Unit 20 Joshua: Overcoming Obstacles

Old Testament 5: Teacher s Guide Joshua, Judges, Ruth Unit 20 Joshua: Overcoming Obstacles Theme: Be strong and courageous; meditate on God s Word day and night. Lesson 1: Overcoming Obstacles Lesson 2: Strong in the Spirit Lesson 3: Meditating on the Word Unit 21 The Time of the Judges: An Unfaithful Generation Theme: Follow the example of faithful parents, and do not neglect the Lord as the Israelites did. Lesson 1: The Time of the Judges: Everyone Did His Own Thing Lesson 2: Going Your Own Way Lesson 3: Who Do You Listen To? This set contains... Student Lesson Copy Masters Teacher s Guide CD with Student Lesson Copy Masters and Teacher s Guide in PDF and RTF files Unit 22 Jephthah the Judge: Overcoming Bitterness Theme: Don t let the circumstances of your life embitter you. Lesson 1: Jephthah: Breaking through Bitterness Lesson 2: A Change of Heart Lesson 3: A True Friend Unit 23 Ruth: God Watches Over the Lowly Theme: God watches over the lowly and the oppressed and blesses their faithfulness. Lesson 1: Ruth: God Watches Over the Lowly Lesson 2: God Watches Over a Slave Lesson 3: An Oppressed Christian Stays Faithful Suggested for Grade 9

Curriculum Developer: Prof. David Kuske Project Director: Gerald Kastens Writing/Editing Team: Rev. Lyle Albrecht, Laurie Biedenbender, Richard Carver, Owen Dorn, Donald Helwig, Jeanne Lehninger Design Team: NPH Design Services Authorized by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. We extend our thanks to the many employees of Northwestern Publishing House and WELS Parish Services who have contributed to this project. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. All hymns, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. Copyright 1993 by Northwestern Publishing House. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 2000 by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2000 Printed in the United States of America ISBN 0-8100-1100-X All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission of Northwestern Publishing House. Printed with soy inks on recycled paper.

Introductory Pages for Old Testament Books UNIT FORMAT Each unit contains 15 to 25 copy masters for use with the students. These student copy masters may be reproduced. The teacher s guide contains copy master text, answers, and other instructions. Each student should have a threering binder to store and organize all the copy master sheets. Overview This page contains the information the teacher needs to understand the unit. Unit title Bible references Unit theme Spiritual goals: We pray that the Holy Spirit would help the students learn these spiritual truths and adopt these spiritual attitudes and habits. Suggested memory treasures: Assign these as you see fit. Be sure to discuss their relationship to the truths in the unit. The students will have learned almost all the suggested memory treasures in their Christ-Light lessons at Lutheran elementary school or Sunday school. One asterisk designates those memory treasures that are part of the Sunday school core. Two asterisks designate what is additional core for Lutheran elementary schools. Suggested commentary readings: Read these to review Scripture or add depth to your instruction. Introduction ideas: Use these to interest the students and to help them see their need for what they will learn in the unit. Copy Masters The Background page helps the students review some of the basic facts of the Bible character or the Bible era about to be studied. Most, but not all, units have a background page. This copy master should always be used. The Bible lessons guide the students in their study of specific portions of the Bible. They begin with an Aim question and end with a Truth(s) that answers that question. Key Points are emphasized along the way. You may hand these out and have the students fill them in as you teach the lesson, or you may have the students work in small groups to complete a portion of them before you discuss them. Please note that the student pages will lose their effectiveness if assigned as homework before class. The first Bible lesson is the primary one in the unit. It should always be used. Using the remaining two or three is strongly suggested. Each Discuss This page contains questions related to the Bible lesson directly preceding it. Each option is designated to the specific Key Point to which it is most closely connected. The discussion options require a variety of learning skills, such as analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and application. At least some of these questions should always be used, because they help the students apply the lesson to their lives. Plan in advance which questions you will use and where the questions fit best. Then vary your use of these questions: ~ Discuss some questions as a class. ~ Have students write answers first before discussing the questions as a class. ~ Have students discuss the questions in pairs or small groups before discussing them as a class. ~ Assign some questions as homework. The remaining sheets contain activities to help the students learn the Bible lessons and apply them. The sheets include additional Bible studies of many kinds, real-life situations, skits and roleplays, simple doctrinal studies, hymn and memory treasure studies, illustrations, writing activities, simple art activities, and so on. They may be done in class or outside of class, independently or in small groups. Select those activities best suited to your class, and limit the number of activities to fit the time allotted. Plan in advance at what point in the lesson you can most appropriately and effectively use the selected activities. Spiritual journal topics: The last copy master in each unit contains a variety of questions for student reflection and writing. You may assign one or more of the suggested topics or one of your own choosing. The students may put all their spiritual journal pages in one section of their three-ring binders. Generally, journal writings are intended to be kept private. You may ask the students occasionally to hand in one of their own choosing, or you may tell them ahead of time that you will be collecting one. Because the writing of spiritual journals encourages personal reflection on spiritual truths as they relate to daily living, use of these journal topics is strongly suggested. iii

