Joshua 5-7

Last week we learned Joshua sent spies to check out the city of Jericho and how Rahab, the prostitute protected them when she hid them from the king’s men.  Then we saw another miracle from God when He stopped the waters of the Jordan so the Israelites could cross into the Promised Land.  Then memorial stones were set up as a remembrance of what God had done and so all peoples of the earth would know His power.

Joshua 5 – Preparing for Victory

All the Amorite kings heard how God dried up the Jordan so Israel could cross and were afraid to face Israel.  (Joshua 5:1)  God told Joshua to make flint knives and circumcise the people.  All the circumcised men had died in the wilderness because of their disobedience so now their children who were born in the wilderness needed to be circumcised.  After they were circumcised they camped until they were healed.  This time of healing would be a blessing and protection from God.  Circumcision symbolizes the cutting off of the old life and replacing it with a new one.  It was the reinstating of God’s covenant with Israel. (Joshua 5:2-9)

Israel trusted God in this time of vulnerability.  They completely depended on God’s protection.  They learned what it meant to trust God through obedience.  We need to recognize our need for God and depend on Him.  He is in control.

Do you trust God in all things?

How do you prepare for victory?

Do you make holiness and worship a priority?

While they were camped, they observed the Passover and ate the first fruits of the Promised Land.  Finally, no more manna.  I am sure they were glad of that.  Manna sustained them in the wilderness, but now they had the fruit of the land.  This was just the beginning of the abundance the land had to offer. (Joshua 5:10-12)

When Joshua was near Jericho, the commander of the Lord’s army appeared to him with a sword.  The commander told Joshua to take off his sandals because he was standing in a holy place.  Joshua fell face down and did as he said.  (Joshua 5:13-15)  

This battle at Jericho would be a battle between the Lord and the Canaanites.  The Lord Himself will win.  God would demonstrate His power.  It is the same today.  Life is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His power.  He is the Commander and He gives us orders.  We are to listen and obey.  He will give us strength and defeat our enemies.

Who is your captain?

Do you listen for His voice?

Do you obey His commands?

How do you look to Him for strength?

Some think the commander is Jesus Himself.  The Old Testament mentions someone thought to be Jesus in Gen. 32 – God or Jesus fought with Jacob, Judges 6 – God visited Gideon, Dan. 3 – When the king put the 3 Jews into the fire, he saw God or Jesus with them.  There are other passages with appearances of “the angel of the Lord”, which is also thought to be Jesus or God Himself.  Jesus declared Himself in John 8:58 to be existent before Abraham.  It is logical that He would be active in the world.

Principle:  God was active in the Old Testament and is active in the world today.

Joshua 6 – Victory at Jericho

The city of Jericho was on lock down.  No one entered and no one left.  They were terrified of the Israelites.  God told Joshua exactly how to capture Jericho.  They were to take the ark and all the armed men and march around the city wall once a day.  The 7 priests were to blow 7 trumpets, but the people were to be silence.  They were to do this for 6 days.  Then on the 7^th day they were to march around 7 times with the priest blowing trumpets, but on the 7^th time around when the trumpets sounded all the people were to give a loud shout and the walls of Jericho would collapse.  (Joshua 6:1-11)

The people needed to know that God was with them.  They needed to see the ark to help them know He was helping them.  We don’t need to see anything.  We know God keeps His promises and is with us at all times.  We know God is on our side and will fight our battles.  “If God is for us, who can be against us?” – Rom 8:31.

The number 7 appears several times in this story.  In the Bible it usually means something is complete or perfect.  God’s plans were perfect for Joshua and the Israelites as they are perfect for us.  “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jer. 29:11.  (This is my favorite verse.)

The next morning they did exactly what God said.  They didn’t argue.  It probably seemed strange to them as sometimes what God tells us to do seems strange.  God always knows best.  We shouldn’t doubt, but obey His instructions.  On the 7^th day they marched around 7 times and on the 7^th time when they shouted, the walls came down allowing the army to enter and capture the city.  The entire city was destroyed by the sword and burned.  Only Rahab and her household were spared. (Joshua 6:12-25)

God had already given the city to them and all they had to do was obey (Joshua 6:16).  God has given us victory over our enemies, too.  Our greatest enemy is sin.  Jesus defeated sin and gave us victory when He died on the cross for us.

