Joshua Bible Study Lesson 7
1.Read Joshua 1:1-9. What were the promises? What were the conditions?
Until the time of Moses' death, God spoke to Moses. Now, He speaks to Joshua in the same manner He spoke to Moses. Notice, he is called Moses' minister. He had been an understudy of Moses for the entire 40 year journey. On some occasions, he had actually helped Moses with his ministry. The main attribute that caused God to choose him to succeed Moses, was his great faith. Joshua had some very big shoes to fill. Moses had been a prophet who was in close contact with God at all times. We see the first directive God gave to Joshua. They were to cross the Jordan into their land of promise. We remember from Deuteronomy that, God had shown Moses the land of promise. It was everything west of the Jordan, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. It went as far as Lebanon in one direction, and as far as the beyond the Dead Sea the other. Wherever they set their feet in this area was theirs. The going down of the sun meant as far west as they could go. The Mediterranean Sea was their stopping place to the west. The desert of
Arabia on the south, and Lebanon on the north were their boundries.This is a reassurance from God, that He would be with them in battle. He would go before them and devour their enemies. They must have faith. God never left them for the 40 years, and He will be with them now. He did not leave, when Moses died. These are God's people, and He will protect them. The promise made to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and us is the same. Hebrews 13:5 "[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Moses had been a meek man. He was quiet and mild mannered. It would take a strong Joshua to lead them into battle. We know he was courageous, because he wanted to go into the promised land the first time they spied it out. He was confident they could take it, even if there were giants in the land. Joshua's confidence was not in his own ability, but in God's ability. The verse above, is reassuring Joshua that he would win the battle, and indeed, divide the land. The law Moses gave them from God was a blessing, if it was kept. It brought terrible curses, if it was not kept. The law is not to be adjusted to the right or the left, to fit their convenience. The law was absolute. They must have great faith, and act upon the commands of God. I Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Their entire lives were to be guided by the law of God. They were to hide the Words of the law in their hearts so they would never forget it. They were to think on the reason for them, as well as the demand of keeping them. The law had to become part of their very beings. They will prosper and have great success, if they keep this law of God. Joshua believed God. His courage came from his faith in God.
2.Read Psalm 1. What is the similarity?
Just as the Sermon on the Mount began with blessings, we see this book of Psalms begins with blessings. Blessed, in the verse above, is not speaking of a single blessing, but of walking in blessings from God. To be blessed of God means that we are walking in the salvation that Jesus purchased for us with His precious blood. We are walking in the righteousness of Christ. Notice in the statement {the man}, this is an individual thing. Though there may be many worldly people living next to this person, he or she has decided not to walk in the counsel of the worldly. This is a deliberate decision on this person's part. This person may be walking alone. The following Scripture describes the walk of the person who decides not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The word {walketh} means to continually walk. Notice the progression here. At first he is walking, then He is standing, then last he is sitting. This shows that we must not fellowship with those of unbelief. When you stop and stand, you are giving more time than walking, and sitting requires even more time. The scornful can be either someone who professes belief and feels he is so much better than the average, or it could be those who totally reject Christianity. We would call him an atheist. We need to see in this that fellowshipping with those of unbelief is dangerous. A believer in Christ is cautioned not to fellowship with those of unbelief. Light and darkness cannot prevail in the same place. II Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?" True happiness comes from fellowship with God, not with the world. The law of the Lord, here, means the Word of God {the Bible}. To
meditate is to think strongly on the matter. We find, then, that we are not only to read the Bible, but to think strongly about what it is saying to us. We are to ever keep the teachings of the Bible before us. When we think upon God's Word, the Holy Spirit will teach us of the hidden things of the Word. The more we meditate, the more we know.
We will never be able to learn it all, but we can learn more each time we study and think on God's Word. When it says, day and night, it is speaking of taking God's Word with us wherever we go. Our waking thoughts are all guided by God's Word. Even in business transactions, we should make our decisions based on God's Word.
3.Do the conditions of Joshua 1:7-9 apply to us today? Why or why not?
The law Moses gave them from God was a blessing, if it was kept.It brought terrible curses, if it was not kept. The law is not to be adjusted to the right or the left, to fit their convenience. The law was absolute. They must have great faith, and act upon the commands of God. I Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Their entire lives were to be guided by the law of God. They were
to hide the Words of the law in their hearts so they would never forget it. They were to think on the reason for them, as well as the demand of keeping them. The law had to become part of their very beings. They will prosper and have great success, if they keep this law of God. Joshua believed God. His courage came from his faith in God.