Sample Lesson Plan The following sample lesson plan is for Lesson 1 of Unit 20: Joshua: Overcoming Obstacles. 1. Use Copy Master 1 (Joshua: Man of God, Leader of the People), the Background page, to provide the necessary background for the Bible lessons in this unit. 2. Introduce the lesson with the first Introduction option (Discuss what it means...). 3. Hand out Copy Master 2 (Overcoming Obstacles). Read and discuss the first section, concluding with Key Point 1. 4. To apply Key Point 1, hand out Copy Master 3 (Overcomig Obstacles), the Discuss This page, and discuss applications 1, 4, and 5. 5. Return to the lesson on Copy Master 2. Read and discuss the second section, concluding with Key Point 2. 6. To apply Key Point 2, use Copy Master 5 (Promises Kept). 7. Return to the lesson on Copy Master 2. Have the students work in pairs to read and complete the third section, concluding with Key Point 3. 8. To apply Key Point 3, use applications 7 and 8 on Copy Master 3. 9. Return to the lesson on Copy Master 2, and answer the Aim question with the Truth of the lesson. 10. To further apply the lesson, use Copy Master 4 (Obstacles to Our Faith). Have the students work in small groups to name as many obstacles as they can. 11. Assign Copy Master 6 (Bible Study Practice) as homework. Characteristics of Ninth-Grade Students Spiritual Development They think more deeply about spiritual truths they have already learned. They can understand the interrelatedness of Bible events. They want to know how to apply spiritual truths to their lives. They may need additional guidance if they do not come from homes that model Christian living. Emotional and Volitional Development They do not consider themselves children, and they are independent in their attitudes and habits. They are greatly influenced by the actions and opinions of their peers. They are often governed by role models they have consciously or unconsciously chosen to follow. They are greatly influenced by television, movies, music, and magazines. Sexual Development Their sexuality is becoming an important aspect of their lives. Relationships with Parents They are in the process of leaving their parents in order to develop independent lives. They share less of their experiences with their parents. They are still influenced by their parents, especially if their parents respect their growing independence. iv

Learning Style They can study one topic in depth over a number of class periods. They still enjoy a variety of learning experiences: ~ working independently and in peer groups ~ learning by listening and by doing ~ learning by reading and by writing ~ learning by answering questions and by asking questions ~ analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, and creating They question things they have previously accepted without question. Some Teaching Strategies Meet the students where they are and then stretch them: Recognize that your students have different levels of Bible knowledge and spiritual development, even when they might have received similar spiritual training in elementary school. Do not make assumptions about their previous learning. Start with the simple. Review the basics. Then move on to more complex concepts, deeper understandings, and applications of Bible truths relevant to their teenage years. Create an open, responsive environment: Recognize that as your students develop independent thinking skills, they may question things they previously accepted without question. Maintain a classroom in which it s good to ask questions, even spiritual questions. You are a spiritual leader. If they have questions, you want to give them truthful and appropriate answers. Encourage them to search the Scriptures not look to worldly experts for answers. Allow them to work together on some exercises: Occasional cooperative-learning activities yield many positive results. Your students may enjoy their work more when they do it with their peers. They may become accustomed to discussing spiritual issues with their peers a skill we hope they take with them outside the classroom. And when they have already tried out their ideas on a small group of their peers, they may feel more confident discussing an issue in front of the whole class. To keep chatty students focused on the task at hand, give the students definite and fairly short time limits. v

