Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History

by Francis A. Schaeffer

The book of Joshua brings to life real history during the crucial period of transition for the Israelites as they follow God's direction and settle in the promised land. Israel needed discipline in light of their newfound freedom. They faced the responsibility of living as a covenant people while adapting to change. Joshua describes the historic shift from the revelation of God's promises to their realization. God's care of his people becomes obvious, and their struggle with disobedience, selfishness, and fear is very human.

Francis Schaeffer's thoughts on the book of Joshua show readers the historic, spiritual, and intellectual nourishment available for the Christian life through the examples of Joshua and his fellow Israelites. In the book of Joshua, Schaeffer finds that God reveals his sorrow over human sin, as well as his gracious love for his people. This is as true for us as it was for those in Joshua's time. This study of the settling of Israel will inspire readers to see the hand of God present in all of history, including today.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, History, Old Testament, Nonfiction

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 1974

About the author

Francis August Schaeffer was an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland. Opposed to theological modernism, Schaeffer promoted a more historic Protestant faith and a presuppositional approach to Christian apologetics which he believed would answer the questions of the age.

Wife: Edith Schaeffer
children: Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Reviews

[Ryan Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with great insights. He does an excellent job explaining the book of Joshua, connecting it to the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible) and to history, and then applying it.

I only rate it 4 stars because compared to Schaeffer’s other works this isn’t in the same category of excellence. It was still an enjoyable read, but even his *Genesis In Space and Time* was significantly better.

That all being said, if you’re curious about the book of Joshua, how it connects to Christ and us, and how the Penteteuch then lead way to the rest of the OT, then this is a great choice. Schaeffer is classic Schaeffer throughout, with apologeitcs connecting to space-time history and applications to us today.

Finally, I just want to say that books like this are a lost art. This is a great book on a book of the Bible. It’s not a commentary, but it’s also very well researched and exegeted. Usually books on books of the Bible are either commentaries or loose applications. Shaeffer is able to provide excellent explanation, while providing his own spin, while also applying it. A rare talent.

Would I recommend? Of course, although I’d read Schaeffer’s Trilogy or his *Genesis In Space and Time* first.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great commentary on the book of Joshua and many other verses related to Joshua. The author writes in a clear understanding that the reader is not a graduate of a Bible Seminary, but that the average layman, who might not understand the Bible, but explains every difficult part that would help that layman understand.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpfully steps through Joshua and shows how the narrative connects to the larger covenantal faithfulness of God to Israel. Especially found the parts about the Gibeonites, Rahab, and Mt. Ebal & Mt. Gerizim helpful. Doesn't touch much on the question of the ethics of conquest - mostly focused on demonstrating the continuity of the covenant & the connection between Joshua & the coming Deliverer, Jesus.

[Chance Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great big picture of the book of Joshua. One would differ on his view of the Old Covenant Law for the New Covenant believer but overall an excellent resource on understanding Joshua and how it relates and fits within the overall plot structure of the Christian Scriptures.

[Gene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had been a long time since I had last read anything by Francis Schaeffer. I found his style to be a bit slower than I remembered, and the insights from the opening chapters seemed rather obvious and shallow, as if the book were written for someone with no familiarity with the Bible.

But as the book went on, it seemed to provide deeper insights along the way. The most impressive commentary is in the chapter "East and West of Jordan" which explains the averted civil war described in Joshua 22. Schaeffer does a great job of providing the views of both sides of the potential conflict and applauds both sides for taking truth seriously while simultaneously acting out of love. Schaeffer applies these principles to churches having disputes that have the potential to split them. It was this section of the book that raised it from a three-star to a four-star rating.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had forgotten how much fun (and useful) reading Francis Schaeffer is. Without the use or abuse of techno jargon, he says on course surveying the book of Joshua, placing its events solidly in time and space history. He rarely delves into micro exegesis, instead opting for the overview and broad significance of the events in Joshua, while consistently staying adverse to the skepticism of much current Biblical studies. Although originally written over 40 years ago, Francis Schaeffer remains relevant, if nothing else to offset the vacuous meanderings of the post postmodern mind.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biblical commentary of sorts isn’t a verse-by-verse exegetical commentary, but it tracks the major themes and events throughout the book, paying special attention to how Biblical History, or whatever might refer to as Redemptive History, seems to unfold. Schaeffer provides his thoughts for some of the more difficult passages but the major push for this book is similar to to his work on the book of Genesis - which is that God is immediately involved in and with His people and that the flow of Biblical history continues after the Pentateuch.

