Archive for the ‘Joshua’ tag
The Fall of Jericho: September 30, 2012
The text for this lesson is Joshua 6.
Key Point
- Through His servant Joshua, God gave the Israelites victory over Jericho by causing its fortress walls to fall. Through Jesus Christ, God gives us victory, causing the fortress of sin and death to fall and assuring us that we are His people.
- Law: Prideful, I trust in walls of self-made security, but my works and my accomplishments are weak and crumble around me.
- Gospel: God delivers me from the ruin of my sin and provides me a mighty fortress in Christ.
Discussion Points
- Whom do you trust with your life? Why do you trust these people?
- Read Joshua 6:1. What did the people of Jericho entrust with their lives? Now read Joshua 5:13–15. Against whom are the people of Jericho fighting?
- Read Joshua 6:2. The Lord says to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand.” When Joshua looked, what would he have seen?
- Read Joshua 6:3–14. What message did the Israelites send to the people of Jericho by marching around their city?
- Read Joshua 6:15–21. How did Israel take the city?
- Read Joshua 6:22–25. Read also the Lord’s command in Deuteronomy 7:1–6. Who was spared from destruction? Read Joshua 2:1–14. Why was she spared?
- How does the fall of Jericho emphasize the importance of faith in the lives of God’s people? How do we see God’s grace as evidenced by Rahab’s faith? Read Matthew 1:5. Whose name do you see there?
- How are we tempted to misplace our trust as the people of Jericho did? How does Satan tempt Christians to pride? Read 1 John 1:8–10. How does God combat this?
- When our faith is built firmly on Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, how does that affect the way we live our lives?
Entering the Promised Land: September 23, 2012
em>The text for this lesson is Joshua 3:3–5:12.
Key Point
- Led by Joshua through the Jordan River, Israel left the desert and entered the Promised Land; led by Christ through the water of our Baptism, we leave behind the desert of sin, death, and Satan and enter into the promised land of His heavenly kingdom.
- Law: In sin, I wander in the desert of death, complaining and unrepentant, determined to go my own way.
- Gospel: In Baptism, Christ lifts me from the grave, joins me to His own Baptism and Body, the Church, and leads me into the land of rest.
Discussion Points
- Think back to the last graduation ceremony you attended. What ceremonies and symbols marked the end of one phase of life and the beginning of the next? Was the focus on the past or on the future?
- Read Joshua 3:1–6. Note the importance of the ark of the covenant. What did this ark represent? How do these instructions reflect the Israelites’ relationship with God?
- Read Joshua 3:14–17. What is the significance of the Jordan River? What is the role of the ark of the covenant during the crossing?
- Read Joshua 4:1–8. What was the purpose of this act commanded by God? How did it represent an end and a new beginning? Are there memorial “signs” that you can identify at church? in the liturgy?
- Read Joshua 5:2–9. What was the significance of circumcision? Why was this an appropriate occasion for all of Israel to be circumcised?
- Read Joshua 5:10–12. What is the significance of the Israelites’ celebration of the Passover?
- This story is filled with connections to other passages in the Bible. Skim Genesis 7–8; Exodus 14; 2 Kings 5; and Matthew 3. How do these Scripture passages use water to mark an end and a new beginning? Skim Exodus 12; 2 Chronicles 35; and Luke 22. How do these passages concerning the Passover mark significant occasions in the restoration of God’s people to the life that God intended for them?
- The Israelites began a new life surrounded by symbol and ceremony. When do Christians begin their new life? What symbols and ceremonies surround this event? What part of this event is not symbolic?
- God instructed the Israelites to create a memorial to remember the day they entered their new life. How are Christians to do the same thing with respect to their Baptism?
The Twelve Spies in Canaan: September 9, 2012
The text for this lesson is Numbers 13–14.
Key Point
- By God’s power, Israel rose victorious over many great enemies; by the power of Christ who fought for us on the cross, we are victorious over the greater enemies of sin, death, and the devil.
- Law: I do not always believe God’s promises; instead, I grumble and am afraid.
- Gospel: God always keeps His promises, especially His promise to save me from my sin by the sacrifice of His Son.