 

Why would God kill everyone including women and children?  The civilization in Canaan was completely wicked and they had to be destroyed because they did not repent and turn the God.  Deut. 20:18 tells us they did detestable things in worshiping their gods and would teach the Israelites to do these bad things.  God had to punish them.  We cannot begin to understand God’s ways.  All we know is that His ways are true and just.  Only He is able to judge.

What is your Jericho?

What walls have you put up against God?

How strong is your faith?

Israel was instructed to keep away from their idols or it would bring trouble on them.  All the silver, gold, bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must be put into His treasury.  So they were to give everything to God. (Joshua 6:19)

Joshua pronounced a curse on anyone who tries to rebuild the city of Jericho.  The Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread throughout the land.  (Joshua 6:26-27) 

The book of Joshua tells us many times that God was with Joshua helping him in everything.  God continued to counsel and direct him as to what to do.  All the inhabitants of the land heard of his wisdom and courage through the power and presence of God.  We need God in everything we do.  We need to seek His counsel, ask Him for wisdom and be faithful and obedient.

Do others see the power of God in your life?

Do they see you as faithful and obedient?

Principle:  God’s power is unleashed when His people are faithful and obedient.

There is no doubt that the wall of Jericho fell by the power of God.  It is hard for some to believe this miracle.  The people trusted that if they did what God said, they would see victory.  They had faith.  We are saved by faith.  It too, is hard to understand.  The walls fell by faith.  Faith should motivate our whole lives.  Let us have the kind of faith that moves us to trust and obey God.  The walls fell because God said they would.  God keeps His promises.

How strong is your faith?

Do you trust God will do what He says?

Lessons from the story of Jericho:

We learn that God keeps His promises. 

We learn God’s ways are different from man’s ways. 

We learn the awesome power of God.

We learn the relation between grace, faith, and obedience.

We learn that trust and obedience brings victory and rewards.

Joshua 7 – Achan’s Sin

 Achan didn’t do as God commanded.  He took some of the spoils of Jericho for himself.  I guess he thought no one would notice.  What was he thinking?  God knows everything.  There is nothing we can keep Him from knowing.  “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” – Ecc. 12:14.  “… your sin will find you out.”  - Num. 32:23.  The Lord’s anger burned against Israel (Joshua 7:1-2).  This sin would have a huge effect on what would follow.

Why was God angry with all of Israel?   God viewed the nation as a unit.  There was sin in Israel’s camp and God wouldn’t continue to bless them as long as it was there.  This doesn’t mean Achan was the only one who had sinned, but his sin was a direct disobedience.  Our sin impacts everyone.   God is holy and no sin is a small matter to Him.  He must deal with us and the sin in our lives.

Joshua planned his next attack by sending men to spy out the small town of Ai.  They decided it would take only a few men to defeat this town so they sent 2-3 thousand.  Israel was defeated and 36 Israelites were killed.  This caused Israel to be afraid.  Joshua started to blame God since God had allowed them to be defeated.  Joshua thought other people would hear of this and not think God was great and good.  (Joshua 7:6-9)

Then God told Joshua the real reason they were defeated.  He told him that Israel had sinned by taking some of the valuables found in Jericho when God told them to put them in His treasure.  (Joshua 7:10-12)  God gave instructions and they must be obeyed just as it is important for us to obey God’s instructions in His Word. 

God revealed that Achan was the one who sinned and told Joshua that he must be punished.  Joshua       confronted Achan and he confessed his sin.  Evidence of his sin was found by finding the things he had stolen.  They were sure of his guilt.  Then all of Israel stoned him and his family.  The punishment was severe, but it was a warning to Israel.  They must obey God.  Now the Lord’s anger ended and Israel could expect God to bless them again.  (Joshua 7:13-26)

When have you tried to hide something from God?

What were the results?

Have you repented and asked God for forgiveness?

Lessons from Achan’s sin:

God will expose and punish sin in His timing.

God will punish sin severely.

God gives us examples of His wrath on sinners, so we should walk in fear of God.

God sanctions capital punishment.

Sin cannot be hidden from God.

Our sin can cause trouble for others.

We should confess our sins before we are caught.

We should be aware of covetousness which is idolatry.

Principle:  “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” – Luke 8:17

Next week we will continue our study in Joshua.  See you here.

