Difference between revisions of "Joshua 2 Courage"

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=Main Body=
 
=Main Body=
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==Servant Leaders==
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==The Canaanites (Joshua 2:1-11)==
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===The Training===
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*What did Joshua do before moving the entire nation over the Jordan?
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*What rule does Christ give in Mark 10:43?
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**He sent two spies into the land.
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**"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant."  In other words, the key to becoming a leader is to learn how to serve.
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*Do you think it would have been better for Joshua to just enter the land, after all hadn't Moses done the same thing and it resulted in 40 years of wandering?
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*What opportunities to serve had Joshua been given?
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**Joshua seems to have sent the spies specifically to Jericho.  He also only set two spies.  This really seems to be about information gathering in preparation for entering and not about checking out the promises of God.
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**Exodus 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
 
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**Numbers 14:5-9 Then Moses and Aaron [a]fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes; and they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’  Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they[b] are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.”
 
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**Deuteronomy 1:38 Joshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, he shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
 
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===The Task===
 
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*According to Joshua 1:3, how big of a task did Israel have before them?
 
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**The task of conquering the entire land was a huge task.  But the rewards were tremendous.  Look at how the land is described in Deuteronomy 8:7-10
 
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***For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper.  When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.
 
  
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==Encouragement==
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There is debate about Rahab and some have tried to temper the story by simply calling her an inn keeper.  However, Heb. 11:31 and James 2:25 make it clear that Rahab was immoral.  In this text God sees it fit to provide his grace to anyone.   
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===Divine Presence===
 
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*What encouragement does Joshua receive in Joshua 1:5?
 
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**No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
 
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*This verse was written for a specific individual, Joshua, at a specific time, the conquest of Canaan.  Do we have the same encouragement?
 
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** Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”"
 
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**In fact, this seems to be a characteristic of God Himself.  He gave Moses a similar assurance in Exodus 3:10-12 "Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”  So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
 
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**Hebrews 13:8 and Malachi 3:6 address the unchanging nature of God.  He was with Moses and Joshua and He will be with us.
 
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===Divine Provision===
 
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*According to Joshua 1:6, why was God providing the land?
 
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**God was providing the inheritance he had promised the Israelites before(Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:18-21, 26:1-3, 35:10-12)
 
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*How had God evidenced his provision in the past?
 
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**Exodus 16:11-16 (food)
 
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**Exodus 17:5,6 (water)
 
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**Numbers 20:7-11 (water)
 
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**Exodus 17:8-16 (victory)
 
  
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==Responsibility==
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*What events take place in verses 2-4?
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===The Priority of Scripture===
 
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*According to Joshua 1:7, what was Joshua to be careful about?
 
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**He needed to take care to ensure that he followed the Word of God.
 
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*What steps did God call upon Joshua to take to ensure he followed the Word of God?
 
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**Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
 
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*How does Paul reiterate this message for believers in 1 Timothy 4:16 and Titus 1:7-9?
 
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**Paul calls on Christians leaders to hold fast to sound doctrine.  The idea is that we must be grounded in the Word of God.
 
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*Why do we make such a big deal out of scripture?
 
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**2 Timothy 3:15-17 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
 
  
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==The Wrap Up==
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*Was Rahab right to lie?
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*How does God wrap up Joshua's commissioning service?  
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**I think that at times we focus so much on behaviors that we forget the point.  We all are sinners and guilty of death.  The Bible holds no punches regarding Rahab's sin of prostitution.  The text is not trying to demonstrate that Rahab is righteous in and of herself, but rather that Rahab placed her loyalty in God instead of her own people and that fact led to her salvation.
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**Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
 
  
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*What is the result of Rahab's deception?
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**God protects the spies.  Note: this does not necessarily mean God endorsed Rahab's deception.  God can work in spite of sin.
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*What statement does Rahab make in Joshua 2:8-11?
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*How does this match Joshua 1:9, Exodus 15:14-16, and Numbers 14:14?
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*Remember, the two men were spies, what did their trip to Jericho tell them?
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==Rahab Showed Courage (Joshua 2:12-21)==
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*What request does Rahab make in Joshua 2:12-13?
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**Rahab asked for kindness, the word she used (hesed) is used 250 times in the Old-Testament and "means loyal, steadfast, or faithful love based on a promise, agreement, or covenant. <ref>Donald K. Campbell, “Joshua,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 332.</ref>
  
 
=Closing=
 
=Closing=

Revision as of 20:33, 29 August 2018

Objectives

  • Students will face challenges with confidence in God's care for them.
  • Students will courageously face the challenges that lie before them.

Opening

Think back to a time where you were scared. What did you do? Did your actions actually contribute to your safety, or did they just make you feel better? What actions would actually make you safer? Joshua 2 Courage Handout

Main Body

The Canaanites (Joshua 2:1-11)

  • What did Joshua do before moving the entire nation over the Jordan?
    • He sent two spies into the land.
  • Do you think it would have been better for Joshua to just enter the land, after all hadn't Moses done the same thing and it resulted in 40 years of wandering?
    • Joshua seems to have sent the spies specifically to Jericho. He also only set two spies. This really seems to be about information gathering in preparation for entering and not about checking out the promises of God.

There is debate about Rahab and some have tried to temper the story by simply calling her an inn keeper. However, Heb. 11:31 and James 2:25 make it clear that Rahab was immoral. In this text God sees it fit to provide his grace to anyone.

  • What events take place in verses 2-4?
  • Was Rahab right to lie?
    • I think that at times we focus so much on behaviors that we forget the point. We all are sinners and guilty of death. The Bible holds no punches regarding Rahab's sin of prostitution. The text is not trying to demonstrate that Rahab is righteous in and of herself, but rather that Rahab placed her loyalty in God instead of her own people and that fact led to her salvation.
  • What is the result of Rahab's deception?
    • God protects the spies. Note: this does not necessarily mean God endorsed Rahab's deception. God can work in spite of sin.
  • What statement does Rahab make in Joshua 2:8-11?
  • How does this match Joshua 1:9, Exodus 15:14-16, and Numbers 14:14?
  • Remember, the two men were spies, what did their trip to Jericho tell them?

Rahab Showed Courage (Joshua 2:12-21)

  • What request does Rahab make in Joshua 2:12-13?
    • Rahab asked for kindness, the word she used (hesed) is used 250 times in the Old-Testament and "means loyal, steadfast, or faithful love based on a promise, agreement, or covenant. [1]

Closing

  • The conquest of the promised land was a major undertaking and required a strong leader. Similarly, Bible believing churches have major tasks, challenges, and hurdles to overcome. What are some of these challenges?
  • What past victories has God given you that give you confidence of future victories?
  • We may not be leading a nation into the promised land, but I believe we are each called to Christian service. In what ways should we model the leadership that Joshua modeled in our Christian service?
  • ↑ Donald K. Campbell, “Joshua,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 332.
    • Retrieved from "http://www.2timothy2.org/index.php?title=Joshua_2_Courage&oldid=590"