Wilderness - Numbers & Joshua

Session 1 - IS THIS JEALOUSY; MIRIAM BECOMES LEPROUS

READ - Numbers 12

Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses

1 Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman.

2 And they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it.

3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

4 And suddenly the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." And the three of them came out.

5 And the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

6 And he said, "Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.

7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.

8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

9 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them, and he departed.

10 When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous.

11 And Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned.

12 Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother's womb."

13 And Moses cried to the LORD, "O God, please heal her--please."

14 But the LORD said to Moses, "If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut outside the camp seven days, and after that she may be brought in again."

15 So Miriam was shut outside the camp seven days, and the people did not set out on the march till Miriam was brought in again.

16 After that the people set out from Hazeroth, and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

THINK ABOUT IT

Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses. Why did they do that? They criticized their brother because Moses’ wife was not an Israelite. Moses had grown up in the king’s palace in Egypt, but he had run away and lived in Midian for many years before God called him to lead his people out of Egypt. And in Midian, Moses had married the daughter of a sheepherder who had taken him into his household (see Exodus 2-3).

But there was more. Aaron and Miriam seemed to be jealous that God had chosen Moses to be the main speaker of God’s will and his law to the people.

What a searing pain Moses must have had in his heart when his family members criticized him. That must have been heartbreaking. But Moses did not speak out. He remained humble, despite the accusations. And God dealt with the matter.

There may come a time when we are criticized and treated unfairly. What should we do then? We should look to God, persevere, and know that God will take care of things. God will deal justly with people who do wrong. God will make things right.

Just as Moses prayed for people who had done wrong, just as Jesus prayed for those who crucified him, we too can pray for people who mistreat us.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Even Miriam and Aaron complain about Moses’ leadership. In the ancient world, prophecy was often a “family calling,” just like royalty, priesthood, and other vocations that also ran in the family (e.g., Num. 18:2). But Moses leads Israel apart from his siblings, and he even married a woman from far outside the family circle. Normally, a prophet would marry a near relation to keeping the “family vocation” within the clan. But God defends his exclusive appointment of Moses. What does the Lord identify as unique in his relationship with Moses, which is different from that of any other prophet (Num. 12:6–8)? How does this foreshadow the uniqueness of Christ (Acts 7:37–38)?

All three of the complaints in this series pivot around the leadership of Moses. How has Jesus been revealed as a prophet like Moses (Acts 7:37), yet greater than he (Heb. 3:1–6)?

Moses was called "very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth" Num. 12:3. Meek is translated as humble in some versions of the bible. Can one learn to be more meek, this link shares some suggestions on how that might take place.

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

The children of Israel reached Mount Sinai three months after leaving Egypt. While they camped at the base of the mountain, the Lord delivered to them the Ten Commandments. However, because the people feared the thundering, lightning, and smoking mountain, they wanted Moses to go up into the mountain to commune with God (Ex. 19-20:21).

While Moses was in the mountain, he received from the Lord the two tables of stone containing the Ten Commandments written with the finger of God. The Lord also gave to Moses many other laws and instructions for building the tabernacle and establishing the priesthood (Ex. 20:22-26; 21-31).

After forty days and forty nights, Moses came down from the mountain. When he saw the children of Israel worshipping a golden calf, he threw down the tables of stone in great anger and broke them. When God in his wrath threatened to destroy the Israelites because of their idolatry, Moses pleaded with him to spare the people. Moses reminded God of his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He said that the Egyptians would say the God of Israel had brought the people out of Egypt to slay them in the mountains. Moses then challenged those that were on the Lord's side to come to him. The Levites gathered themselves to Moses, and he sent them throughout the camp with their swords. The Levites slew three thousand men that day who were worshipping the golden calf (Ex. 32).

God told Moses to hew two new tables of stone and come up into the mountain again. For forty days and forty nights, Moses was in the mountain a second time, and once more the Lord wrote the Ten Commandments on the tables of stone (Ex. 34).

