Lessons of Faith from Joshua

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Moses led the children of Israel for 40 years. Yet, he did not see them settled in the Promised Land. That became the responsibility of a NEW LEADER. A leader whose name is Joshua,

Who was Joshua?

Joshua was born when Israel were slaves in Egypt.
He was the eldest son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim.
His parent seemed to believe in the true God, naming their first born Hoshea (salvation). Moses later changed his name to Joshua (God is my salvation) Numbers 13:16.

Joshua witnessed the plagues of Egypt when God delivered the Israelites with a mighty hand.
He walked through the Red Sea on dry ground with the other Israelites.

We first see him mentioned in scripture Exodus 17:8-13, already in a leading position as the military leader, just two months after leaving Egypt. He led the Israelites in their first battle, driving back the Amalekites that were attacking Israel at Rephidim.
Scriptures are silent as to where Joshua learned how to organize, lead, and fight with an army. But it seems he spent a lot of time learning from Moses. (Num. 11:38)

We see him in close association with Moses at Sinai. (Ex. 24:13)Several times he accompanied Moses part way up that mountain as Moses climbed to meet God. Joshua would wait up there for Moses, who would go a little further to meet God, until he started coming down again. And they would walk down together.
Joshua reacted like a soldier, when the noise from the camp reached them as they were descending the mountain, after Moses received the ten commandments.
There's war in the camp, Joshua exclaims! (Ex. 32:17)

Joshua as one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan, shows the man's faith. Along with Caleb, son of Jephunneh, Joshua brought back a positive report, encouraging the Israelites to trust in God's promise and take possession of the land (Numbers 14:6-9). He talked faith in spite of the fact the other ten spies gave very discouraging and negative reports.

Because of the lack of faith originating with the ten spies and spreading throughout the Israelite camp, Israel spent 40 years in the wilderness where the adult generation died. But Joshua and Caleb were promised they would yet enter the promised land.

The book of Joshua begins it's historical story when Israel once again stood at the edge of the promised land.

The lesson mentions the book of Joshua can be divided into four major parts.

1. Move forward, cross over. 1:1 to 5:12
2. Conquer 5:13 - 12:24
3. Dividing the inheritance 13:1 to 21:45
4. Serve 22:1 to 24:33

MOVE FORWARD

It was with great anxiety and self-distrust that Joshua had looked forward to the work before him; but his fears were removed by the assurance of God, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Joshua 1:6 "Be strong and of good courage.... I promised to give this land to their fathers.
Joshua 1:7 "Be strong and very courageous... do not turn aside to the right or left that you may prosper.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of good courage... for the Lord thy God is with You.
Joshua 1:18 "Only be strong and of good courage ... whoever rebels will not live.


The Israelites were still camped on the east side of Jordan, which presented the first barrier to the occupation of Canaan. "Arise," had been the first message of God to Joshua, "cross over this Jordan, you, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them." (Joshua 1:2)
At this point no instruction was given as to how they were to make the passage. Joshua knew, however, that whatever God commanded, He would make a way for His people to perform.
In full faith and trust in God's guidance, this new leader at once began his arrangements for an advance.

The history of Joshua leading Israel into the promised land, has much symbolic value to the church of today.

The conquest of Canaan, in a large way, represents the victorious Christian life.
Egypt, represents the land of bondage -- the bondage of sin.
The wilderness represents wandering, realizing something has taken place to free us, but not moving on, just wandering about with no real zeal or purpose.

The conquest of Canaan is a life of faith, trusting Jesus Christ to lead us from victory to victory (1 John 5:4-5)

In Egypt they were in bondage, sin was all around, they had to serve sin. It was a miserable life!
Once they crossed the Red Sea, Egypt was behind them. They had experienced deliverance from Egypt, yet they still looked back, sometimes with strange longing to go back, instead of forward.

Once at the borders of the promised land, they saw new enemies before them.
We often think that once we experience deliverance that is all that is to salvation. But the Bible is clear that salvation is not a once and for all victory that ends forever all our spiritual challenges and problems.

The Israelites had to move forward in faith, and, with God's power and strength on their side, they had to be strong and courageous to conquer..

A victorious Christian life is a series of conflicts. In Christ, and clothed with the armor of God, we can withstand the assaults of Satan.

As we think of our lives since our baptism what do we see? Have we been wandering in the wilderness, complaining, grumbling, wishing we were back in Egypt, though still traveling with the church group. Or
are we conquering, having victories against the enemy of sinful habits and temptations. Are we looking forward to the final victory and settling in that grand inheritance in which there is no more death, tears, pain, sickness nor death.

LESSON TWO

GRACE
Second Chance

Two approaches to enter Canaan.

