Today's Bible Study Lesson
“Joshua: Prophet of Conquest"
Aim: Explain how Joshua acted obediently to the vision from God, Reflect on inefficiencies when challenges overwhelm us, and Commit to obeying God especially in challenging times.
Background: Joshua 5:13-6:27
Bible Lesson: Joshua 5:13-6:5, 15-16, 20
Memory Verses:
“ And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, [and] the mighty men of valour.” Joshua 6:2 KJV
Some Highlights:
- The Israelites have miraculously and successfully crossed the Jordan River and are set to possess the Promised Land. Word had spread of this and other powerful acts of God throughout the region of Canaan and the inhabitants were fearful of the Israelites. Moses was now dead and Joshua had been selected by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. Jericho was the first city east of the Jordan River. It was walled and well protected.
- Our passage under consideration, opens with Joshua encountering a heavenly dispatched human form from God, who stands before him with a sword drawn. Joshua asks whether he is friend or foe and the reply is “Neither,” and introduces himself as the commander of the army of the LORD. Joshua responds by falling on his face down in awe and reverence of the messenger. Joshua’s next question was to seek directions from the messenger from God. Joshua is told to take off his sandals “for where he stands is holy ground.” Joshua obeys and no doubt, recalls Moses’ encounter with the burning bush in the desert when Moses was commissioned by God to lead the Hebrew people out of Egyptian bondage.
- Our lesson passage skips to Chapter 6, the author describes how Jericho is locked down with no one allowed to enter or to leave as the city braces for an expected imminent attack by the Israelites.
- The Lord assures Joshua of certain and complete victory over the king and all military warriors of Jericho. However, the battle plan is most unusual. The people are to march around the city of Jericho once a day for seven days. Seven priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant and carrying ram’s horns are to leave the processional each day. On the seventh day, the processional should increase to seven times and the priests are to blow the ram’s horns. When the people hear the blast of the ram’s horns by the priests, they are to shout with all their might. The walls of Jericho will collapse and the people will charge straight into the city.
- On the seven day, the people rose early proceed march around the city seven times as directed by the Lord and on the seven time, the priests blew the ram’s horns and the people shouted with all their might and as God promised the walls of Jericho collapsed and the Israelites charged into the city. This victory over the city of Jericho left no doubt that the victory came by the act of God and not by the military might of the Israelites.
Take Aways:
- We must trust God’s directions and instructions no matter how unusual they seem to us because He is All Knowing and can be trusted with our very lives.
- Obedience to God’s Word is the only safe path to take because all other paths are uncertain and lead to destruction.
- All things are possible when God is on our side and we are in His Will.
Bible Verses to Keep in Mind:
“For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8 KJV
“[It is] better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” Psalms 118:8 KJV
“Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:” Jeremiah 32:17 KJV
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13 KJV
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 KJV
“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV
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