After Moses descended the mountain the second time, he spoke the laws to the people. He gave them God's instructions for constructing the tabernacle and making the priestly garments (Ex. 35-39). The tabernacle was completed and raised up on the first day of the first month in the second year after the Israelites left Egypt (Ex. 40:17). On the first day of the second month the Lord told Moses to number the people. All the men twenty years and older, able to go to war, were numbered and the total was 603,550. However, the Levites were not included in this number, for they were given the special charge of caring for the tabernacle (Num. 1).

On the twentieth day of the second month in the second year, the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle. The children of Israel once again resumed their journey toward Canaan, entering the wilderness of Paran (Num. 10:11-12). This wilderness, described as a wild desert region, is a tableland in the central part of the Sinai Peninsula, rising from 3900 feet to 5290 feet above sea level.

Sometime after resuming their journeys, the people grew tired of the manna. They complained to Moses that in Egypt they had fish, fruits, and vegetables to eat. The Lord became angry and told Moses that He would send flesh (meat) to the people, and they would eat, not one day, not two days, not five days, not ten days, nor twenty days, but a whole month until it came out their nostrils and was loathsome to them (Num. 11:1-23).

Accordingly, the Lord sent a wind that brought quails from the sea round about the camp that reached a day's journey in each direction. The quails flew about two cubits above the ground (approximately three feet), and the people gathered them for two days and a night. While they ate and the flesh was between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord's anger was kindled against the people and they became very ill (Num. 11:24-35).

Later Miriam and Aaron rebelled against Moses' leadership, accusing him of assuming too much authority. They spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married. Whether this woman was Zipporah whom Moses had married while tending Jethro's flocks after he fled from Egypt (Ex. 2:21), or whether this was a second wife is unknown.

The complaint of Miriam and Aaron against Moses' wife was probably just an excuse, for the real motive of their rebellion seemed to be jealousy–they were jealous of Moses' authority.

Miriam and Aaron along with Moses held special positions in Israel according to the word of God by the prophet Micah: "For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt…and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam" (Mic. 6:4). Miriam was a prophetess (Ex. 15:20), while Aaron was a mouth to Moses (Ex. 4:14-16) and the high priest (Ex. 28-29). Nevertheless, Miriam and Aaron in this matter wished to exalt themselves to the position given to Moses by God.

The Lord showed his displeasure by punishing Miriam with the dreaded disease of leprosy. Since there was no cure for this disease, the law required that a leper be isolated from the rest of the people to prevent the spread of the affliction. For Miriam, this was a humbling experience. When Aaron humbled himself and acknowledged their sin, Moses asked the Lord to heal Miriam.

1. Jesus told the Pharisees in the New Testament, whosoever shall _________ himself shall be _________________; and he that shall _________________ himself shall be _______________. (Matt. 23:12)

2. In this story, who was exalted by the Lord? Why? (Num. 12:3, 7-8) 3. Who was humbled by the Lord? Why? (Num. 12:1-2, 11)

Session 2 - IS THIS FEAR; THE TWELVE SPIES

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READ: Numbers 13 & 14

Numbers 13 - Spies Sent into Canaan

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them."

3 So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

4 And these were their names: From the tribe of Reuben, Shammua the son of Zaccur;

5 from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori;

6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh;

7 from the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph;

8 from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun;

9 from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Raphu;

10 from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi;

11 from the tribe of Joseph (that is, from the tribe of Manasseh), Gaddi the son of Susi;

12 from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Gemalli;

13 from the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Michael;

14 from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi;

15 from the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi.

16 These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Joshua.

17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, "Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country,

18 and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many,

19 and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds,

20 and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land." Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.

21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath.

22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)

23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs.

24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.

Report of the Spies

25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.

26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, "We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.

28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.

29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan."

30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, "Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it."

31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are."

32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, "The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.

33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them."

The People Rebel - Numbers 14

1 Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.

2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?"

4 And they said to one another, "Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt."

5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.

6 And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes

7 and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land.

8 If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.

9 Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them."

10 Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

11 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?

12 I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they."

Moses Intercedes for the People

13 But Moses said to the LORD, "Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for you brought up this people in your might from among them,

14 and they will tell the inhabitants of this land. They have heard that you, O LORD, are in the midst of this people. For you, O LORD, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands over them and you go before them, in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.

15 Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say,

16 'It is because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land that he swore to give to them that he has killed them in the wilderness.'

