BOOK OF JOSHUA

 Quick overview of what we learned in Exodus:

  • God sent Moses to Egypt to rescue the Israelites from slavery.
  • God parted the Red Sea and the people walked on dry land to safety.
  • Twelve spies went into Canaan (the land God promised to the Israelites)
  • Joshua and Caleb (two of the spies) trusted God and wanted to conquer the land.
  • The other ten spies convinced the Israelites that the Canaanites were too powerful to
  • conquer.
  • God was angry at the people’s lack of belief, so instead of moving into the Promised
  • Land, the people wandered in the desert.
  • Even though the people disobeyed, God took care of them in the desert.
  • After 40 years of wandering, the generation that didn’t obey God died off. Now their
  • children and grandchildren were ready to conquer the land God promised to them.
  • Because of their trust in God, Joshua and Caleb were the only two people living from the older generation. God allowed them to enter the Promised Land.

PREPARING TO CONQUER THE LAND GOD PROMISED THE ISRAELITES.

Moses is dead, and Joshua is the Israelites’ new leader. God tells Joshua it is time to take the land promised to the Israelites. As long as they obey, God will not let them fail. First, the people needed to cross the Jordan River.

God instructed Joshua to have the priests carry the Ark of the Covenant into the water, and God parted the Jordan River so the people could walk across safely. After they crossed, one man from each tribe took a stone from the Jordan. Joshua used these stones to build a memorial to remind the people and their children that God brought them across the Jordan on dry land.

Ark of the Covenant – a gold covered box where the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments were kept. The Ark was kept in the inner part of the Tabernacle when the Israelites wandered in the desert. When the Temple was built in Jerusalem the Ark was moved there.

FALL OF JERICHO

Previously Joshua sent spies to check out the city of Jericho. The spies met a woman named Rahab who housed the spies and kept them safe from discovery. In return, Rahab asked the spies to spare her family when the Israelites attacked the city. The spies promised they would save her as long as she did not betray them.

God gave the Israelites a battle plan. From a human perspective, the plan seemed foolhardy, but the people obeyed. They didn’t want to be like their parents and grandparents and lose the right to take the Promised Land.

The people marched around the fortified walls of Jericho once each day for six days. They returned to camp at night. On the seventh day they made the trip around the city seven times, and on the last march the people shouted and the walls of Jericho fell. The Israelites charged in and took over the city. All was destroyed except for Rahab’s family who was brought out of the city to safety.

Did you know that Rahab married an Israelite and is one of Jesus’ ancestors? She is one of only four women listed in Jesus’ genealogy.

The Israelites continued to conquer much of the Promised Land under Joshua’s leadership.

DIVIDING THE LAND

The land was divided into twelve allotments – one for each of the tribes of Israel.

Joseph’s (Jacob’s eleventh son) descendants made up two tribes. One tribe from each of his sons:  Manasseh and Ephraim.

This, of course, made thirteen tribes. However, Levi’s descendants were priests. Instead of an allotment of property, Levi’s descendants (Levites) were spread across the country. They were given cities to live in to maintain justice and order. They also ministered to the people, like a pastor at a church. No Israelite lived more than one day from a Levitical city.

JOSHUA’S GOODBYE

Joshua gathered the people and repeated the stories of their history beginning with Abraham. He reminded them of the covenant God made with Abraham that is still His covenant with the Israelites. He told the people to obey God and not adopt the practices and gods of the other nations. Obedience would bring blessings, but not following God’s laws would bring disaster.

Joshua died at the age of 110. As long as Joshua and the elders who served with him lived the people followed God; however, we will see that in the future the Israelites turn away from God bringing the disaster God promised.

DEVOTION

Read Joshua 4: 1—7

The Israelites were getting ready take the land God promised Abraham and his descendants. First, they had to cross the Jordan River. It was harvest time, and the water overflowed the banks of the river.

Per God’s instructions, the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant into the water. As soon as they entered the river the waters parted, and the people were able to cross on dry land.

After the people had crossed, God told Joshua to choose 12 men, one from each _____________. Each man was to pick up one ____________ and carry it out of the river on his _____________.

They used these stones to build a _______________, as a reminder to their children that the Jordan River stopped ________________ when the Ark of the LORD’S Covenant went ________________.

God often tells us to remember His great works. Christmas reminds us of when Jesus was _________________.  Communion reminds us that Jesus shed his _________________ so our sins could be forgiven. Easter is a reminder that Jesus rose from the dead and that we will also rise and live with Jesus someday.

Don’t forget all the great things God has done in your life and all the blessings he has bestowed on you.

REMEMBER THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH YOU.

 PRAYER

Dear God, Thank you for who you are and all you have done. Please help me to remember you especially when I celebrate holidays. In Jesus Name, Amen.

My name is __________________________________. I am ___________ years old.  I am walking through the Bible with ________________________________on this date ___________.

FOR A TODDLER

What you need: Picture of a friend or relative that the child does not see every day. Also, have twelve stones or blocks available.

======================

“… For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9b).

Show the child the picture in the downloaded PDF (see button at the top of this article). What do you think about when you look at this picture?

 

WHO IS IN YOUR PICTURE?

You probably remember a special or fun time with that person

Did you know that God wants us to remember him and all the good things he has done for us? One time, after helping the people do something hard, God told them to build a memorial with stones. A memorial is a structure that reminds people of a person or event. God knew when the people looked at the memorial; they would be reminded of how God helped them.

Can you build something with the stones or blocks you have?  When you look at these stones, remember how God takes care of you.

PRAYER

 Thank you, God for all the times you help me to be good and not be afraid. Help me to remember all the great things you have done. Amen.

My name is __________________________________. I am ___________ years old.  I am walking through the Bible with ________________________________on this date ___________.