[David Sarkies · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bordering on the Prosperity Doctrine
4 December 2014

There was a time that I thought that Francis Schaeffer was wonderful in that he brought a new perspective to the Bible that many of the other tired old commentators generally didn't (and these commentators were generally restricted to the Australian Anglican Church). However my position changed when I read a testimony by his son where he attacked his father's theological position in that it was drifting close to the position of the fundamentalist right wing American church. The thing with Schaeffer (and I have mentioned this previously) is that his position was during the lead up to the modern fundamenalist position, however we must remember that he was actually quite welcoming to people and was also very much in favour of environmentalism.

That does not mean that I agree with all of his theology. While we see eye to eye with the theology of environmentalism, we do not see eye to eye with a lot of his other theology, and this book is a case in point. When I first read it I quite liked it, however I did not see the underlying problems within the book at the time. This book is basically a commentary on the book of Joshua and the interesting thing is that there are a lot of comparisons between this book and the book of Acts. However I do not think that we can force New Testament theology onto this book because we are talking about different times and different stages of salvation history.

The major concern that I have with this book is that it seems to lead towards a form of prosperity doctrine: if you keep God's laws then you will prosper, and if you reject God's laws then you will not. In a materialistic sense this simply does not work because there are many good and faithful Christians out there that suffer from the evils of this world. Further, if we take it on a corporate, national level, as is also possible, there are also problems that arise because there are a lot of wicked and despotic governments that are also prospering. Further, I am also hesitant to accept the idea that in the past fifty years we have gone from a God fearing people to a wicked and rebellious people.

The first thing that I will speak of is the idea of God's law. Once again, Schaeffer seems to get caught up with two things here: sexual promiscuity and abortion (which the section of murder is a subtle attack against). However, the essence of God's law seems to have been missed, and to understand the essence of God's law I believe that Micah 6:8 'he has told you, O man, what is good and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God'. The context of this passage is that despite all of the sacrifices and the outward appearances of goodness, the heart itself was rotten because the people were self absorbed and wicked. We see a similar thing in Jesus' time where when it came to the law the Pharasees were impeccable, yet Christ still rebuked them harshly for their outward appearances and their wicked and self-centred thoughts. Schaeffer, and many others, speak of this post-Christian world and claim that previously that our society was based upon a biblical foundation, however that biblical foundation was little more that a thin veneer that supported colonialism, oppression, economic inequality, and wholesale genocide of non-European cultures simply because they did not conform to our understanding of a civilised society (not to mention slavery and the over use of the death penalty). If every human life is sacred why then are the authorities given the right to execute people because they have committed a crime? In fact our society is so caught up with the idea of punishing the evil doers that we have actually forgotten the idea of mercy (and in fact have no idea of what mercy actually means).

I see it all the time at work when people are offended at the suggestion that they are at fault and the idea of innocence gets thrown around so often that we actually forget what it means. It appears that there is a class of society that simply does not understand or accept responsibility for their actions, and this is nothing new. When Australia was colonised the Aboriginals were considered to be little more than animals and as such were hunted and killed for sport. One early pastor at a large city church has been claimed to have been this great evangelical because he established a church that has maintained its evangelical stance for over 150 years, yet the current leadership ignore the fact that back in the early days of colonisation there must have been some complicity with the colonists who killed the aboriginals. In fact in one book that I read about aboriginal Christianity, this church actually garnered a mention in which the aboriginal author commented on how he did not feel welcome or comfortable in this church.

I may be sounding like I am being too harsh here but we must remember that we cannot forget where we have come from and Christians cannot hide behind a thin veneer of respectability yet hide themselves away from society and set themselves above the world as a whole. We spend enormous amounts of time attacking atheists and decrying the situation that our society has slipped into however we have completely forgotten from where we originally came.

[Trevor Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this short commentary of the book of Joshua. It was brief, thoughtful, and biblical. I particularly was moved by chapters three (Continuity of the Covenant), four (Rahab), and eleven (the Cities of Refuge). The chapter on the cities of refuge as a type of Christ may be my favorite work that I have read on the subject.

[Joe Schweitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Schaeffer. This boom includes several examples making the connection of the Abrahamic covenant as well as Christ’s command to go with the historical event of taking the promised land.

Schaeffer is one of the great authors for equipping the reader in how to engage the culture with Biblical Truth.