17 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying,

18 'The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.'

19 Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now."

God Promises Judgment

20 Then the LORD said, "I have pardoned, according to your word.

21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD,

22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice,

23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it.

24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.

25 Now, since the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwell in the valleys, turn tomorrow and set out for the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea."

26 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

27 "How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.

28 Say to them, 'As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you:

29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me,

30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected.

32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness.

33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.

34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.'

35 I, the LORD, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die."

36 And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land--

37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land--died by plague before the LORD.

38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

Israel Defeated in Battle

39 When Moses told these words to all the people of Israel, the people mourned greatly.

40 And they rose early in the morning and went up to the heights of the hill country, saying, "Here we are. We will go up to the place that the LORD has promised, for we have sinned."

41 But Moses said, "Why now are you transgressing the command of the LORD, when that will not succeed?

42 Do not go up, for the Lord is not among you, lest you be struck down before your enemies.

43 For there the Amalekites and the Canaanites are facing you, and you shall fall by the sword. Because you have turned back from following the LORD, the LORD will not be with you."

44 But they presumed to go up to the heights of the hill country, although neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed out of the camp.

45 Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down and defeated them and pursued them, even to Hormah.

THINK ABOUT IT

We have reached a low point in the book of Numbers. The failure to trust God’s promise about the land of Canaan was an epic act of unbelief. And the consequences were terrible. For forty years Israel would have to wander in the wilderness even though they had reached the doorstep of Canaan. Even worse, an entire generation would die in the desert. They would fall short of the inheritance God had promised. Only Joshua and Caleb, the two explorers who trusted God, would survive and eventually live in the promised land.

The book of Hebrews takes up this story as a warning for us still today. We are warned not to turn away from God by having a sinful, unbelieving heart. The generation that died in the desert saw God’s deliverance from Egypt but lost faith in God. We are called to hold firmly to Christ to the end.

How can we do this? We should remember that God still has a promise of rest for us today. This promise is about eternal, salvation rest in Christ—as well as life together with God in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1-7). We also should encourage one another daily to resist sin. We can help each other see sin’s deceptions and then walk with each other to remain firm. Finally, we can listen to the Spirit, who says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Learn from Israel’s failures and ask God to help you persevere in faith.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

A Bad Report (13:1–14:10)

The spies’ mission is not a feasibility study. The Lord makes his promise clear (13:2): this survey is to bring back encouragement (“be of good courage”; 13:20) concerning the land. What evidence of the land’s goodness do the scouts find?

The plea of Moses, Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua is inspired by their confidence that “the Lord is with us” (14:9). What are some of the tangible lessons—both in past deeds and in camp arrangements—that the people now deny?

A Sad Result (14:11–45)

It would have been good if the people had heeded Moses’ appeals to repent before the Lord appeared. The people do repent after God appears in his glory, and God does forgive them (v. 20). But their calling changes. They are now called to serve as another generation of waiting instead of becoming the generation to receive the land (vv. 21–24). What should we learn about the nature of repentance and forgiveness from this example?

The people justified their rebellion based on love for their children (v. 3). In reality, their rebellion brings prolonged suffering upon their children (v. 33). In what other ways does their punishment fit the crime (compare vv. 2 and 28–29; vv. 3 and 43–45; vv. 10 and 37–38)?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT
(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

As the children of Israel continued their journey in the wilderness of Paran, they came to a place called Kadesh Barnea. This was an oasis watered by four springs on the border of the land of Canaan. The region is also called the wilderness of Zin. Since Kadesh is said to be in the wilderness of Paran (Num. 13:26) and the wilderness of Zin (Num. 13:21), perhaps the larger area of Paran included the smaller region of Zin.

The Lord commanded Moses to send twelve men, one from each tribe, into Canaan to spy out the land. Moses did as the Lord commanded, and the twelve spies spent forty days exploring the land of Canaan.

The spies returned with fruit from the land–pomegranates, figs, and a cluster of grapes so large it had to be carried between two men on a pole. They reported the land was rich, but the cities were fortified, the people strong, and giants were dwelling in the land. Ten of the spies claimed the people of the land were too strong for the Israelites to overcome. However, two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, insisted that they should immediately invade and possess the land.