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Joshua 1-4

I thought it might be fitting to study the book of Joshua since we just finished The Life of Moses.  Our study ended with Deuteronomy 34, the death of Moses.  If you remember, Joshua was a helper to Moses for many years.  God chose him to be Moses’ replacement as leader of Israel.  He was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses Had laid hands on him. (Deut. 34:9).  Joshua’s name means “Lord is my Savior” in Hebrew.  The name Jesus means the same thing in Greek.

The author of the book is thought to be Joshua.  The purpose of the book is to give the history of the conquering of the Promised Land and to show that God fulfilled His promise of providing the land to His people.  It is the first of the 12 historical books:  Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 Samuel, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther.

Joshua 1 – Joshua Prepares the People

In the first chapter Joshua prepared the people to cross the Jordan.  Moses and the entire generation of disobedient Israelites were now dead.  God has Joshua lead the people into Canaan.  God assured Joshua that He would be with him and never leave.  “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” – Joshua 1:5.   God told him to be strong and courageous and to not let the Book of the Law depart from his mouth.  He was to meditate on it day and night and do everything that was in it.  (Joshua 1:8).  God told Joshua to remember what He commanded him.  “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

How often do you spend time in the Word?

How do you let it be your source of encouragement and guide for living?

How can you be strong and courageous?

Principle:  God will never leave you or forsake you.

Joshua 2 – Joshua Sends Spies

Joshua was very clever soldier.  He trusted God and he knew he had to show his trust by his actions.  The best way to enter the land was to destroy the city of Jericho.   Joshua sent 2 spies to check out the land.  The king of Jericho heard the spies were in the city and went to look for them.  God probably brought the spies to Rehab’s house, because He knew her faith.  Rehab, who was a prostitute, protected them and hid them on the roof of her house.  She risked her life.  This showed great courage.   

Why would they have gone to a prostitute’s house?  Maybe it was because her house was part of the city wall and they could reach it easily and it was a good way of escape.  Another reason may be since she was prostitute, the townspeople wouldn’t be surprised that 2 strangers came to see her.

She told the spies that she knew God had given them the land and how God had parted the Red Sea so the Israelites could escape Egyptian slavery.  She acknowledged that their God was the God of heaven and on earth.  She asked them to promise to protect her family, because she had shown kindness to them.  The spies agreed. (Joshua 2:1-14).

The king locked the gates to trap the spies inside Jericho.  Rahab helped the spies escape by letting then down from her window by a rope and told them to hide in the hills.  She would bring her family into her house and when the Israelites came back to destroy the city.  She tied a scarlet cord from her window so when they returned those in her house would be spared.  The men returned to Joshua and told him everything that happened.  They said the people of Jericho were melting in fear.  They were sure that God would bless them and they would be able to enter the land. (Joshua 2:15-22). 

The scarlet cord reminds us of the blood put on the doors in Egypt at the first Passover when God killed every firstborn in Egypt as judgment.  God told the Israelites to put blood of a sacrificed animal on their doors for a sign.  When God saw the blood, He passed over that house and no one in that house was killed (Ex. 12:12-13).   This also reminds us of the blood of Jesus who saved us from God’s punishment for our sins when He died on the cross.

Rahab is mentioned in Matthew as an ancestor of Jesus.  She was not an Israelite, but God chose her because of her faith.  Rahab became the wife of Salmon, the great-great-grandmother of King David.  She is mentioned again in Hebrews 11:31 as one of great faith.  Then she is mentioned again in James 2:25 for what she did for the spies.

James 2:26 tells us that “faith without deeds is dead”.  Rahab’s faith was definitely alive.  Her actions defined her faith in God.  She showed faith, courage and love.  She is a heroine for all believers. 

How do you show your trust in God?

Do your actions show it?

How do you have faith like Rahab?

Principle:  God protects the faithful.

We can learn a lot for the story of Rahab: 

God uses common people to help us support our faith.

 God uses all circumstances to stretch our faith.

God uses many methods to sustain our faith.

What unusual person has God sent in your life to speak to you?

Through what circumstance is God stretching your faith?

When has God put you in danger and how did you react?

Who has God put in your life to get your attention?

Joshua 3 – Another Miraculous Crossing

The Israelites camped for 3 days by the Jordan.  Then Joshua told the people to follow the ark as they crossed the Jordan leaving about 1,000 yards between them and the ark.  They were not to go near it.  They were to follow it because they didn’t know the way since they had never been that way before (Joshua 3:1-4).  This is a picture for us to follow Jesus’ every step.  “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” – 1 Peter 2:21.