God promised success, prosperity, and protection if the people obeyed the Law of Moses
4.When did God tell Joshua that the Jordan river would part? When did it part? How is this fact of faith shown in our Christian walk?
In Joshua 3, as the Israelites stand at the edge of the Jordan River, God doesn’t tell Joshua that he is going to part the waters, he simply tells Joshua to go.
“Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” -Joshua 3:7,8
Joshua’s heartbeat was the same as God. In the same way that Jesus know’s his Father’s voice, Joshua knew and trusted God. And so he went with complete faith that God would part the waters, that someone the Israelites would cross the waters the same way that they crossed the Jordan.
What makes this even more amazing is how this faith was acted out, and how the miracle unfolded. With Moses and the Red Sea, Moses raised his staff, and the nation of Israel saw the waters part, and then they crossed. In this instance, Joshua and the ark bearers were commanded to stand in the Jordan. In otherwords, they had to get their feet wet. It’s one thing to be standing outside the waters, raising your arms, watching the waters part, and then going — it’s another thing to stand in the waters waiting for something to happen.
And that’s what happens. The priests carry the ark into the Jordan River. And then 18 miles away, the water begins to pile up. 18 miles upstream. Hmm, I’m not a mathematician, but that probably means the waters didn’t dry up immediately. It means, although the water stopped flowing at the city of Adam, the water that was already in the river had to flow down the river before there would be dry land. In other words, this faith, was being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
They needed to draw on the faith that God, who had parted the Red Sea before, would do another miracle to get them across the Jordan. They had to have faith in what they hoped for (crossing into the promised land) and be certain of what they did not see (the parting of the water.) In this case, it was not a parting of the water, but the stopping of the river. (which makes more sense actually right? you wouldn’t part a river, because well, the water on one side is already moving in a direction).
Faith for us is the same — it is hope in the one who has done miracles before. Assurance that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the same God we worship today. And so we are certain, that through Christ, we are brought into this amazing family of God.
So then, how should we live? In strength and courage naturally. For we walk with a risen saviour. We serve a reigning king. And though I don’t see things immediately, i will stand in faith in the water of this world, knowing that God has made a way to breakthrough this world’s darkness.
5.Why were Israel to take 12 stones from the middle of the river and build a monument? What were they to tell their children when asked about the monument?
Twelve stones were taken up out of the midst of Jordan, and carried in the sight of the people to the place where they had their head-quarters that night, Jos 4:8. It is probable that the stones they took were as big as they could well carry, and as near as might be of a size and shape. But whether they went away with them immediately to the place, of whether they staid to attend the ark, and kept pace with the solemn procession of that, to grace its triumphant entry into Canaan, is not certain. By these stones which they were ordered to take up God did, as it were, give them livery and seisin of this good land; it is all their own, let them enter and take possession; therefore what these twelve did the children of Israel are said to do (Jos 4:8), because they were the representatives of their respective tribes. In allusion to this, we may observe that when the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, having overcome the sharpness of death and dried up that Jordan, had opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, he appointed his twelve apostles according to the number of the tribes of Israel, by the memorial of the gospel to transmit the knowledge of this to remote places and future ages.
2. Other twelve stones were set up in the midst of Jordan (Jos 4:9), piled up so high in a heap or pillar as that the top of it might be seen above the water when the river was low, or seen in the water when it was clear, or at least the noise or commotion of the water passing over it would be observable, and the bargemen would avoid it, as they do a rock. Some way or other, it is likely, it was discernible, so as to notify the very place where the ark stood, and to serve for a duplicate to the other monument, which was to be set up on dry land in Gilgal, for the confirming of its testimony and the preserving of its tradition. The sign being doubled, no doubt the thing was certain."
6.What happen to the fire, cloud, and manna once they crossed the Jordan?
After Israel crossed the Jordan their entire economy changed. They had relied on manna from heaven for their daily food, but when they stepped into Canaan they began to eat the produce of the land—and the manna ceased (see 5:12). They went from eating handfuls of strange, mealy powder to enjoying cartloads of milk, honey, grain and meat; they shifted from scanty daily rations to overflowing abundance.
We can wander in the wilderness so long that we grow accustomed to a hand-to-mouth existence. Our faith shrinks with our limited expectations. We forget that the same God who carried us through the lean times also wants to give us wealth so that we can carry out His kingdom work. I The pillar of cloud by day stayed with them until they crossed the river Jordan.The cloud was a symbol of divine guidance. The pillar of fire by night stayed with them until they reached the promised land.;The pillar of fire was a symbol of divine guidance God sent Manna and once Quail from heaven.God sent down this food down from heaven to feed his people.Manna was a sweet gum or resin type of bread that God supernaturally sent from Heaven.