The children of Israel believed the evil report of the ten spies, murmured against Moses and Aaron, and even began planning to return to Egypt. Joshua and Caleb told the people not to rebel against the Lord, but to trust him, for the Lord was with them.

Again, the Lord was angry and said He would destroy the people, and again Moses pleaded with the Lord to spare them. The Lord pardoned the people as Moses requested but nevertheless punished them for their lack of faith. All the congregation was condemned to wander in the wilderness for forty years–one year for each day spent spying out the promised land. All those twenty years and older, except for Joshua and Caleb, would die in the wilderness during the forty years, thus they would not enter the land of Canaan. Only their children would be allowed to enter the land as the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The people acknowledged they had sinned and said they would go into the land the Lord had promised. Moses told them they would not prosper, for they had transgressed the command of the Lord and the Lord was not with them. They decided to go anyway, and the inhabitants of the land attacked them and drove them back (Num. 14:39-45).

Session 3 - NOW THIS LOOKS LIKE REBELLION; KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM

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Read: Numbers 16:1-40

Korah's Rebellion

1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.

2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.

3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face,

5 and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him.

6 Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company;

7 put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!"

8 And Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi:

9 is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them,

10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also?

11 Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?"

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, "We will not come up.

13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us?

14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up."

15 And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them."

16 And Moses said to Korah, "Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.

17 And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer."

18 So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.

19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

21 "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

22 And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?"

23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

24 "Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."

25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins."

27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.

28 And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord.

29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me.

30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD."

31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart.

32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.

33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"

35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.

36 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

37 "Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy.

38 As for the censers of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the LORD, and they became holy. Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel."

39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar,

40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his company--as the LORD said to him through Moses.

THINK ABOUT IT

In Numbers 16 we look at the story of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, who rebelled against God’s appointed leaders. The consequence of their sin was that the earth swallowed up these men and their families. There is more to the story.

But there were some in the family of Korah who did not follow his rebellion. Korah’s line did not die out. (see NUMBERS 26:8-11) So not all of his family died with him. Some must have remained faithful to the Lord. And God was gracious to them. In fact, some of Korah’s line went on to write a number of psalms (see Psalms 42-49; 84-85; and more).

Some of us may have grown up in a family in which our parents did not follow the Lord. Perhaps we did not have many good examples or wise teachers to follow as we grew up. This passage in the Bible reminds us that the unbelief of one generation does not need to be followed by the next one. Today God calls every generation anew to put their hope in him and to follow Christ. In his grace, God doesn’t hold the sins of one generation against the next. We have opportunities for a fresh start.

What legacy are you hoping to leave for your children and grandchildren? If there’s been no history of faith before you, you can begin a new legacy today by trusting in Christ. author — Tom Groelsema

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Korah is a Levite who seeks to be Israel’s high priest instead of Aaron. Dathan, Abiram, and On are leaders among the Reubenites who back Korah’s attempted coup. Korah also gains support from 250 other Levites who want to be priests too. They accuse Moses and Aaron of “exalting yourselves” (v. 3), but who is the actual subject of their attack (vv. 5, 7, 11)? What does this tell us about their hearts?

Moses proposes a test whereby God would reveal his choice of who would be the high priest. One of the privileges of the priest was to take coals from the sacrifice altar to burn incense and offer prayers on behalf of the people. The next morning, Korah and his 250 would attempt that priestly duty alongside Aaron to see which man God receives as the people’s priest. Why is it particularly egregious that Levites are the ones seeking priestly status (v. 9)?

The Reubenite rebels (with Dathan) show disdain for Moses as “prince” (v. 13) by refusing his summons (vv. 12–15), while the Levite rebels (with Korah) show disdain for Aaron’s priesthood by coming with their own incense censers (vv. 16–19). Who else stands with Korah and his pseudo-priests for morning prayers that day (v. 19a)? What will it mean for the people if they approach God behind the wrong priests?

God tells Moses and Aaron he will destroy the congregation (vv. 20–21). But, like true intercessors, Moses and Aaron plead for mercy and urge the people to separate from the rebels. All of the people do so except (sadly) the families of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. What features of the disaster that follows make it clear that the judgment is from the Lord?