First Approach	Second Approach
Took place twenty-four months after leaving Egypt.	Took place almost 40 years after leaving Egypt.
Had spent 11 months and 5 days at Mt. Sinai, receiving God's commandments, statues and instructions	Moses gave his farewell address, recounting their history, God's leading, God's law and statues, God's covenant promises, pronounced the blessings a to be placed upon mount Gerizim, and the curses upon mount Ebal.
Grave apostasy at Sinai with golden calf. Many died. But Israel was restored by grace and God continued to lead them to the promised land.	Grave apostasy in Shittim, when at the instigation of Balaam, Moabite women lured many into debauchery and idol worship. Again many died, but by grace repentant Israel was restored and God continued to lead them.
In Kadesh, standing at the boarder of Canaan in anticipation to enter the land, Moses sent 12 spies into the land for a 40 day survey of conditions in Canaan.	Once again, at Shittim (Acacia Grove) standing at the boarder of Canaan in anticipation to enter the land, Joshua sent two spies to check out Jericho and surrounding area. They were gone about a week.
Ten of the 12 spies brought back reports of doubt . Saying it was too hard to conquer the land. The people started doubting and actually said they wished they had never left Egypt or had died in the wilderness. Two of the 12 (Caleb and Joshua) spoke faith and trust that God would give them the land.	This time the two spies brought back encouraging reports, God would give Israel the victory.
Israel was sent back into the wilderness to wander. It would be 40 years, after all the adult generation died, that Israel would again stand on the edge of the promised land. Only the two who had brought back reports of faith, would still be alive 40 years later, and would finally be able to enter	By faith Israel marched forward across the Jordan on dry ground, to conquer and victory.

While there was a clear "second chance", for Israel to cross over by faith and claim the reward God had promised, yet we do experience many more than just two chances. God patiently brings us around again and again, encouraging us to step forward and gain the victory over whatever is holding us back from completely following Him.

"We will be brought over the ground again and tested on the very points where we had failed before. Thus the Lord did for the children of Israel; thus He has done with His people in all ages. He will prove them where they have formerly failed; He will try them, and if they fail under the trial the second time, He will bring them around to the same test again." {5T 623.1}

Christ came to seek and save that which is lost. Every person is very precious to Him and so He patiently brings them to the same point again, giving them a second, or third, or fourth chance to learn. Yet it's important not to postpone our response. "What if that soul is finally lost? If he refuses to learn in the school of Christ, clinging to the things of Egypt, and fails to reach the promised land?

Points in the lesson of Rahab and Jericho

Who was Rahab?
A citizen of Jericho, in a culture of iniquity and sinful practices.
She seems to be a person of some influence. With a place of her own where guests can be accommodated. She is believed by the soldiers, not bullied.
Rahab lived in a society where prostitution was heavily interwoven with pagan idolatry; and is identified in Jericho as a "harlot".


Her case shows God's love for all and His desire to save
God's path is open for sinners to experience God's mercy, reminding us not to think of anyone as irredeemable lost in the eyes of God.

Total repositioning of allegiance
Rahab spiritually repositioned herself with the will of God the moment she realized that "gods" of Jericho could not resist the power of God. Do we also realized that the devil is a defeated foe and make a strategic spiritual shift like Rahab.

The Holy Spirit was active:
Rahab seems to sense that God would be willing to save her despite her history and heritage. She understood something about God's character. She believes this to the extent she was willing to take action for God's cause, and against the culture that had held her.

Coincidence of Divine Guidance?
It was not coincidence that, among all the people of Jericho, the spies encountered Rahab; it was a divine appointment.


Justified by works or faith?
James 2:25 KJV "Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?
James is making the point that God's gift of grace and faith produces actions which show that grace and faith have been activated within the person Just like downloading a program from the internet is of no use unless it is activated, so faith not activated is dead,
Hebrews 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

The red cord
All in the "house" with the red cord were saved. Compare this with Passover during Egypt's tenth plague.
"Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:13,

Family
Rahab's negotiations included her father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all that they had, clearly indicating the prominence, respect, and influence she had within her family (Joshua 2:12-13)
Rahab had to take the initiative to bring her entire family to her home and tie the scarlet cord from her window.

People, Like Rahab, Are Watching
Rahab already knew quite a bit about the God of Israel. She said, "We have heard how the Lord dried up the Red Sea for you and as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted" (Joshua 2:10?11). Rahab never had bible studies, she had not talked to the Israelites before, but she had heard of their God. All Jericho had heard. It was what she heard that convinced her that the God of Israel was the true God, and was able to save.
In the same way, people today are hearing about us -- about those who claim to follow Christ. What do they see and hear?

Redeemed and Accepted
She was redeemed from pagan prostitution, and transitioned into a Hebrew faith-keeper.
Joshua 6:25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Matt. 1:1,5,6 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ,... 1:5 And Salmon (of the tribe of Judah) begat Booz of Rahab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; And Jesse begat David the king....