Discussion Points
- Have you ever been asked to do something that you could not possibly do? How did you react to the request? How did you feel about the person who made the request of you?
- When have you seen someone accomplish something you had thought was impossible? How did he or she manage?
- Read Numbers 13:1–3. What kind of men were sent to spy out Canaan? Why would these have been chosen?
- Read Numbers 13:17–20. What were the spies sent to find out? Why were these important questions? Read Numbers 13:25–29. What was the Israelites’ outlook?
- Read Numbers 14:1–9. How did the people react to the news of their impossible mission? Why did Joshua and Caleb feel differently?
- In verse 10, the people were ready to stone Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua, and so God announced judgment against them. Read of God’s judgment in Numbers 14:26–35. Then read about the people’s reaction in Numbers 14:39–45. What messages does God send by this defeat?
- The Israelites faced an impossible mission, but God specializes in doing the impossible. What “impossible” work has God done in your life, and how did you respond?
- The Israelites stood on the edge of a Promised Land that they could not see but believed was there by the promise of God. So do we! What obstacles make it difficult to believe God’s promises? How does God work in our lives to keep our eyes on His promise of eternal life?
June 20, 2010: God Controls the Sun and the Moon
The text for this lesson is Joshua 10:1-15
Discussion Points
- What was the Amorite kings’ battle plan?
- What did the men of Gibeon do?
- Did Joshua think the Gibeonites deserved to be punished for tricking him and the Israelites?
- What do the words of encouragement for Joshua in verse 8 mean? How are they also words of encouragement for you?
- What is Joshua’s prayer to the Lord?
- Why do you think he petitioned God for the sun and moon to stand still?
- What is important to know about this miracle?
- How did God fight for Joshua and the Israelites?
- How did God make time stand still?
- What can we learn from Joshua in this story?
June 13, 2010: God Divides the Jordan River
The text for this lesson is Joshua 3:1-4:24
Discussion Points
- What did God point Joshua to that would help him to be a good leader?
- God commands Joshua, who then commands Israel, and they obey the command. God tells Joshua that when the people see the miracle they will know that the Lord is with Joshua just as He was with Moses. Why is that important?
- What is significant about the twelve men chosen to carry the memorial stones and the purpose for building this sign?
- Why did Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan in the place where the priests had stood?
- Why did God miraculously heap the Jordan River? Couldn’t He have told the people to build rafts or boats or engineer a bridge?
- What is the message of the twelve stones?
- How is the crossing of the Jordan similar to the crossing of the Red Sea?
- How does this miraculous passing through the Jordan River point us to the New Testament and into our time?
- On what did God constantly have the children of Israel focus? Why is that important?
- On what does God constantly have us focus for our salvation?
October 5, 2008: The Fall of Jericho
The text for this lesson is Joshua 6:1–27.
Key Points
- God saved the Israelites by causing the fortress walls of Jericho to tumble and fall and by guiding them through His servant Joshua. God saves us by causing the fortress of sin and death to tumble and fall through the redeeming work of Jesus so that we might become and remain His people.
- Law: Prideful, I place my trust in the false walls of self-security; my works and my accomplishments weakly crumble around me.
- Gospel: God delivers me from the ruin of my sin and provides me a mighty fortress in Christ.
- Bible Words: Psalm 46:10.
- Faith Words: exalt, Jesus, salvation, sin.
- Catechism: The First Commandment.
September 28, 2008: Entering the Promised Land
The text for this lesson is Joshua 3:1—5:12.
Key Points
- At the Jordan River, led by Joshua, Israel left the desert and entered the Promised Land of milk and honey; in the water of our Baptism, led by Christ, we leave behind the desert of sin, death, and Satan and enter into our heavenly promised land.
- Law: In sin, I am ever-complaining and unrepentant, wearily wandering in the desert of death, determined to go my own way.
- Gospel: In Baptism, Christ lifts me from the grave, joins me to His own baptism and His own body, the Church, and leads me and the Church into the land of rest.
- Bible Words: Titus 3:5.
- Faith Words: Ark of the Covenant, Jordan River, Promised Land, tribe.
- Catechism: Holy Baptism
