Joshua - Moses had died and the Lord instructed Joshua to take his place and lead the people. In obedience to the Lord, they crossed the River Jordan and began many years of conquest. Obstacles are overcome, battles are won, nations are defeated and land is occupied. Despite the failures, Joshua carried out his task in leading the nation into the land and, with God's help, subdued it.
Judges - Spiritual anarchy, disobedience to God's word, idolatry, an increasing tolerance of immorality, a lack of unity among believers and their unwillingness to walk a pathway of separation to God are features of this present day, as they were in the times of Judges. Believers will do well to heed warnings and recognise the downward spiral awaiting those who pursue such a course. Ruth - A girl from Moab whose name the book bears in its title. Here in Ruth is the history of every believer in the Lord Jesus, condemned by the law, helpless and hopeless, but brought by sovereign grace to a knowledge of the Redeemer and into the family of God. Here, too, is a prophetic picture of Israel, for two millennia exiled among the nations in bitterness and unbelief, but destined to be restored to the Land of Promise and even now returning to that Land out of their dispersion.
