[ VICTORIES OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF JOSHUA LESSON EIGHT Day One Read Joshua 3:1 17. Then answer the following questions. 1. We read that the children of Israel moved from Acacia Grove (also called Shittim) and camped by the Jordan for three days. Then what were the instructions given to the Israelites in verses 3 4? Terms and Definitions: Sanctify Joshua then told the people, in verse 5, to sanctify (or consecrate) themselves. Sanctify means To make sacred or holy; to set apart to a holy or religious use; to consecrate by appropriate rites; to hallow. To make free from sin; to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution; to purify. i 2. Why were the people to sanctify themselves (verse 5)? 3. What encouragement did the Lord give to Joshua in verse 7? How do you think Joshua was feeling at this time? 4. How was Joshua to instruct the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant? 1
5. Joshua describes to the people the miracle that was going to take place. What was the reason for the miracle (besides removing the obstacle of the river from their path), found in verse 10? 6. Describe what happened to the Jordan. 7. Where were the priests who bore the Ark, while the people crossed over? Scripture Memory: This week s Scripture Memory is 1 Peter 1:15 16. But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15 16 NKJV Day Two Yesterday we read that the priests of Israel were to carry the Ark of the Covenant before the congregation as they passed over the Jordan. Today lets look specifically at the Ark of the Covenant, its purpose, and its history. 1. Exodus 25:1 22. What was the Ark to be used for? 2. Describe what went on top of the Ark, and its purpose. 2
3. Using the descriptions found in the verses you have just read, use the space below to draw a rough-sketch diagram of how you envision the Ark of the Covenant. 4. Hebrews 9:4 5 tells us what was found inside the Ark of the Covenant. What three things are listed? 5. Let s look at these objects a little closer. What do you learn about each of these things from the following passages? Exodus 16:14 17, 31 34 Numbers 17:1 10 Deuteronomy 10:1 5 3
Here s a brief history, taken from a Bible encyclopedia, of the Ark of the Covenant after Joshua s time: At the time of Eli the Ark stood in the sanctuary at Shiloh (1 Samuel 3:3). From this place it was taken after Israel had been defeated by the Philistines at Ebenezer, in order to assure the help of Yahweh to the people; but, instead of this, the Ark fell into the hands of the Philistines (1 Samuel 4). But the various misfortunes that now afflicted the Philistines induced these to regard the possession of the Ark as a calamity (1 Samuel 5) and they sent it back to Israel (1 Samuel 6). It was brought first to Bethshemesh in the tribe of Judah, near the borders of the Philistines, and soon after to Kiriath-jearim, about 7.5 miles northwest of Jerusalem. There the Ark remained for years in the house of a man by the name of Abinadab, whose son was its guardian (1 Samuel 7:1), until David brought it to Mount Zion, after he had established his camp and court there. He there placed it in a tent prepared for it (2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicles 13; 1 Chronicles 15). In David's time again the Ark was taken along into battle (2 Samuel 11:11). When David fled from the presence of Absalom, the priests wanted to accompany him with the Ark, but he sent it back (2 Samuel 15:24). David had also intended to build a temple, in which the Ark was to find its place, since before this it had always found its resting-place in a tent. But God forbade this through Nathan, because He was willing to build a house for David, but was not willing that David should build one for Him (2 Samuel 7). Solomon then built the temple and placed the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies of this temple, where it was placed under the wings of two mighty cherubim images (1 Kings 8).ii Scripture Memory: Fill in the missing words from memory. But as He who _ you is holy, you also in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy. 1 1: 16 Day Three 1. As we read about this generation of Israelites crossing over the Jordan on dry ground we are reminded of the miracle God performed for their fathers at the Red Sea. Read through the account of this crossing in Exodus 14:13 31 and compare it to our reading this week in Joshua 3. Write out the similarities and differences between the two events. As you compare the two, think about such things as: Where were they going to and where were they coming from? What was their motivation for crossing? What role did faith play? How were their leaders similar or different? Which of the Lord s attributes are magnified in these miracles? How was the Lord glorified? 4
2. When we think about these miraculous events, our response should be praise and adoration to the One who does the impossible. The psalmist says it well in Psalm 66:1 6. What do those verses say? Scripture Memory: Fill in the missing words from memory. But as He who _ you is holy, you also in all your, because it is written, Be holy, for I am. 1 1: Day Four Reread Joshua 3, for review. Then answer the following questions. 1. Death is often symbolized by the Jordan River. If someone has crossed over the Jordan, they have passed away. Just as crossing the Jordan was the Israelites final 5