How do the actions of Aaron the next day demonstrate the benefits a grumbling people receive when their priest loves them and uses his own acceptance before God to intercede for them (vv. 41–50)? How does this foreshadow the work of Jesus?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

Sometime after the spies had given their evil report, Korah, a Levite, and Dathan, Abiram, and On from the tribe of Reuben, gathered together with 250 of the princes of Israel. These men rebelled against Moses and Aaron, charging them with exalting themselves above the assembly of the Lord (children of Israel).

Moses asked Korah and the Levites if it were not enough that God had separated them for the service of the tabernacle, did they seek the priesthood also? Dathan and Abi ram accused Moses of making himself a prince over them and failing to bring them into the promised land.

Moses proposed a test of leadership with the rebels. He told Korah and his company to meet him and Aaron at the door of the tent of meeting (tabernacle) the next day, each with a censer and incense as an offering before the Lord–250 princes with censers beside Korah and Aaron, each with his censer.

The next day Korah and his company came to the tent of meeting with all the congregation, but Dathan and Abiram refused to come, standing at the door of their own tents. The glory of the Lord appeared to all the children of Israel. The Lord directed Moses to warn the congregation to remove themselves from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

Moses then told the people that they would know the Lord had sent him to be their leader. If the rebels died a common death, then the Lord had not sent him (Moses), but if the Lord caused some new thing if the ground opened up and swallowed the rebellious men, then the people would know that these men had rejected the Lord.

Immediately the ground opened and swallowed up Korah, Dathan, and Abiram alive, their households, and all their goods. Then fire came forth from the Lord and devoured the 250 princes who had offered their incense. Nevertheless, the sons of Korah did not die (Num. 26:9-11).

The Lord directed Moses to tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron, to gather all the censers that belonged to the 250 princes who had sinned. Since the princes had presented their censers and incense before the Lord, the censers were holy. Therefore, the censers should be hammered into plates as a covering for the altar. This would be a memorial for the children of Israel and a reminder that no one except the descendants of Aaron should offer incense to the Lord.

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Session 4 - IS THIS ANGER OR FRUSTRATION; MOSES SMITES THE ROCK

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READ: Numbers 20

The Death of Miriam

1 And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.

The Waters of Meribah

2 Now there was no water for the congregation. And they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

3 And the people quarreled with Moses and said, "Would that we had perished when our brothers perished before the LORD!

4 Why have you brought the assembly of the LORD into this wilderness, that we should die here, both we and our cattle?

5 And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this evil place? It is no place for grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."

6 Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the LORD appeared to them,

7 and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

8 "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."

9 And Moses took the staff from before the LORD, as he commanded him.

Moses Strikes the Rock

10 Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?"

11 And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

12 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."

13 These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the LORD, and through them he showed himself holy.

Edom Refuses Passage

14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: "Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that we have met:

15 how our fathers went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time. And the Egyptians dealt harshly with us and our fathers.

16 And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.

17 Please let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from a well. We will go along the King's Highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory."

18 But Edom said to him, "You shall not pass through, lest I come out with the sword against you."

19 And the people of Israel said to him, "We will go up by the highway, and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then I will pay for it. Let me only pass through on foot, nothing more."

20 But he said, "You shall not pass through." And Edom came out against them with a large army and with a strong force.

21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his territory, so Israel turned away from him.

The Death of Aaron

22 And they journeyed from Kadesh, and the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

23 And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom,

24 "Let Aaron be gathered to his people, for he shall not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah.

25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and bring them up to Mount Hor.

26 And strip Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there."

27 Moses did as the LORD commanded. And they went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and put them on Eleazar his son. And Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron had perished, all the house of Israel wept for Aaron thirty days.

THINK ABOUT IT

One of the greatest threats in the wilderness is running out of water. In the Desert of Zin, there was no water for Israel to drink, and it seemed as if God was leaving them to die in the desert. But God came to the rescue.

This was not the first time God provided water in the desert. Earlier in Israel’s journey God had commanded Moses to strike a rock. Moses obeyed, and water gushed out (Exodus 17:1-7). But now God told Moses only to speak to the rock. But Moses, angry with the people’s complaints, hit the rock, and the Lord later said, “Because you did not honor me as holy, you will not bring Israel into the land.”