7.What became the symbol of God's presence with Israel? Hint - what went first into the river?
Joshua sent the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant, which was the visible representation of God’s presence with the people. Israel would accomplish this impossible task as they set their eyes upon God’s presence, and followed only after His presence. Joshua’s step of faith: he sends the priests to walk across a swollen river Jordan.
8.What was God’s promise about claiming the land? How were they to claim it? Do you see a relationship to Christian faith? What is it?
the Israelites were on the edge of the land promised to Abraham’s ancestors so long ago.
Before they would begin the process of securing the land, it was necessary for the leadership to change. Moses, following the Lord’s instructions, commissioned Joshua as the new leader. Moses died only having seen the Promised Land but never having
entered it. Moses had been a great leader. Following God’s guidance, he had secured the people’s release from the Egyptian Pharaoh and led them through years of wandering through the desert. Now at Moses’ death, the people would face new and great challenges as they took possession of Canaan. God reassured Joshua as they were about to cross the Jordan River. God again affirmed that he would give the Israelites the land they were about to enter. God further said that no one would be able to stand up against Joshua and the people. God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous and to be careful to obey all the law given by God through Moses. If Joshua and the people would do that, then they would be prosperous and successful.
With these words spoken, Joshua led the people across the Jordan River into the
Promised Land. God gave specific instructions to Joshua on how this was to take place.
First, Joshua led the people to consecrate themselves before God to the task of taking
possession of the Promised Land. Then, the ark of the covenant (the symbol of the presence of God) went first as the people crossed the Jordan River. As the priests carrying the ark touched the water’s edge, the waters upstream stopped flowing and piled up in a heap. This allowed the people to cross the Jordan River on dry ground. God instructed Joshua to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to each gather a stone from the middle of the Jordan River. These stones were carried until they made camp that night. The stones were a remembrance of how God stopped the flow of the Jordan River so the people could cross on dry land. As God blessed Joshua because of his courage and obedience, God wants to bless our life, too.
9. Once they crossed the Jordan all males were circumcised. What does the New Testament say about circumcision and the promise land (heaven)?
In Joshua 3:6, the Israelites are finally ready to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. They have learned the lessons of the wilderness. They are prepared and purified. Not satisfied to wander any longer, they are ready to follow God into new territory. Are you ready to let God take you where you've never been before? Are you ready to trust and follow Him fully? For He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20
It is worth noting that Jesus Himself was baptized in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:16 says, "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." When Jesus entered public ministry, He first submitted to the act of water baptism. At that same time, God demonstrated His anointing by sending the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The name "Jordan" means "descending one". In the Jordan, the Spirit descended on Jesus and empowered Him for ministry. This is the same Spirit that lives in us! God told Joshua in 3:7 that "this day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." Joshua is a picture of Jesus, anointed by God to lead the people into the Promised Land.
Joshua then spoke to the priests and told them to carry the ark of the covenant and go before the people. When they came to the edge of the Jordan, they were to "stand still" in it. In those days the Jordan river was typically 100 feet wide, but fall floods could cause it to be one mile wide and overflowing its banks. Crossing this river in the fall would be no easy task! But Joshua told the people that the crossing of the ark signified that God was with them and would drive out the "ites"of the land (Joshua 3:10). He wanted them to be courageous and have FAITH in their awesome God.
The priests and representatives of the tribes were instructed to put their feet in the river and then the water would divide (Joshua 3:12-13). Jon Courson points out that "forty years previously when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, the water parted before they stepped in. But not this time. When it comes to issues of the Spirit, we're to step in by faith. But what if hands are laid upon me and I seek the Lord's power aggressively, yet nothing happens? I'll feel like a big drip, " we say. So we stay on the bank where it's safe and dry - real dry, dusty dry, wilderness dry. Why doesn't God part the water first? I'm convinced it's because the language of eternity is faith. God uses every opportunity to teach us to see and hear with the eyes and ears of faith. "Step out. Step in. Step up in faith," He says. "And watch and see what I'll do."
