The book of Joshua is a very positive book in the Bible. It’s a book about the faithfulness of God, written to strengthen our faith in his promises, particularly the promise that Jesus Christ is preparing a new home for us where we can enjoy rest in his presence (Hebrews 4:1–16). It is also a book about our responsibility towards God. The Lord has made promises to us, he has shown himself to be worthy of our trust, and in this book we will see how the Lord calls us to now be faithful to him.

In light of the purpose of Joshua, the goal of your sermon must be to show how God has been faithful to us, and what response the Lord is calling us to. Joshua 11 gives us another example of Joshua and Israel’s faith. Despite the odds stacked against them, they trust the Lord to be with them and to fight on their behalf, and therefore they go and attack an enemy that is much bigger and stronger than they are. Despite the temptation to make use of horses and chariots, they remain obedient to God and do what he has commanded. Given the emphasis of Joshua 11:1–15 on Israel’s obedience in the midst of fear, it seems appropriate that this should also be the focus of your sermon.