Obeying what God says can be difficult. It can be challenging to believe that God’s commands are for our good. But disobeying God leads to trouble. Our lives can’t flourish when we rebel against what God says.

God was gracious to give his people water in spite of Moses’ disobedience. And God is gracious to us in spite of our sins. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:4 that Jesus was the spiritual rock that accompanied Israel and from which they drank in the wilderness. He took the blows for us so that we might have the living water that our souls need.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

The Eclipse of Miriam, Moses, and Aaron (20:1–29)

Miriam’s death is reported at the beginning of chapter 20 (v. 1), and Aaron’s death is reported at its end (vv. 22–29). Furthermore, Moses will not be permitted to enter the land (v. 12). A transition between generations is taking place. But the people’s complaining at the end of their wanderings is just like it was at the beginning (compare Ex. 15:22–17:7; Num. 11:4–9). What is it about Moses’ response to this instance of the people’s complaining that will keep him from leading them into the land? (Compare Ps. 106:32–33.)

For their failure, Moses and Aaron are told they will die in the wilderness (v. 12). It might seem unfair for this singular failure to bar them from leading the people into the land, but what does this tell us about the standard of perfection that must be met by a mediator who would successfully lead God’s people into his rest?

Edom refuses Israel passage through its territory, resulting in a roundabout march (see map on page 296 of the ESV Study Bible.) Why does Moses introduce Israel to Edom as “your brother Israel” (v. 14)? Why does he expect Edom to take interest in Israel’s story and allow them passage? (See Gen. 36:1–8.)

God takes Aaron from the people, but he does not take away the high priesthood. Note that Israel’s first succession of high priests takes place not in the tabernacle but on a high mountain (20:22–29). What do you suppose this represents about the high priesthood? (For the high priest’s vestments, see Exodus 28 and 39 and the depiction on page 208 of the ESV Study Bible.)

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

For forty years, Moses led the children of Israel through the wilderness in the Sinai Peninsula. As the people wandered, they camped in various places although many of the specific locations are unknown today. During these forty years, Moses had to deal with the multitude during hunger, thirst, strife, battles, murmurings, complaints, disobedience, and revolt (Ex. 15-Num. 19).

Finally, while the people were camped at Kadesh Barnea and the time to enter Canaan was near, the people demanded water. God instructed Moses and Aaron to speak to a rock, but instead, Moses struck the rock. Although water flowed from the rock, Moses and Aaron were forbidden to enter the land of Canaan because of their disobedience and disbelief (Num. 20:1-13; Ps. 106:32-33).

After this incident at Kadesh, Moses sent messengers to the king of Edom, asking permission to pass through his land on the King's Highway. The Edomites, who were the descendants of Esau, controlled this road and the mountainous country known as Seir which stretched south-southeast from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah. Moses told the Edomite king the Israelites would travel on the highway and not pass through the fields or vineyards, nor drink the water from their wells. However, the king refused passage, stating he would come against the Israelites with the sword if they passed through his land (Num. 20:14-21).

The Israelites then continued their journey to Mount Hor. Because of his rebellion at Kadesh, Aaron was not allowed to enter the promised land. Therefore, at Mount Hor, his priestly garments were put on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died on the top of the mountain. The congregation mourned for Aaron for thirty days (Num. 20:22-29).

They angered him also at the waters of strife,

so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:

Because they provoked his spirit,

so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

Ps. 106:32-33

Session 5 - Does someone Similar to Moses show up in the New Testament

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READ: Luke 24:44-49 & Deuteronomy 18:15-22

Numbers 20

8 "Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle."

Luke 24

44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,

47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.

49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Deuteronomy 18

A New Prophet like Moses

15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen--

16 just as you desired of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.'

17 And the LORD said to me, 'They are right in what they have spoken.

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.'

21 And if you say in your heart, 'How may we know the word that the LORD has not spoken?'--

22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

THINK ABOUT IT

After rising from the dead, Jesus met several times with his followers. On the road to Emmaus, while he walked along with two of them, they didn’t know who he was while he taught all about himself from the Scriptures. Only later, when he broke bread with them, were their eyes opened to see him as the Messiah, God’s Anointed One, the Savior (Luke 24:13-35).