So the priests stepped in and "...the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho." Joshua 3:15b-16. For the waters to part at the exact time and point where the Israelites were crossing, God stopped the flow 19 miles upstream! Joshua and the people obviously couldn't see that far. God was working beyond their sight. In fact, He had already been working before their feet touched the water, they just couldn't see it until they stepped in. This is what it means to "walk by faith" - listening to God and stepping out in confidence that He is already at work. When the priests stepped in they "stood firm" until all three million people had crossed over. They stood until the work was completed, on behalf of themselves and the rest of the people.
In Joshua 5:2-9, we are told that God commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelites born in the wilderness, before they could enter the promised land. Israelites had not circumcised their children by the way. They stayed in camp until they were whole, and God said, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you," verse 9. Since the circumcising occurred after the tenth day of the first month, Joshua 4:19, and Israel kept the Passover at Gilgal where they were circumcised, Joshua 5:10, the Passover they kept was very likely the Passover of the second month as specified by Numbers 9. Because of the severity of the operation, the recently circumcised men probably would not have been able to keep it so soon.
The circumcision of John the Baptist demonstrates that it was customary to name male babies at their circumcision, for "on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John" Luke 1:59-60. Likewise, concerning Jesus, "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb" Luke 2:21. Revelation 3:12 notes that overcomers of the Philadelphia church will receive a "new name." Paul reminded the Philippians that he was "Circumcised the eighth day . . ." Philippians 3:5, which we know from Genesis 17:12, means when he was eight days old. It was so important for Jews to obey the Eternal in circumcising a boy when he was eight days old, that they would labor on the Sabbath to circumcise when it was necessary, John 7:22-23.
True, Spirit-led believers in the Messiah as our Savior "are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" Philippians 3:3. Physical circumcision does not change the inner heart and mind of a person. It is purely a physical matter. Paul terms those who only circumcise their foreskins as of a "false circumcision" and we should beware of them as spiritual dogs and evil workers, verse 2. In Titus 1:10, Paul warns, "there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision." These are not fulfilling the spiritual purpose of circumcision.
There is a spiritual circumcision, "made without hands," Colossians 2:11. In Romans 2, Paul defines spiritual circumcision as those who keep God�s law:
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision [uncircumcised Gentiles] keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? . . . For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God Romans 2:25-29.
10.What relationship is Rom 6:1-4,6,11,13 to Joshua 1:1-9?
Rom 6:1-4,6,11,13 :This still is an on going discussion in the church today. Many believe that it is not necessary to live above sin. They feel that it is a natural thing to sin, and God will overlook sin. He surely knows their weakness. The flesh will sin, but we found in the previous lesson that our flesh must be dead so that our spirit can live. There are two forces in our body today, our flesh nature and our spirit nature. Galatians 2:19 "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." You see, if Christ truly lives in us, we have no desire to sin any more. We no longer serve the lust of the flesh, but we follow the Spirit of God. When we go into the water for baptism, it is symbolic of being buried with Jesus, and rising to new life in Him. We partake of His burial and His resurrection. We are buried a natural man and we are raised a spiritual man. We are a new creature in Christ. Old things have passed away, behold all things are made new. We are born again and not of corruptible flesh but of the Spirit of God. We walk no longer in the lust of the flesh, but with the guidance of the Spirit of God within us.We see a parallel Scripture to this in Colossians 3:5 "Mortify
therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" Mortify means to deaden. We are to do away with all sin in the flesh and live to the Spirit of God.II Corinthians 4:11 "For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." In John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." And John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Notice here, that it is in our power to control this. There is a war constantly between the flesh and the spirit. We must not yeild to temptation. One of the easiest ways to not be tempted is to be reading
and studying God's word every day and stay busy.
Joshua 1:1-9:Joshua had attended upon Moses. He who was called to honour, had been long used to business. Our Lord Jesus took upon him the form of a servant. Joshua was trained up under command. Those are fittest to rule, who have learned to obey. The removal of useful men should quicken survivors to be the more diligent in doing good. Arise, go over Jordan. At this place and at this time the banks were overflowed. Joshua had no bridge or boats, and yet he must believe that God, having ordered the people over, would open a way.
Joshua is to make the law of God his rule. He is charged to meditate therein day and night, that he might understand it. Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. All his orders to the people, and his judgments, must be according to the law of God. Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God. Let not the sense of thine own infirmities dishearten thee; God is all-sufficient. I have commanded, called, and commissioned thee to do it, and will be sure to bear thee out in it. When we are in the way of duty, we have reason to be strong and very bold. Our Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was borne up under his sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the commandment from his Father.
