Select Video 7 summary if you did not watch the video
This might surprise you, but following God involves engaging
in an ongoing series of battles to live in His will and walk in His ways…this
will always be a part of our story.
Following God’s will in this world can be a lot like being a salmon swimming upstream. God calls us to fight against the cultural current every day of our lives! It is a battle, a war and daily challenge to keep living for God in a world where the flow is diametrically opposed to God’s will and ways. We have a choice. Swim with all our might and keep fighting and pressing on. Or, give up and find ourselves floating back downstream. We make this choice many times each day.
Following God’s will in this world can be a lot like being a salmon swimming upstream. God calls us to fight against the cultural current every day of our lives! It is a battle, a war and daily challenge to keep living for God in a world where the flow is diametrically opposed to God’s will and ways. We have a choice. Swim with all our might and keep fighting and pressing on. Or, give up and find ourselves floating back downstream. We make this choice many times each day.
1.What did God call His people to do as they got ready to
enter the Promised Land? (Joshua 1:1 – 11; The Story p 89-90)
Moses had also previously reminded them to “fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on you foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates..” (Deut 11:18-20) How do we keep (fix) His word in our hearts and minds and the doorframes of our houses and gates? Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your hearts as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to the their children after them (that’s you and me!)”. How many of us were taught His word as children as fluently and frequently as God had stressed? How much of an impact did it (or would have) made on our lives? |
2. The first time spies were sent into the land, twelve of them
went. Only two gave a good report; the
other ten were so negative that they convinced the people of Israel the rewards
weren’t worth the risk. For decades
later, Joshua sent a team of only two into the land. Randy said, “Committees seldom make
courageous decisions.” What is the value
of following a couple of bold leaders rather than a committee when it comes to
those moments when we need to move forward quickly and with courage?
3. Just like the people of Israel, we sometimes are fearful of
challenges and don’t want to deal with them.
What challenge in your life have you put on the back burner, but you
know it is time to face it and deal with it?
I
don’t know what challenges that we each may be facing but we have two
choices: retreat (give up) or go
forward. God promised the Israelites
that as long as they were obedient, he would never leave them which should be
an encouragement to courageously address the giants in our lives and move
forward. God knows the battles that we
face….He knows how big the giants are to us but we should remember: “In the
Lower Story the giants are bigger than the Israelites. In the Upper Story God is bigger than the
giants”.
4. How does consistent and faith-filled reading of
the Bible help us remain strong and courageous as we swim upstream against the
currents of this world?
We are challenged every day and are potentially influenced by the advice of our co-workers, families and friends on how to deal with battles that we are facing. The t.v. shows that we watch model what is socially acceptable and how we should be dealing with issues. You can’t even get groceries without getting advice from tabloid magazines on how to be happy in life and how to handle relationships. Much of the advice given by the world completely contradicts how God would want us to handle any situation that we are facing. We are bombarded with a myriad of voices that will influence our thinking and the resulting choices. If we aren’t careful, we will find ourselves swimming with the wordly current, not against it. The only way we can arm ourselves, is to purposely, actively and intently staying in God’s Word and spending time talking with Him on a daily basis.
Joshua 1:8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” |
5. Joshua read the words of God’s story to all the
people: children, teens, and the adults.
What are ways we can help the children and young people in our lives
grow in their knowledge of and love for the Bible? How can this be done in both our homes and
churches?
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6. Chapter 7 of The Story teaches us that we should
always talk with God to make sure He is going before us and that we are not
heading off on our own. Why is it so
important to pray, listen to God and follow his leading when we make life
decisions? What are some of the possible
consequences if we forget to do this?
What area of your life do you need to commit to more prayer and
listening?
IOur decisions and choices will be influenced by
whoever we spend the most time with and whatever we spend the most time reading
or watching. Ultimately, if we don’t
seek good council, our decisions will potentially be based on selfish desires
and incomplete or blinded information that can lead us into disastrous
results. We should always spend time in
prayer seeking God for His direction and His will in our lives. The amount of time that we should spend in
prayer with God may be based on how much time we need to conform our will to
His. If we are seeking His will on a
daily and consistent basis and keep a thankful and humble heart, we will see
our prayers and self-will aligned to what is pleasing to Him.
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7. It was noted (p 91) that this generation had not
been circumcised as the practice had not been followed while the people were in
the desert. Why do you think that the
people were circumcised before moving forward to take the land promised them?
Moses spoke of another type of circumcision in Deut
10:16-17 “Circumcise you hearts,
therefore, and do not be stiffnecked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord
of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and
accepts no bribes.”