step before stepping foot in the Promised Land, so death is the last obstacle for the believer before he can experience the Promised Land of Heaven. But let s take this analogy a little further. We have already studied, in a previous lesson, how Jesus is our High Priest the One who intercedes for us and atones for our sin. According to Joshua 3:13 and 15, who were the only ones who actually touched the waters of the River Jordan? What spiritual significance do you find in this picture? 2. These two New Testament verses elaborate on this idea. What do they say? Hebrews 2:9 John 8:51 3. We, as Christians are able to cross into the Promised Land without getting our feet wet. While we will all experience the physical death of the body, if we have placed our trust in Christ, we will not taste the spiritual anguish and torment of what Revelation calls the second death. What do Revelation 21:8 and Revelation 2:11 say about this death? 4. Read 1 Corinthians 15:54 57. What good news is found in these verses? 6
Scripture Memory: Fill in the missing words from memory. But as He who _ you is, you also in all your, because it is, Be, for I am. 1 : Day Five: Personal Application 1. On Day One, we learned that to be sanctified is to be set apart, to be made holy, to be cleansed from sin. John 17:17 says, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. We know that Jesus is truth (John 14:6). We also know that Jesus is God s Word (John 1:14). So how can we be sanctified? Only through Jesus. Joshua told the people Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you (Joshua 3:5). Do you want the Lord to do wonders among you? Then sanctify yourself. Give yourself completely and fully over to the Lord s use. Be purified and cleansed by allowing Jesus to forgive and remove the blemishes in your life. Spend time in prayer now, thanking Him for His sanctification, and asking Him anew to cleanse you and use you so that He may do His wonders among you, to His glory. 2. The people were told to follow the priests, who carried God s word, in order that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before. Do you find yourself passing through a place in your life where you have never been before? In your relationships? In your finances? In your health? In your workplace? Are things new and different and strange? Look to Jesus. Keep your focus on His Word and just follow Him. Write down your thoughts below. 3. Go back and reread Psalm 66:1 6. Now, using those verses as a guide, fashion your own psalm to the Lord below. Make it personal. 7
4. Jesus tasted death so that you don t have to. He stepped willingly into the waters of the Jordan, so that you can walk on dry ground into His promise. Think of a nonbelieving friend or relative, who remains on the east side of the river unwilling to cross, unaware of their circumstance, or afraid of what might be on the other side. Jesus said in John 5:24, I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. You can encourage that person to cross from death to life, just as Joshua encouraged the people. Right now, the Ark remains in the midst of the Jordan and there is still opportunity to cross. But as we will read next week, the river will not always remain that way. Now is the time of God s favor; now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV) Write the initials of whomever God has laid on your heart. Then write a prayer asking God for an opportunity to encourage them to cross from death to life. Scripture Memory: Write the Scripture Memory passage completely from memory.. : Day Six (Optional) You may be wondering about Joshua 3:12. It says, Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. But we didn t read any more about these twelve men, here in chapter 3. Don t worry; this instruction is completed next week in chapter 4. In the meantime, let s test your Bible knowledge. How many of the twelve sons of Israel can you name, without looking? Try it below. 8
Need some help? If so, read 1 Chronicles 2:1 2 and then try again: This list of sons that you just compiled does not exactly match the twelve tribes that we will read about later in Joshua. For one thing, Levi s tribe is excluded when we talk about taking possession of the Promised Land, because as the tribe of priestly service, they had no inheritance in the land. For another, Joseph is taken out of the list and replaced with his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Read the account in Genesis 48:1 20 to see why this substitution takes place. Record the highlights below. 9
Scripture Memory: Write this week s Scripture Memory passage from memory.. : 2008 Brian Joel Jackson. All rights reserved. Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. www.harvest.org 10
i sanctify. Dictionary.com. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sanctify (accessed: November 09, 2008). ii Ark of the Covenant. Biblos.com. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. http://bibleencyclopedia.com/ark.htm (accessed: November 10, 2008). Unless otherwise noted, all Scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version. 11
PRAYER REQUESTS LECTURE NOTES 12
LECTURE NOTES 13
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