Until the time of Moses' death, God spoke to Moses. Now, He speaks to Joshua in the same manner He spoke to Moses. Notice, he is called Moses' minister. He had been an understudy of Moses for the entire 40 year journey. On some occasions, he had actually helped Moses with his ministry. The main attribute that caused God to choose him to succeed Moses, was his great faith. Joshua had some very big shoes to fill. Moses had been a prophet who was in close contact with God at all times. We see the first directive God gave to Joshua. They were to cross the Jordan into their land of promise. We remember from Deuteronomy that, God had shown Moses the land of promise. It was everything west of the Jordan, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. It went as far as Lebanon in one direction, and as far as the beyond the Dead Sea the other. Wherever they set their feet in this area was theirs. The going down of the sun meant as far west as they could go. The Mediterranean Sea was their stopping place to the west. The desert of
Arabia on the south, and Lebanon on the north were their boundries.This is a reassurance from God, that He would be with them in battle. He would go before them and devour their enemies. They must have faith. God never left them for the 40 years, and He will be with them now. He did not leave, when Moses died. These are God's people, and He will protect them. The promise made to Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and us is the same. Hebrews 13:5 "[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Moses had been a meek man. He was quiet and mild mannered. It would take a strong Joshua to lead them into battle. We know he was courageous, because he wanted to go into the promised land the first time they spied it out. He was confident they could take it, even if there were giants in the land. Joshua's confidence was not in his own ability, but in God's ability. The verse above, is reassuring Joshua that he would win the battle, and indeed, divide the land. The law Moses gave them from God was a blessing, if it was kept. It brought terrible curses, if it was not kept. The law is not to be adjusted to the right or the left, to fit their convenience. The law was absolute. They must have great faith, and act upon the commands of God. I Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Their entire lives were to be guided by the law of God. They were to hide the Words of the law in their hearts so they would never forget it. They were to think on the reason for them, as well as the demand of keeping them. The law had to become part of their very beings. They will prosper and have great success, if they keep this law of God. Joshua believed God. His courage came from his faith in God.
2.Read Psalm 1. What is the similarity?
Just as the Sermon on the Mount began with blessings, we see this book of Psalms begins with blessings. Blessed, in the verse above, is not speaking of a single blessing, but of walking in blessings from God. To be blessed of God means that we are walking in the salvation that Jesus purchased for us with His precious blood. We are walking in the righteousness of Christ. Notice in the statement {the man}, this is an individual thing. Though there may be many worldly people living next to this person, he or she has decided not to walk in the counsel of the worldly. This is a deliberate decision on this person's part. This person may be walking alone. The following Scripture describes the walk of the person who decides not to walk in the counsel of the ungodly. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The word {walketh} means to continually walk. Notice the progression here. At first he is walking, then He is standing, then last he is sitting. This shows that we must not fellowship with those of unbelief. When you stop and stand, you are giving more time than walking, and sitting requires even more time. The scornful can be either someone who professes belief and feels he is so much better than the average, or it could be those who totally reject Christianity. We would call him an atheist. We need to see in this that fellowshipping with those of unbelief is dangerous. A believer in Christ is cautioned not to fellowship with those of unbelief. Light and darkness cannot prevail in the same place. II Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?" True happiness comes from fellowship with God, not with the world. The law of the Lord, here, means the Word of God {the Bible}. To
meditate is to think strongly on the matter. We find, then, that we are not only to read the Bible, but to think strongly about what it is saying to us. We are to ever keep the teachings of the Bible before us. When we think upon God's Word, the Holy Spirit will teach us of the hidden things of the Word. The more we meditate, the more we know.
We will never be able to learn it all, but we can learn more each time we study and think on God's Word. When it says, day and night, it is speaking of taking God's Word with us wherever we go. Our waking thoughts are all guided by God's Word. Even in business transactions, we should make our decisions based on God's Word.
3.Do the conditions of Joshua 1:7-9 apply to us today? Why or why not?
The law Moses gave them from God was a blessing, if it was kept.It brought terrible curses, if it was not kept. The law is not to be adjusted to the right or the left, to fit their convenience. The law was absolute. They must have great faith, and act upon the commands of God. I Corinthians 16:13 "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." Ephesians 6:10 "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Their entire lives were to be guided by the law of God. They were
to hide the Words of the law in their hearts so they would never forget it. They were to think on the reason for them, as well as the demand of keeping them. The law had to become part of their very beings. They will prosper and have great success, if they keep this law of God. Joshua believed God. His courage came from his faith in God.
God promised success, prosperity, and protection if the people obeyed the Law of Moses
4.When did God tell Joshua that the Jordan river would part? When did it part? How is this fact of faith shown in our Christian walk?