Joshua: Overcoming Obstacles Joshua 1 24 Unit Theme Be strong and courageous; meditate on God s Word day and night. Goals We pray that the student knows these spiritual truths: Many obstacles threaten the Christian s faith. The Holy Spirit strengthens the Christian s faith through the Word. God never fails to keep his promises. develops these spiritual attitudes and habits: I meditate on the Word. I study the Word with others. I treasure the Word as a source of strength and wisdom. I trust the Holy Spirit to keep me strong in the faith. I don t allow sin to take over my life in this evil world. To Memorize Psalm 119:161b * Romans 10:17 ** 2 Timothy 3:15 2 Timothy 4:18a ** 1 Peter 5:8 ** The Second Petition of the Lord s Prayer ** The Third Petition of the Lord s Prayer Hymn 199:1 Suggested Commentary Readings Pages 300,302-307,309-311,314-316 in Franzmann, Bible History Commentary, Old Testament Pages 21-24,51-61,85-92,152-157,226-229,238-242 in Harstad, Joshua, The People s Bible series Pages 98-101 in Brug, Psalms, Volume 1, The People s Bible series Pages 234,235 in Ehlke, Proverbs, The People s Bible series Pages 199-202,214-219 in Panning, Galatians, Ephesians, The People s Bible series Introduction Ideas Discuss what it means to be a chicken. What does it mean to be a spiritual chicken? Giving in to pressures to sin, denying our Lord, not trusting God to take care of us, and so on. Are we ever spiritual chickens? Elicit some specific examples of being spiritual chickens. This unit tells us how we can become stronger and more courageous so that we are not spiritual chickens but spiritual lions strong in the faith. Who are some heroes of faith we read about in the Bible? Abraham, who rescued Lot; Joseph, who resisted temptation and forgave his brothers; Samson, who killed many Philistines; Gideon, who defeated the Midianites; David, who killed a giant with a slingshot; and so on. This unit explains how we can become strong in the faith like them. Discuss David and Goliath. What gave David courage to fight Goliath? His trust in God s help. What are some Goliaths in our lives? Enemies, obstacles to our faith, specific temptations, certain people, and so on. This unit tells us how we can become strong enough to fight against our Goliaths. Discuss headlines from the news: wars and skirmishes, murders and robberies, layoffs and economic downturns, how Christians are accused of intolerance because of their stands on abortion and homosexuality, etc. We may occasionally get frustrated or depressed when we consider the evil times in which we live. This unit tells us how we can be strong, courageous, and wise in this evil world. Old Testament Unit 20 1

Joshua: Man of God, Leader of the People Background Joshua 1 24 The students do not have to read the book of Joshua to answer these questions. Joshua led Israel into the promised land of Canaan and served as general of the Israelites army in battle after battle. He was appointed by God and was uniquely qualified for this leadership position (Numbers 27:15-18). Years ago Joshua had shown his faith in God as one of the 12 spies sent to inspect Canaan and its inhabitants secretly. Only he and Caleb had encouraged the Israelites to go into Canaan, trusting the Lord to give them the victory. As the book of Joshua opens, Caleb and Joshua are the only two adults still alive who personally experienced the horrors of slavery in Egypt, the ten plagues, the exodus, and the miraculous crossing at the Red Sea. Everyone else of their generation had died during the 40-year wandering in the desert. During those same 40 years, Joshua received leadership training as the personal aide of Moses. He had even accompanied Moses part of the way up Mount Sinai to receive the Law. Now that Moses has died and the Israelites are at the brink of the Jordan River, it s time for Joshua to take the full authority God has given him to lead the people. 2 Old Testament Unit 20 Copy Master 1