Joshua told the people to “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” – Joshua 3:5.  God wanted them to be holy and ready.  They probably needed to wash themselves and offer sacrifices to Him to show they were sorry for their sins.  We need to confess our sins and be ready for Him.  We can’t work for God if we are sinful. 

Are you willing to consecrate yourself to God’s purposes?

What sin do you need to confess?

Are you ready for God to use you?

The priests were to carry the ark and walk into the river.  They had to step out in faith and stand in the middle of the rushing river.  They had to be strong and courageous.  They would be the last ones to cross.  There are times when we, too have to step out in faith not knowing what will happen.  We just need to trust God.

The ark was a wooden box and in it were the 10 Commandments.  It symbolized the presence and power of God being with His people.  God has always led the people and was still leading them.  By following the ark they were allowing God to lead them.  If they didn’t follow the ark they would get lost and wouldn’t know where to go or how to live.

How are you allowing God to lead you?

(Joshua 3:9-13)  Joshua told them that God was the one giving the instructions.  He didn’t want the honor for himself.  He wanted God to get the honor.  He told them that God was alive and not like the gods of the Canaanites who could not do anything.  God is still alive today.  Jesus is alive and will help us each day of our lives.  God would help them with their enemies.  We have enemies today, too.  We have mostly spiritual enemies.  “For our struggles is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” – Eph 6:12.

When the priests reached the water and their feet touched the water, the water stopped flowing.  God stopped the water and gathered it up in a heap.  This sounds a lot like the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea when they fled Egypt.  The priests stood in the middle of the dry Jordan with the ark while everyone else crossed over. (Joshua 3:14-17) 

How do you consecrate yourself and wait on the Lord to do wonders?

How do you step out in faith?

Do you trust God and put your feet in the water?

Principle:  God is sovereign and controls all of nature and circumstances.

God does miracles all around us every day.  He not only does big ones, but many small ones.  We just need to look for them and recognize them in all situations.  There are miracles we can see and those we can’t see.  We can see the miracles of nature.  The trees and grass becomes green in springtime, the flowers bloom, the sun shines, the rain falls, the cool breeze blows – these are miracles!  There are many unseen miracles, too.  The guardian angel that protects you from accidents, the phone rings with that long awaited  job offer, that raise you’ve been waiting for, that good report from your doctor, that perfect dress you found, and on and on – these are miracles!

Do you prepare each day for what God has in store for you? 

Do you expect His miracles? 

Do you spend time in prayer asking him to open your eyes to see His miracles?  

Joshua was a man of faith and believed that God would help the Israelites cross the Jordan.  The priest showed their faith and obedience by standing in the middle while everyone else crossed.  The people showed their faith and courage and crossed the river.   The book of James tells us that faith is dead without action.  God wants us to step out in faith and do what He commands.

Joshua 4 – The Memorial Stones

After they had crossed the Jordan, the Lord commanded Joshua to have a man from each of the 12 tribes were to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan to use as a visible monument and would serve as a remembrance that God had cut off the waters of the Jordan for the people to cross.  “That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.” – Joshua 4:14.

Then the Lord commanded the priests come out of the Jordan.  As soon as they did the water of Jordan returned.  Joshua took the 12 stones and set them up at Gilgal.  They were to tell their descendants that these stones was represented what God did that day.  “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” – Joshua 4:24.

We have memorial monuments today.  We have communion to remember that Jesus died for us.  We have baptism which memorializes what Jesus has done in our personal lives.  We have church steeples that all can see and know that is where God is worshiped.  We have testimonies from believers of what God has done for them in their lives.  We need to remember all God has done and never forget that He is always with us and is doing miracles every day.

How do you recognize the miracles God does in your life?

Do you take them for granted?

How do you remember what Jesus has done for you?

What are your memorial stones?

Principle:  Setting up physical memorials to spiritual milestones reinforces the reality of God’s power.

This crossing of the Jordan event in Israel’s history was important.  It signified the cutting off of their past and entering into a new life.  The stones were to remind them their old life was buried in the Jordan and now they were able to walk in a new life.  Our baptism signifies we are burying the old life and entering into a new one.

I hope you will join me next week for Joshua 5-7. 

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