In Joshua 3, as the Israelites stand at the edge of the Jordan River, God doesn’t tell Joshua that he is going to part the waters, he simply tells Joshua to go.
“Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” -Joshua 3:7,8
Joshua’s heartbeat was the same as God. In the same way that Jesus know’s his Father’s voice, Joshua knew and trusted God. And so he went with complete faith that God would part the waters, that someone the Israelites would cross the waters the same way that they crossed the Jordan.
What makes this even more amazing is how this faith was acted out, and how the miracle unfolded. With Moses and the Red Sea, Moses raised his staff, and the nation of Israel saw the waters part, and then they crossed. In this instance, Joshua and the ark bearers were commanded to stand in the Jordan. In otherwords, they had to get their feet wet. It’s one thing to be standing outside the waters, raising your arms, watching the waters part, and then going — it’s another thing to stand in the waters waiting for something to happen.
And that’s what happens. The priests carry the ark into the Jordan River. And then 18 miles away, the water begins to pile up. 18 miles upstream. Hmm, I’m not a mathematician, but that probably means the waters didn’t dry up immediately. It means, although the water stopped flowing at the city of Adam, the water that was already in the river had to flow down the river before there would be dry land. In other words, this faith, was being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see.
They needed to draw on the faith that God, who had parted the Red Sea before, would do another miracle to get them across the Jordan. They had to have faith in what they hoped for (crossing into the promised land) and be certain of what they did not see (the parting of the water.) In this case, it was not a parting of the water, but the stopping of the river. (which makes more sense actually right? you wouldn’t part a river, because well, the water on one side is already moving in a direction).
Faith for us is the same — it is hope in the one who has done miracles before. Assurance that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the same God we worship today. And so we are certain, that through Christ, we are brought into this amazing family of God.
So then, how should we live? In strength and courage naturally. For we walk with a risen saviour. We serve a reigning king. And though I don’t see things immediately, i will stand in faith in the water of this world, knowing that God has made a way to breakthrough this world’s darkness.
5.Why were Israel to take 12 stones from the middle of the river and build a monument? What were they to tell their children when asked about the monument?
Twelve stones were taken up out of the midst of Jordan, and carried in the sight of the people to the place where they had their head-quarters that night, Jos 4:8. It is probable that the stones they took were as big as they could well carry, and as near as might be of a size and shape. But whether they went away with them immediately to the place, of whether they staid to attend the ark, and kept pace with the solemn procession of that, to grace its triumphant entry into Canaan, is not certain. By these stones which they were ordered to take up God did, as it were, give them livery and seisin of this good land; it is all their own, let them enter and take possession; therefore what these twelve did the children of Israel are said to do (Jos 4:8), because they were the representatives of their respective tribes. In allusion to this, we may observe that when the Lord Jesus, our Joshua, having overcome the sharpness of death and dried up that Jordan, had opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers, he appointed his twelve apostles according to the number of the tribes of Israel, by the memorial of the gospel to transmit the knowledge of this to remote places and future ages.
2. Other twelve stones were set up in the midst of Jordan (Jos 4:9), piled up so high in a heap or pillar as that the top of it might be seen above the water when the river was low, or seen in the water when it was clear, or at least the noise or commotion of the water passing over it would be observable, and the bargemen would avoid it, as they do a rock. Some way or other, it is likely, it was discernible, so as to notify the very place where the ark stood, and to serve for a duplicate to the other monument, which was to be set up on dry land in Gilgal, for the confirming of its testimony and the preserving of its tradition. The sign being doubled, no doubt the thing was certain."
6.What happen to the fire, cloud, and manna once they crossed the Jordan?
After Israel crossed the Jordan their entire economy changed. They had relied on manna from heaven for their daily food, but when they stepped into Canaan they began to eat the produce of the land—and the manna ceased (see 5:12). They went from eating handfuls of strange, mealy powder to enjoying cartloads of milk, honey, grain and meat; they shifted from scanty daily rations to overflowing abundance.
We can wander in the wilderness so long that we grow accustomed to a hand-to-mouth existence. Our faith shrinks with our limited expectations. We forget that the same God who carried us through the lean times also wants to give us wealth so that we can carry out His kingdom work. I The pillar of cloud by day stayed with them until they crossed the river Jordan.The cloud was a symbol of divine guidance. The pillar of fire by night stayed with them until they reached the promised land.;The pillar of fire was a symbol of divine guidance God sent Manna and once Quail from heaven.God sent down this food down from heaven to feed his people.Manna was a sweet gum or resin type of bread that God supernaturally sent from Heaven.
