Episode 2.77

How does God give victory—and what happens when His people forget who the battle belongs to?

In this episode, Michael and Zach walk through Joshua 5:13–12:24, the heart of Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land. Beginning with Joshua’s encounter with the Commander of the LORD’s army, the episode makes a crucial point: Joshua never wins by strategy or strength—God fights for His people.

From the fall of Jericho to the defeat at Ai, the text shows that victory depends on obedience and dependence, not confidence or cleverness. The sin of Achan reveals the seriousness of God’s holiness and the corporate weight of covenant faithfulness. The covenant renewal at Mount Ebal reminds listeners that conquest is never separated from worship and God’s Word.

The episode also addresses difficult questions—divine judgment, total warfare, archaeology, and the justice of God—while keeping the focus where Joshua does: Yahweh as Divine Warrior, Judge, and Promise-Keeper. Even as Israel “takes the land,” the book makes clear that the victory is partial, pointing forward to a greater rest still to come.

Joshua isn’t about how great Israel was—it’s about how faithful God is, even when His people stumble.

Find our videocast here: https://youtu.be/RSksvCyu3zM

Merch here: https://take-2-podcast.printify.me/

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone⁠

License code: 2QZOZ2YHZ5UTE7C8

Find more Take 2 Theology content at http://www.take2theology.com