[Tim Zornes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was overall a very helpful book spiritually for me.
He is strikingly perceptive in some places and just flat out strange in others. Most of the conclusions, I believe, are spot on, especially when it comes to the continuity of history and the Covenant of God with man.

[Wilma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schaeffer brings the book of Joshua to life in thorough detail, and at the same time points out the many applications for present-day Jesus followers. I highly recommend this book for its many insights.

[Osmar Junior · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ler esse livro foi uma experiência extremamente prazerosa. A leitura do livro me trouxe de volta a certeza de que Deus é real, que habita na realidade e no tempo, e que deu aos seus filhos a oportunidade de escolherem o caminho que desejam trilhar.

[John Harbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

The King James Version was difficult to read and disrupted the books flow.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A get look at the book of Joshua and its tie in with the whole narrative of scripture. "The choice is before you..."

[Frans Kempe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book about Joshua and how it fits both historical and how it applies today.

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book of Joshua is action packed. Full of battles and intrigue, it is a great book for those who made it through the books of the law. With that said, Joshua is more than just a collection of the military exploits of the people of Israel as they began to conquer and enter the land of promise. While at the surface that may seem the focus of Joshua, namely revealing God leading His people against the pagan nations of Canaan, right below the surface is a broader message. Noted author and speaker Francis Schaeffer, in his classic book Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History, takes a biblical theological approach to the book of Joshua, noting how important biblical themes are found throughout the pages of this story on conquest that should not be overlooked.

I enjoy books that extract the timeliness truths of Scripture in a way that helps me not only understand the basic message, but that digs deep into the beautiful truths just waiting to be gleaned. While Joshua is perhaps not a book one would normally think would have more to offer than battlefield clashes, in reality, the recurring themes of humanity’s penchant for sin and God’s mercy can be found on every page of Joshua. Furthermore, as noted by Schaeffer, “what makes the book of Joshua overwhelmingly important is that is stands as a bridge, a link between the Pentateuch (the writings of Moses) and the rest of Scripture. It is crucial for understanding the unity the Pentateuch has with all that follows it, including the New Testament.”

With that understanding in mind, the reader will have a new appreciation for the book of Joshua and additionally, they will find themselves paying a bit more attention to the themes presented in Joshua and how those themes related to the greater message of Scripture. For instance, Schaeffer notes three changeless factors one can find in the book of Joshua, namely the written Book, the power of God, and the supernatural Leader. Throughout the book of Joshua, these factors present themselves. Joshua declares to the people of Israel in the first chapter of Joshua his commitment to the commands of God, relating to the people the words of Moses about the need for God’s law to never depart from the mouth or actions of Israel. We also see the power of God acting on behalf of the people over and over. Moreover, God is the King and Leader of His people. These themes are found throughout Scripture. God’s Word is the source of truth. God acts on behalf of His people, and God is always the sovereign King.

Schaeffer also provides some valuable discussion on the cities of refuge. While the discussion of these cities in the book of Joshua may seem unimportant and unrelated to our lives today given we are not going to race off to find a city to reside in should we unintentionally kill another human, the cities of refuge provide a valuable picture of Christ. The concept of refuge is found throughout the pages of Scripture with God always being a place we can flee in time of trouble. This concept finds its ultimate conclusion in Jesus. As Schaeffer so wonderfully notes, “We are not like a man who runs to a city of refuge and is acquitted after a trial because he is innocent. We are guilty. If you are still a non-Christian, run to Christ, for God’s own promises say, “Refuge! Refuge!” If we are Christians, we should take Christ as our sufficient refuge in bringing specific sins under the work of Christ and in all the vicissitudes of life, this moment and moment by moment, through the whole of our lives.”

The book of Joshua will come alive to those who take the opportunity to read Francis Schaeffer’s Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History. I highly recommend this book for all believers as it unpacks some very important biblical themes found throughout Joshua that are often and unfortunately overlooked. Joshua is more than a record of battlefield accomplishments. It is a book replete with themes that speak to the message of redemption, relationship, and salvation that form the core of Scripture and Schaeffer does a marvelous job of revealing those themes in a powerful and highly understandable way.