Then later that same day, in Jerusalem, Jesus met with a large group of his disciples. And after he opened their eyes to see that he had risen in the flesh, Jesus explained that all of the Scriptures—“the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms”—were fulfilled in him.

For us to see and understand Jesus in the Scriptures, we too need our eyes opened. Although the psalmist couldn’t see Jesus or know what we know about Jesus today, the psalmist certainly understood the need for eyes to be opened to understand God’s Word.

Without our eyes opened, God’s Word can seem like a legalistic code to measure how others—and we—fail to live righteously. With our eyes opened, we see in God’s Word the living God who graciously reveals himself to us. We learn how to live the way God intends for us. We ultimately find the “wonderful things” of God’s grace and mercy—above all, in God’s gift of Jesus—and we live in gratitude for all he has done for us. author — Kurt Selles

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

In what ways was Moses similar to Jesus?

The life of Moses in many ways parallels the life of Jesus. The role Moses plays in delivering the Israelites from the Egyptians and leading them to the Promised Land God had prepared for them foreshadows Jesus bringing salvation to humanity. In fact, Moses told the Israelites, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen" (Deuteronomy 18:15). This promised Prophet is Messiah—Jesus fulfills that promise. Here are some of the similarities in their stories.

Moses and Jesus were both born during times when God's people were oppressed. Moses was born when the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt and Jesus was born when Israel was under Roman rule. They both were hidden as babies because the leaders of the time wanted them dead. Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew males to be murdered to control the growth of the population. When he was three months old, Moses' mother put him in a basket along the Nile river where he was found and adopted by a daughter of Pharaoh (Exodus 2). King Herod feared the prophecies of Jesus' birth and ordered all boys under two be killed in Bethlehem. Jesus' parents fled to Egypt until Herod died (Matthew 2). Moses was adopted from a slave family into a royal family. Jesus is the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32); He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). Yet He took on human flesh and became the adopted son of Joseph (Philippians 2:5–11).

Before beginning their ministry, both Moses and Jesus had a supernatural moment in which God prepared them to go forth. Moses met God at the burning bush and, after some convincing, was filled with God's Word and the power to perform miracles (Exodus 3—4). God said to him, "Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt" (Exodus 3:10). Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and, "behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'" (Matthew 3:16–17). Moses spent forty years in the land of Midian maturing in his faith, forty days and nights on Mount Sinai receiving the Law and fasting, forty days and forty nights fasting and interceding for the Israelites at other times (Deuteronomy 9), and forty years in the wilderness waiting for the Israelites to be able to enter the Promised Land. Jesus spent forty days and nights fasting in the desert resisting the temptation of the Devil (Matthew 4:1–11). Moses worked as a shepherd of livestock in Midian (Exodus 3:1) and Jesus came to be a shepherd of men (John 10:1–18).

During their ministries both Moses and Jesus were leaders. Moses went down to Egypt to lead the people out of the bondage of slavery and into the Promised Land. He acted as a mediator in establishing the old covenant between God and the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:15–18). He was a prophet who spoke God's Word to the people and performed miracles. Moses interceded on their behalf and prayed for them (Exodus 32; Numbers 11:2; 12:13; 21:7). He taught them the Law and acted as a judge. The covenant God gave Moses included the sacrificial rituals and the symbolic role of blood. Moses oversaw the construction of the tabernacle as a place for God to dwell among His people and be worshipped. Moses served his people and was known as meek (Numbers 12:3).

Jesus came down to earth to save humanity from sin and bring people to everlasting salvation and a relationship with God. He established the new covenant, sacrificing His life on the cross so that we might receive forgiveness for our sins (Jeremiah 31:33; Luke 22:20). Jesus fulfilled the words of the prophets and performed miracles. He is our advocate before God that we might be forgiven (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Ephesians 1:7–10). Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17) and will be the Judge on the final judgment day (Matthew 25:31–46). Jesus was the final sacrifice and His blood overcame death (Hebrews 10:1–18). Jesus gives us direct access to God (Hebrews 4:14–16; 10:19–23; Matthew 27:50–51). Jesus promised the indwelling Holy Spirit to all who put their faith in Him (John 16:7–15; Ephesians 1:13–14). He was authoritative in His teaching and powerful in His miracles. He rebuked the self-righteous leaders of the people (Matthew 23). Jesus welcomed little children and the outcast. He came as a servant who would "give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28) and was known as meek (Matthew 11:29).