What does “circumcision of the heart” mean? [It is interesting that God led them through the desert for 40 years to humble and test them in order to know what was in their heart and whether they would keep His commands (Deut 8:2)] Baptism is an outward sign of our identification with God. What is the meaning of baptism and why is this public celebration so important and powerful? Baptism is a symbolic way of not only showing that we have been washed of our sins, died to self and raised to life and a new creation in Christ, but it is intended to show the believer that they have identified with a new way of living and our publically making a commitment to follow Christ. This is intended to encourage the believer and to be a reminder to them of their commitment. |
8. When Christians live in a world that flows so
strongly against the desires and heart of God, we often are identified as
believers simply by the way we live.
Name some actions and attitudes that show the world we are followers of
Jesus.
Christians are sadly identified more commonly by
very powerful negative impressions such as intolerance and being
judgmental. Although the view of
tolerance is incorrectly assumed that it means to treat all beliefs as equally
true, Christians should be respectful of others and their differing beliefs and
should not expect others to behave as Christ followers until they actually have
made that commitment. We should be first
and foremost known for our love to other believers and compassionate to those
who do not yet know Christ and should live a life that compels others to either
want to question what our beliefs are OR allow us to respectfully share our
beliefs with them.
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9. Read movement 2 of The Story (see
Definitions). How have you seen God
seeking to reveal His presence, power and plan in your life?
Movement 2 is the Story of Israel. How do we see regardless of the defeats and victories the Israelites experienced as they entered the land reveal that God is in charge of history?
We know that God had a plan from the very beginning and His greatest desire is to have a relationship with us; however, we see that God is sovereign and unwilling/unable to compromise. He has made it clear what is expected to be obedient to Him but the most important command over and above everything else is that He has asked us to love Him with our whole heart and to seek after Him. When we do this, He is merciful and gracious to forgive us. But we see that He never tolerated idolatry. When the people were unfaithful, God lifted His hand of protection. When the people repented, they were able to move forward and live in the way that God intended them to live in joy and peace. So we see that God moved forward in establishing the people in the land. The people in their stubbornness would only reap the benefits of His love and plan when they were obedient and lived to serve Him. |
Digging Deeper....
Read Joshua, Chapter 2: Rahab and the SpiesWhy do you think Joshua sent two spies secretly
to check out the land? How did this go
the first time Moses sent out 12 spies? (See Numbers 13: 27- 14:4)
Joshua needed tactical information to help him prepare and formulate a plan. The last time; however, the report that came back from the initial 12 spies sent by Moses caused disastrous problems
Why do you think the two spies that Joshua sent went directly and stayed with the Rahab the prostitute?
Rahab’s house was a good location to enter the city and escape if necessary for it was actually built into the city wall (Joshua 2:15). Because she was a prostitute, they may have thought that strangers staying at her house may have gone unnoticed (but evidently not – Joshua 2:3). God may have also directed them to her knowing her heart was receptive to receiving Him and would be instrumental in their plan of victory.
If you had any doubts about the people of Jericho and God’s sovereignty in allowing the city to be taken by the Israelites, what does Rahab reveal about the people of Jericho’s knowledge and response to the Israelites? (Joshua 2:8-
- The people of Jericho were in fear because they knew the Lord had given the land to the Israelites - They had heard about the Exile and the display of God’s power at the Red Sea and how they had victory over other kings who had fought against them
What did Rahab acknowledge about God? (Vs 11)
She was sure of the Israelite victory because “the Lord you God is God in heaven above and on earth below”. This was not an acknowledgment that God was just another “god” but that He is “the” Lord. The Hebrew word used here denoted the significance. Her faith gave her the courage to hide the spies, lie to the Jericho authorities and eventually turned to Him for her salvation. (Romans 10:13 “ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”). We learn that after Rahab and her family were spared, “she lived among the Israelites” (Joshua 6:25). Interestingly, she also shows up in the genealogy of Jesus (Mathew 1:5).
What would the Israelites look for as the sign of their oath to protect Rahab and her family? (Joshua 2:18)
The spies explained that in order to be protected she must tie the scarlet cord in the window. That way her house would be unobtrusively identified to an Israelite search.
We assume the section of the wall that enclosed her house was the only section still standing at the collapse of the city walls. But the red cord tied to the window was to be the proof of her faith. The two spies no doubt excitedly explained all these events to Joshua who, in response, accepted the vow to protect Rahab and her family.
As the Israelites approached Jericho, God explained He would collapse the walls (Joshua 6). Joshua must have wondered how the vow would be honored when the walls were to fall. Did it mean ALL the walls, or enough of the wall structure to enable the troops to rush in and take the city? It implied all the walls.
It must have been astonishing to see, when the dust settled, the section of wall where the red cord was tied to a window still stood upright. What amazing deliverance! What a lesson of trust and faith for not just Rahab and her family, but also Joshua and the Israelites.