7.What became the symbol of God's presence with Israel? Hint - what went first into the river?
Joshua sent the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant, which was the visible representation of God’s presence with the people. Israel would accomplish this impossible task as they set their eyes upon God’s presence, and followed only after His presence. Joshua’s step of faith: he sends the priests to walk across a swollen river Jordan.
8.What was God’s promise about claiming the land? How were they to claim it? Do you see a relationship to Christian faith? What is it?
the Israelites were on the edge of the land promised to Abraham’s ancestors so long ago.
Before they would begin the process of securing the land, it was necessary for the leadership to change. Moses, following the Lord’s instructions, commissioned Joshua as the new leader. Moses died only having seen the Promised Land but never having
entered it. Moses had been a great leader. Following God’s guidance, he had secured the people’s release from the Egyptian Pharaoh and led them through years of wandering through the desert. Now at Moses’ death, the people would face new and great challenges as they took possession of Canaan. God reassured Joshua as they were about to cross the Jordan River. God again affirmed that he would give the Israelites the land they were about to enter. God further said that no one would be able to stand up against Joshua and the people. God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous and to be careful to obey all the law given by God through Moses. If Joshua and the people would do that, then they would be prosperous and successful.
With these words spoken, Joshua led the people across the Jordan River into the
Promised Land. God gave specific instructions to Joshua on how this was to take place.
First, Joshua led the people to consecrate themselves before God to the task of taking
possession of the Promised Land. Then, the ark of the covenant (the symbol of the presence of God) went first as the people crossed the Jordan River. As the priests carrying the ark touched the water’s edge, the waters upstream stopped flowing and piled up in a heap. This allowed the people to cross the Jordan River on dry ground. God instructed Joshua to send twelve men, one from each tribe, to each gather a stone from the middle of the Jordan River. These stones were carried until they made camp that night. The stones were a remembrance of how God stopped the flow of the Jordan River so the people could cross on dry land. As God blessed Joshua because of his courage and obedience, God wants to bless our life, too.
9. Once they crossed the Jordan all males were circumcised. What does the New Testament say about circumcision and the promise land (heaven)?
In Joshua 3:6, the Israelites are finally ready to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. They have learned the lessons of the wilderness. They are prepared and purified. Not satisfied to wander any longer, they are ready to follow God into new territory. Are you ready to let God take you where you've never been before? Are you ready to trust and follow Him fully? For He is "able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20
It is worth noting that Jesus Himself was baptized in the Jordan River. Matthew 3:16 says, "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." When Jesus entered public ministry, He first submitted to the act of water baptism. At that same time, God demonstrated His anointing by sending the Holy Spirit upon Jesus. The name "Jordan" means "descending one". In the Jordan, the Spirit descended on Jesus and empowered Him for ministry. This is the same Spirit that lives in us! God told Joshua in 3:7 that "this day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel so that they may know that as I was with Moses, so I will be with you." Joshua is a picture of Jesus, anointed by God to lead the people into the Promised Land.
Joshua then spoke to the priests and told them to carry the ark of the covenant and go before the people. When they came to the edge of the Jordan, they were to "stand still" in it. In those days the Jordan river was typically 100 feet wide, but fall floods could cause it to be one mile wide and overflowing its banks. Crossing this river in the fall would be no easy task! But Joshua told the people that the crossing of the ark signified that God was with them and would drive out the "ites"of the land (Joshua 3:10). He wanted them to be courageous and have FAITH in their awesome God.
The priests and representatives of the tribes were instructed to put their feet in the river and then the water would divide (Joshua 3:12-13). Jon Courson points out that "forty years previously when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, the water parted before they stepped in. But not this time. When it comes to issues of the Spirit, we're to step in by faith. But what if hands are laid upon me and I seek the Lord's power aggressively, yet nothing happens? I'll feel like a big drip, " we say. So we stay on the bank where it's safe and dry - real dry, dusty dry, wilderness dry. Why doesn't God part the water first? I'm convinced it's because the language of eternity is faith. God uses every opportunity to teach us to see and hear with the eyes and ears of faith. "Step out. Step in. Step up in faith," He says. "And watch and see what I'll do."