Overcoming Obstacles Joshua 1:6-9; 3:9-17; 5:13 6:5; 10:11-14; 23:6-8; 24:14,15 How can we overcome the enormous daily obstacles to our faith? Joshua was God s choice as Moses successor. He faced a tremendous challenge. The Israelites were at the edge of the Promised Land, and God had instructed Joshua to lead them into battle against the Canaanites. The Canaanites were warlike people living in walled cities. The Israelites were nomadic herders with little apparent military skill. And from past experience Joshua knew that whenever the going got rough, the people did not trust the Lord to help them. Moses himself had said about them: I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you [God] are going to treat me, put me to death right now (Numbers 11:14,15). How would Joshua ever be strong enough to lead the people? Jos 1:6-9 a. Why should Joshua feel strong and courageous? The Lord promised that Joshua would lead the people into the Promised Land. He also promised to be with Joshua wherever he went. b. What would be the key to Joshua s prosperity and success? God told Joshua to meditate on the Word day and night and to do everything written in it. Through Joshua s study of the Word, the Spirit would strengthen him and make him prosperous and successful (verse 8). His success was based on God s promise. c. Discuss the word meditate (verse 8) in context of the great task lying before Joshua. The word meditate implies deep thought engaging both the head and the heart of the believer. Joshua was not to approach the Word with a superficial might as well give it a try attitude, but he was to study the Word and keep it in his heart so that the Spirit would strengthen him to walk in complete obedience to God s laws and with complete reliance on God s promises. The Hebrew word translated as meditate means to murmur or mutter to oneself in a low voice. It refers to the custom of muttering to oneself while studying or reflecting. When people are muttering God s Word to themselves, they are constantly thinking about it, studying it, or reflecting upon it. How does the Spirit strengthen us to face life s difficult challenges? As we daily read, study, and meditate on the Word, the Spirit strengthens us for life s difficult challenges. Jos 3:9-17 a. Here God confirms Joshua s trust in him. What visible symbol of the Lord s presence and his promises did the Israelites have as they crossed the Jordan? They carried the ark of the covenant, which held the stone tablets of the Law, God s own words to his people. b. How did God miraculously take them across the Jordan? When the priests carrying the ark entered the Jordan, the waters stopped flowing and piled up in a heap so that the whole nation could cross over safely. c. What ancient promise did God fulfill in this way? The nation then entered the land of Canaan, which God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jos 5:13 6:5 d. How did God again encourage Joshua? The presence of the commander of the LORD S army showed Joshua that the Lord was the real leader of the conquest and would be fighting with him in the coming battle. The heavenly armies ensured victory to Israel. In fact, God s promise was as good as done: I have delivered Jericho into your hands, he said (6:2). (Early Jewish interpreters thought this messenger was the archangel Michael. The early church father Origen [ca. A.D. 185 254] said this was the Son of God himself.) e. Explain how the six days of marching around the city served to build trust for the Israelites. The conquest of a walled city was a major challenge one the Israelites had not faced before. It required faith that God would keep his promise and give the city into their hands. These instructions showed them that God would win the victory, not them. As they reflected and meditated on God s promise during those six days, their faith in that promise grew. And, of course, God did make the walls fall down, as he had promised. Old Testament Unit 20 Lesson 1 Copy Master 2a 3

Jos 10:11-14 f. Later, when the Israelites fought the Amorites, how did God in another miraculous way keep his promise to help his people? He sent hailstones that killed more Amorites than the Israelites themselves killed. He made the sun stand still for a full day, a miracle never performed before or since! What leads us to trust God to help us face challenges to our faith? God s fulfillment of all promises leads us to trust him. After many years of warfare, the Lord gave Israel temporary rest from its enemies. Joshua, knowing his death was near, summoned the people for final words of encouragement and challenge. Big obstacles remained for the Israelites: they had to drive out the remaining Canaanites and withstand the enticements of the false religions and worldly ways of the people surrounding them. In the following verses, Joshua tells them what to let go of and what to hold on to. Jos 23:6-8 a. Consider the situation of the Israelites. Why would Joshua so clearly emphasize the absolute importance of carefully obeying the law, without turning aside to the right or to the left? The Israelites would be inundated with temptations to forsake the Lord and chase after heathen gods, the worship of which included sinful festivals and temple prostitutes. The Israelites would have to stick to the straight and narrow path laid out for them in the Word of God or risk losing their faith! Jos 24:14,15 b. What challenge did Joshua lay before the people? Joshua challenged them to throw away the false gods their forefathers had worshiped and to serve the Lord only to let go of sin and hold on to the Lord. c. How did Joshua set an example for the Israelites? Joshua told them that he and his household would serve the Lord the God who had graciously encouraged and strengthened him, kept all his promises, and led the way to victory over many Canaanite cities. As the Spirit strengthens our faith, what do we let go of and what do we hold on to? As the Spirit strengthens our faith, we let go of the sinful world and hold on to the Lord. How can we overcome the enormous daily obstacles to our faith? We can overcome the obstacles that threaten our faith only with the help of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens our trust in God through the Word. 4 Old Testament Unit 20 Lesson 1 Copy Master 2b