodly influence.
Warning: Borderline Christianity
These tribes were not fully separated from God’s people, but neither were they fully committed.
You cannot live with one foot in the world and one foot in the church and expect the blessings of both.
James 4:4
“Friendship of the world is enmity with God.”
The Danger of Loving Money
There is nothing wrong with having money, but loving money is dangerous.
1 Timothy 6:10
“The love of money is the root of all evil…”
When a Christian pursues money instead of God, their heart has erred from the faith.
Material blessings are not wrong—but they must not become the desire of the heart.
The Inheritance of Levi
(Verse 33)
The tribe of Levi received no land inheritance.
Their inheritance was the service of God.
Spiritual Priority Over Material Gain
The Levites were responsible for:
- Caring for the house of God
- Teaching the Law
If they had land, it would distract them from their calling.
Application for Today
Christians must be careful not to allow temporary worldly gains to distract from eternal rewards.
Matthew 6:19-21
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…”
Our reward is not in this world, but in the world to come.
The Lord Is Our Portion
Lamentations 3:24-26
“The LORD is my portion…”
Material things will pass away, but eternal rewards remain.
1 Peter 1:3-4
“An inheritance incorruptible…”
Conclusion
Do not sit on the fence as a Christian.
A “nuanced” position often becomes a compromised position.
The Christian who tries to sit on the fence will soon find that no one knows where they stand.
This generation must:
- Fight today’s battles
- Train the next generation
The work of God continues from generation to generation.