Joshua, A Character Study Homework 1) Read Exodus 17:8-15 How is the battle against the Amalekites won? 2) Read Zechariah 4:6, one more time ladies, how was the battle won against the Amalekites? What a beautiful truth for us to understand. The battle isn t won by our strength or cunning. We can t do enough or be enough, the battle is won by His Spirit. God s people were overwhelmed with the amount of work that lay before them. The city was a pile of rubble and the temple wasn t rebuilt yet. We can certainly relate. Sometimes it feels like there is too much work to do, and we ll never catch up. But God s Word to us is the same as was His Word to Israel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. When we realize that it is God s Spirit at work in our lives, and He is supplying the power, we can t lose. Then we can go to work with joy in our hearts! Chuck Smith, Word for Today Bible, Zechariah 4:6 commentary. 3) What is a battle that you are facing right now that you have been trying to handle in your own strength? 1
As today gets overwhelming for you and for me, may we be quick to drop to our knees to seek the One who wins the battle for us! 4) Read 1 Samuel 17:45 47, I get so fired up when I read this part of King David s history, who does the battle belong to? May we ALWAYS give glory to the Lord, the victory is always His! Read the story of the spies sent into the Promised Land in Numbers 13:17 14:10, this is one of my favorite parts of the Bible! 5) What is God s response to the response of the people in Numbers 32:10 & 11 6) In Numbers 32:12, what exception does God state? Ladies, it is time to break out your dictionaries. What do you use? Do you ask Siri, Alexa or Google? Do you have an 1800 s Webster s on your bookshelf? I prefer the older ones myself. 2
7) Define: Wholly This word wholly is used in both the negative and the positive in these verses. 8) In verse 11, what is God s reasoning for punishing the Israelites? 9) In verse 12, what is God s reasoning for pardoning or excepting Caleb and Joshua? Read Joshua 14:14, this particular verse has been on a chalkboard in our house since before the Lord called us home to Santa Barbara and I think it is a verse well worth some examination and frankly, some selfexamination. Ready? Let s do this. 10) Where in your life are you not wholly following the Lord? Now don t worry, you don t have to discuss this publicly, this can be between you and the Lord, but really examine if there is something you are holding back from 3
Him. If you recall, the Israelites did not wholly follow the Lord because of one main reason. 11) Read Numbers chapter 13, focus on verses 31 33, now sum it up in one word: It is a four letter word ladies, we have all dealt with it and it can be crippling. But God I love that verse in the Bible and it applies to every area of our lives, But God. 12) Now read Numbers 14:1 4, what did the Israelites do in response to the report about the Promised Land? 13) Now read Numbers 14:6 9, what is Joshua and Caleb s response? You can summarize it J Look at how seriously they take the Israelites not trusting God, why oh why don t we take it that seriously now when the church waffles about in unbelief? Ladies, we must believe God, He will do what He says He will do, the Bible tells us in Numbers 23:19. 14) Finally, finish with Numbers 14:10, what did it almost cost Joshua and Caleb for standing up to the congregation of the people of Israel? Are you and I willing to wholly follow the Lord no matter the cost? 4
15) What is an area that wholly following the Lord cost more than you expected it to? 16) Read Isaiah 53, what did it cost the Lord to purchase our salvation? Beautiful women, it cost God His only begotten Son, my salvation cost Jesus death on the cross but worse than that, He chose to take on the black, filthy, evil of my sin to pay for it once for all. He, by His gift gave me eternal life with God, and He has purchased life here and now, abundant, rich, full, joy-filled life, a life lived out with amazing family like yourselves what wouldn t I give Him back? No matter the cost of wholly following the Lord, will you lay it at the foot of His cross right now and experience the overflowing joy of obedience to our God? Oh the blessings so far outweigh the cost, I couldn t possibly put words to it! 5
"If you look up into His face and say, "Yes, Lord, whatever it costs," at that moment He'll flood your life with His presence and power." - Alan Redpath 6