I received this book for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Jimmy]

Usually, when I read a commentary for devotional purposes, I read the passage from the Bible first then I consult a commentary with an eye for additional insight or observation and point of application I might have missed. I usually weigh commentaries in that regard with what it brings out from the text. Schaffer brought out insights to things that I missed not only upon my first reading of the passage, but my previous reading of Joshua also as well. To that end, I thought this work was helpful. For instance, I did not noticed before that the memorial of the stones that Jacob commanded Israel to lay was on the Jordan itself from rocks that were on land and also rocks from the Jordan unto dry land in Joshua 4. This seemingly trivial point is explained by Schaeffer as being significant since the stones from the river (assuming it looks different) will stand out on dry land and vice versa as a memorial of God's faithfulness when God once again parting water for Israel. Francis Schaeffer also had a good section on the Abrahamic covenant of God as the background to what was going on in Joshua in terms of receiving the promise land. It’s always beautiful seeing the flow of biblical theology being taken into account in interpreting a passage. The book also had a theologically rich chapter that focused on Joshua 8:30-35 on what Mount Ebal and Gerizim meant, where Schaeffer was able to use it to point to the gospel with the altar on Mount Ebal (the mountain of curses and judgment), of how this symbolizes that there is a need for the cleansing of sins. This commentary also answered a question I had for a while but neglected in finding the answer to. I’ve known before that the 12 tribes of Israel included two sons of Joseph which made me wonder how is it that there are 12 tribes instead of 13 if the tribes are from Jacob’s 12 sons. The math never added up to me until Schaeffer’s note from Genesis 49 that there is a prophecy that Simeon was to be without their own land. Over all, for a devotional flavor commentary, this work had good use of antecedent theology in interpreting the text, with Schaeffer using the Laws of Moses to make sense of what was going on in Joshua. Examples have already been cited above but added to this is the chapter on the city of Refuge, which must be understood in light of the directions and technicalities of Deuteronomy 4:41-43, Deuteronomy 19:1-13, Numbers 35:4-5 and 34:15-30. I also enjoyed the fact that Francis Schaeffer points out that when we look at the Bible, events took place in “time and space,” that is, in history. The ramification of that is huge: history is going somewhere. It is objectively meaningful. Of all people, Christians should be interested in the study of history since we know of God’s plan, promises and providence.

[Maggie Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot

[Dmreichle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book basically continues where "Genesis in Space and Time" left off. Now we are ready to enter the Promised Land, with Joshua in the lead. I love Schaeffer's writing style and the connections he makes between the Old Testament and the New, and applications made for us as believers today. He is definitely writing for a different audience than Christians who have been brought up in solid teaching, but he seems to address the more liberal leanings that he was just beginning to see in his day. Many of the points he makes lead me to say to myself, "Ok yeah, so?" because they seem so obvious. Other connections seem a bit of a stretch, but nothing too far fetched to make me discount them completely. All in all, a good read for anyone interested in Old Testament history and continuity in Scripture.

[Josh Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schaeffer provides an excellent work which travels through many highlights (and lowlights) of the Biblical book of Joshua, providing interesting geographic and historical details, and vividly applying the themes to anyone today. I love books which exposit Biblical books, add well-researched additional details, and reflect on the meaning. This is such a book. From the gritty reality of trust Rehab and Joshua needed to have in God to the convicting warning of the account of the Gibeonites, both the book of Joshua and this volume clearly are worth reading. At the end we all must Choose just as Joshua exhorted his contemporaries. Schaeffer echoes this call to us.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schaeffer does not disappoint.

Better known for his apologetic works like The God Who is There, in this work the author traces the story of redemption in the book Joshua, connecting it to the big themes of Scripture. It is a wonderful example of how Scripture should be read. Not as an academic book to write a paper about, verse by verse. Not as a source of mere uplift and inspiration. But as one part of a bigger story, one chapter of a larger book, where we see both God's sovereign, covenant grace and our responsibilities to believe, obey and serve the Lord.

Get it and read it.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francis Schaeffer was an incredible Biblical scholar and man of God. This book was enlightening, powerful, and thought provoking. Anyone looking for a book that will concisely put the book of Joshua into over-arching narrative of the Bible will thoroughly enjoy this one!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to understand why those pesky Muslim extremists won't leave us alone? Voila! ...reading a bible wouldn't hurt either. This book is full of "aHA!" moments. Love that.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic commentary on the book of Joshua, written in an easy readable style, providing helpful insight. I would read another book by Schaeffer.

[Joshua Reitano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Topical treatment of the book of Joshua, attempting to set it in the larger Biblical storyline.

[Mark]

Francis Schaeffer spoke to his generation in a way so strong that it reverberates to ours. This was a good (perhaps great) book of what might be considered sermons of the book and life of Joshua.