So the priests stepped in and "...the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho." Joshua 3:15b-16. For the waters to part at the exact time and point where the Israelites were crossing, God stopped the flow 19 miles upstream! Joshua and the people obviously couldn't see that far. God was working beyond their sight. In fact, He had already been working before their feet touched the water, they just couldn't see it until they stepped in. This is what it means to "walk by faith" - listening to God and stepping out in confidence that He is already at work. When the priests stepped in they "stood firm" until all three million people had crossed over. They stood until the work was completed, on behalf of themselves and the rest of the people.
In Joshua 5:2-9, we are told that God commanded Joshua to circumcise the Israelites born in the wilderness, before they could enter the promised land. Israelites had not circumcised their children by the way. They stayed in camp until they were whole, and God said, "This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you," verse 9. Since the circumcising occurred after the tenth day of the first month, Joshua 4:19, and Israel kept the Passover at Gilgal where they were circumcised, Joshua 5:10, the Passover they kept was very likely the Passover of the second month as specified by Numbers 9. Because of the severity of the operation, the recently circumcised men probably would not have been able to keep it so soon.
The circumcision of John the Baptist demonstrates that it was customary to name male babies at their circumcision, for "on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John" Luke 1:59-60. Likewise, concerning Jesus, "And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, His name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before He was conceived in the womb" Luke 2:21. Revelation 3:12 notes that overcomers of the Philadelphia church will receive a "new name." Paul reminded the Philippians that he was "Circumcised the eighth day . . ." Philippians 3:5, which we know from Genesis 17:12, means when he was eight days old. It was so important for Jews to obey the Eternal in circumcising a boy when he was eight days old, that they would labor on the Sabbath to circumcise when it was necessary, John 7:22-23.
True, Spirit-led believers in the Messiah as our Savior "are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" Philippians 3:3. Physical circumcision does not change the inner heart and mind of a person. It is purely a physical matter. Paul terms those who only circumcise their foreskins as of a "false circumcision" and we should beware of them as spiritual dogs and evil workers, verse 2. In Titus 1:10, Paul warns, "there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision." These are not fulfilling the spiritual purpose of circumcision.
There is a spiritual circumcision, "made without hands," Colossians 2:11. In Romans 2, Paul defines spiritual circumcision as those who keep God�s law:
For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision [uncircumcised Gentiles] keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? . . . For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God Romans 2:25-29.
10.What relationship is Rom 6:1-4,6,11,13 to Joshua 1:1-9?
Rom 6:1-4,6,11,13 :This still is an on going discussion in the church today. Many believe that it is not necessary to live above sin. They feel that it is a natural thing to sin, and God will overlook sin. He surely knows their weakness. The flesh will sin, but we found in the previous lesson that our flesh must be dead so that our spirit can live. There are two forces in our body today, our flesh nature and our spirit nature. Galatians 2:19 "For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." You see, if Christ truly lives in us, we have no desire to sin any more. We no longer serve the lust of the flesh, but we follow the Spirit of God. When we go into the water for baptism, it is symbolic of being buried with Jesus, and rising to new life in Him. We partake of His burial and His resurrection. We are buried a natural man and we are raised a spiritual man. We are a new creature in Christ. Old things have passed away, behold all things are made new. We are born again and not of corruptible flesh but of the Spirit of God. We walk no longer in the lust of the flesh, but with the guidance of the Spirit of God within us.We see a parallel Scripture to this in Colossians 3:5 "Mortify
therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" Mortify means to deaden. We are to do away with all sin in the flesh and live to the Spirit of God.II Corinthians 4:11 "For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." In John 3:5 "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." And John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Notice here, that it is in our power to control this. There is a war constantly between the flesh and the spirit. We must not yeild to temptation. One of the easiest ways to not be tempted is to be reading
and studying God's word every day and stay busy.
Joshua 1:1-9:Joshua had attended upon Moses. He who was called to honour, had been long used to business. Our Lord Jesus took upon him the form of a servant. Joshua was trained up under command. Those are fittest to rule, who have learned to obey. The removal of useful men should quicken survivors to be the more diligent in doing good. Arise, go over Jordan. At this place and at this time the banks were overflowed. Joshua had no bridge or boats, and yet he must believe that God, having ordered the people over, would open a way.
Joshua is to make the law of God his rule. He is charged to meditate therein day and night, that he might understand it. Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. All his orders to the people, and his judgments, must be according to the law of God. Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God. Let not the sense of thine own infirmities dishearten thee; God is all-sufficient. I have commanded, called, and commissioned thee to do it, and will be sure to bear thee out in it. When we are in the way of duty, we have reason to be strong and very bold. Our Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was borne up under his sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the commandment from his Father.
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