Joshua 1-4
An Overview of Chapter 1
After Moses death the Lord began to speak with Joshua. He instructs Joshua to take the people across the Jordan and take possession of the promised land. God defines the borders of the promised land, then promises Joshua that if he is careful to follow the commands of God that he will be given success in all he does.
Joshua tells the people to prepare to enter the land, and reminds the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh that they had promised to help their brothers enter the land. They respond to him saying they will do everything he says and kill anyone who does not obey Joshua.
An Overview of Chapter 2
Joshua sends two spies into the land to check out the city of Jericho. While in Jericho the spies hide at Rahab the harlots house, and the king of Jericho hears they are there. Messengers are sent to Rahab instructing her to send the Israelite spies out, but she lies and tells the messengers that they left to go back to the other side of the Jordan.
After the messengers leave Rahab tells the spies that all of Jericho is afraid of the Israelites and offers a deal to the spies. She promises to keep quiet if they will save her and her family when they return with their army to overtake Israel. The spies agree and tell her to hang a scarlet rope out her window so that everyone will know not to kill her.
The spies leave her house by lowering themselves down the outside wall of Jericho and return to their people avoiding the main road. When they get back to Joshua they give him the news that all the inhabitants of the land are afraid of the Israelites.
An Overview of Chapter 3
Joshua told the people that they will know it is time to enter the land when they see the ark of the covenant leave with the priests. They are to follow at a distance of about half a mile. Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves.
The Lord then told Joshua that He will exalt him and make the people know that He is with him like He was with Moses. He told Joshua that when the priests carrying the ark set foot into the Jordan river, the waters would separate and the people would be able to pass through on dry land. Joshua instructed the priests to do what God had told him. When the priests entered the water it stood up in heaps on either side and the entire nation of Israel passed through the waters.
An Overview of Chapter 4
The Lord instructed Joshua concerning setting up a memorial at the Jordan river. A representative from each tribe was to carry out of the river bed a stone to be set up and Joshua was to carry 12 stones to the middle of the Jordan river. The stones on the bank of the Jordan were their so that when the Israelites children asked about the their fathers could tell them the story of how God brought them across the river into the promised land. After everyone was through and the memorials were set up the priests carried the ark out of the water and the river flowed again as normal. This all occurred on the 10th of the first month (Abib - March,April) of the 40th year of the exodus, four days before the Passover feast.
Reflection
When God passes leadership on to a new person, do you immediately support the new person, or do you have a tendency to wait and see? Rahab obviously lied, was it a sin? What memorials have you set up, or should you set up to teach your children the things God has done?
For Further Study
Memorial: Exodus 3:14-15, Exodus 12:14, Exodus 17:14, Leviticus 2:9, Joshua 4:7, Psalm 38:0, Psalm 70:0, Acts 10:4
After Moses death the Lord began to speak with Joshua. He instructs Joshua to take the people across the Jordan and take possession of the promised land. God defines the borders of the promised land, then promises Joshua that if he is careful to follow the commands of God that he will be given success in all he does.
Joshua tells the people to prepare to enter the land, and reminds the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh that they had promised to help their brothers enter the land. They respond to him saying they will do everything he says and kill anyone who does not obey Joshua.
An Overview of Chapter 2
Joshua sends two spies into the land to check out the city of Jericho. While in Jericho the spies hide at Rahab the harlots house, and the king of Jericho hears they are there. Messengers are sent to Rahab instructing her to send the Israelite spies out, but she lies and tells the messengers that they left to go back to the other side of the Jordan.
After the messengers leave Rahab tells the spies that all of Jericho is afraid of the Israelites and offers a deal to the spies. She promises to keep quiet if they will save her and her family when they return with their army to overtake Israel. The spies agree and tell her to hang a scarlet rope out her window so that everyone will know not to kill her.
The spies leave her house by lowering themselves down the outside wall of Jericho and return to their people avoiding the main road. When they get back to Joshua they give him the news that all the inhabitants of the land are afraid of the Israelites.
An Overview of Chapter 3
Joshua told the people that they will know it is time to enter the land when they see the ark of the covenant leave with the priests. They are to follow at a distance of about half a mile. Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves.
The Lord then told Joshua that He will exalt him and make the people know that He is with him like He was with Moses. He told Joshua that when the priests carrying the ark set foot into the Jordan river, the waters would separate and the people would be able to pass through on dry land. Joshua instructed the priests to do what God had told him. When the priests entered the water it stood up in heaps on either side and the entire nation of Israel passed through the waters.
An Overview of Chapter 4
The Lord instructed Joshua concerning setting up a memorial at the Jordan river. A representative from each tribe was to carry out of the river bed a stone to be set up and Joshua was to carry 12 stones to the middle of the Jordan river. The stones on the bank of the Jordan were their so that when the Israelites children asked about the their fathers could tell them the story of how God brought them across the river into the promised land. After everyone was through and the memorials were set up the priests carried the ark out of the water and the river flowed again as normal. This all occurred on the 10th of the first month (Abib - March,April) of the 40th year of the exodus, four days before the Passover feast.
Reflection
When God passes leadership on to a new person, do you immediately support the new person, or do you have a tendency to wait and see? Rahab obviously lied, was it a sin? What memorials have you set up, or should you set up to teach your children the things God has done?
For Further Study
Memorial: Exodus 3:14-15, Exodus 12:14, Exodus 17:14, Leviticus 2:9, Joshua 4:7, Psalm 38:0, Psalm 70:0, Acts 10:4
posted by Shaun Sells | 10:31 AM
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