Don’t miss the significance of the scarlet cord! What the blood of the first Passover did for the Israelites, the scarlet cord did for Rahab. What Christ’s poured-out blood on the cross did for mankind’s sins, the red wine each Passover similarly symbolizes for believers.
Deuteronomy 11:16 “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.” Why were the people so consistently “enticed” to turn to idol worshiping?
Idol worshipping was such a strong cultural influence. I believe that the “enticement” that Moses was referring to was a weakness to turn to something tangible. I believe the cultures recognized that there was a “god” bigger than them but they didn’t have a true concept of Him and worshipped images from creation rather than the Creator Himself. The Israelites had heard God’s voice but they had seen no form or likeness of God, only an appearance of fire (Deut 4:11, 15, 24). Consequently, they could not make a likeness of this God in any manner. They were more comfortable turning to a tangible image.
How do we demonstrate “idol worshipping” in our lives today? What are the tangible “gods” that we turn to to worship and depend on?
Joshua instructed the people “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshipped….” (The Story, p 101). What is the difference between “a spirit of fear” and “fear of the Lord”?
After walking through their history since their exodus from Egypt, Moses said in Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”
Joshua needed tactical information to help him prepare and formulate a plan. The last time; however, the report that came back from the initial 12 spies sent by Moses caused disastrous problems
Why do you think the two spies that Joshua sent went directly and stayed with the Rahab the prostitute?
Rahab’s house was a good location to enter the city and escape if necessary for it was actually built into the city wall (Joshua 2:15). Because she was a prostitute, they may have thought that strangers staying at her house may have gone unnoticed (but evidently not – Joshua 2:3). God may have also directed them to her knowing her heart was receptive to receiving Him and would be instrumental in their plan of victory.
If you had any doubts about the people of Jericho and God’s sovereignty in allowing the city to be taken by the Israelites, what does Rahab reveal about the people of Jericho’s knowledge and response to the Israelites? (Joshua 2:8-
- The people of Jericho were in fear because they knew the Lord had given the land to the Israelites - They had heard about the Exile and the display of God’s power at the Red Sea and how they had victory over other kings who had fought against them
What did Rahab acknowledge about God? (Vs 11)
She was sure of the Israelite victory because “the Lord you God is God in heaven above and on earth below”. This was not an acknowledgment that God was just another “god” but that He is “the” Lord. The Hebrew word used here denoted the significance. Her faith gave her the courage to hide the spies, lie to the Jericho authorities and eventually turned to Him for her salvation. (Romans 10:13 “ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”). We learn that after Rahab and her family were spared, “she lived among the Israelites” (Joshua 6:25). Interestingly, she also shows up in the genealogy of Jesus (Mathew 1:5).
What would the Israelites look for as the sign of their oath to protect Rahab and her family? (Joshua 2:18)
The spies explained that in order to be protected she must tie the scarlet cord in the window. That way her house would be unobtrusively identified to an Israelite search.
We assume the section of the wall that enclosed her house was the only section still standing at the collapse of the city walls. But the red cord tied to the window was to be the proof of her faith. The two spies no doubt excitedly explained all these events to Joshua who, in response, accepted the vow to protect Rahab and her family.
As the Israelites approached Jericho, God explained He would collapse the walls (Joshua 6). Joshua must have wondered how the vow would be honored when the walls were to fall. Did it mean ALL the walls, or enough of the wall structure to enable the troops to rush in and take the city? It implied all the walls.
It must have been astonishing to see, when the dust settled, the section of wall where the red cord was tied to a window still stood upright. What amazing deliverance! What a lesson of trust and faith for not just Rahab and her family, but also Joshua and the Israelites.
Don’t miss the significance of the scarlet cord! What the blood of the first Passover did for the Israelites, the scarlet cord did for Rahab. What Christ’s poured-out blood on the cross did for mankind’s sins, the red wine each Passover similarly symbolizes for believers.
Deuteronomy 11:16 “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.” Why were the people so consistently “enticed” to turn to idol worshiping?
Idol worshipping was such a strong cultural influence. I believe that the “enticement” that Moses was referring to was a weakness to turn to something tangible. I believe the cultures recognized that there was a “god” bigger than them but they didn’t have a true concept of Him and worshipped images from creation rather than the Creator Himself. The Israelites had heard God’s voice but they had seen no form or likeness of God, only an appearance of fire (Deut 4:11, 15, 24). Consequently, they could not make a likeness of this God in any manner. They were more comfortable turning to a tangible image.
How do we demonstrate “idol worshipping” in our lives today? What are the tangible “gods” that we turn to to worship and depend on?
Joshua instructed the people “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshipped….” (The Story, p 101). What is the difference between “a spirit of fear” and “fear of the Lord”?
After walking through their history since their exodus from Egypt, Moses said in Deuteronomy 10:12 “And now Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”