Moses parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35–41) and even walked on it (Mark 6:45–52). Moses offered water to Jethro's daughters (Exodus 2) and Jesus offered water to the Samaritan woman (John 4). Moses fed the Israelites through the miracle of manna and quail (Exodus 16:35) and Jesus fed the 5,000 and the 4,000 by dividing loaves of bread and fish (Mark 6:30–44; 8:1–10). God gave Moses the Law on Mount Sinai; Jesus promised to fulfill that Law (Matthew 5:17). In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5—7) Jesus gave a new law, expanding on the true essence of the Mosaic Law and addressing the importance of one's heart being right with God. John 1:17 says, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Jesus later told His disciples, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another" (John 13:34–35).

Both Moses and Jesus were close to God. Moses talked face to face with God and had to cover his face after because it was illuminated (Exodus 33:7–11; 34:29). Jesus is the Son of God and part of the Trinity. While on earth He experienced the transfiguration and His face shone brightly (Luke 9:28–36). Moses also appeared at the transfiguration. Moses initiated the Passover tradition so that the Israelites might remember how God delivered them from the Egyptians (Exodus 12). At a Passover meal Jesus instituted communion so that His followers would remember how His sacrifice saved them from their sins (Matthew 17:26–29).

Both Moses and Jesus came to save their people and were rejected by some of those very people. The Israelites grumbled against Moses in the wilderness on multiple occasions (Exodus 15:22–25; 16:2–12; 17:2–7). While Moses was on Mount Sinai the Israelites returned to their idol worship (Exodus 32). Jesus was rejected by the majority of the religious leaders as well as some in His hometown (Luke 4:16–30). When Jesus spoke about being the bread of life, many who had been following Him left (John 6:22–71). Judas, one of the twelve disciples, betrayed Him (Mark 14:10–11). Peter, who had witnessed the transfiguration and often professed his allegiance to Jesus (John 6:68–69; Matthew 16:13–20; Luke 22:31–34), denied knowing Him (John 18:15–18, 25–27). All the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested before the crucifixion (Mark 14:50).

The countless comparisons demonstrating the connection between Moses and Jesus is no coincidence. Moses was a savior of the Israelites intended to foreshadow the only true Savior—Jesus Christ. Moses led the Israelites out of slavery and to the Promised Land. Moses himself was not permitted to enter the Promised Land due to sin, though God showed him the land and buried Moses Himself (Deuteronomy 34). Jesus, on the other hand, frees us from the bondage of sin and makes a way for us to heaven. He will one day return to take us to dwell with Him forever (John 14:1–3; Acts 1:6–11; Philippians 3:20). After describing many faithful men and women, the writer of Hebrews says, "And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect" (Hebrews 11:39–40). God's ultimate promise of salvation is made complete in Jesus Christ, and it will be fully realized when He returns (2 Peter 3:8–9; Revelation 19—22).

While there are numerous similarities between Moses and Jesus, there is one major difference: Moses was only human. Due to his faith in God, he did many amazing things, but ultimately, he was still a sinner in need of forgiveness. Jesus, on the other hand, is both human and God. He lived a perfect life and defeated sin. It is through faith in Him that we can be forgiven and receive salvation. Let us not make the mistake of putting Moses on a pedestal, but rather look to the one he was pointing us to all along—Jesus Christ.

Cross Reference:

1 Corinthians 10

1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,

2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 and all ate the same spiritual food,

4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

Moses, an Old Testament Levite, gives us a glimpse of Jesus.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says to his disciples, “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled;” and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to [his disciples] in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (24:44, 27).

Because all the stories of the Old Testament point to, foreshadow, and find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, this also means that these stories will have figures, events, traditions, symbols, etc. that will foreshadow Jesus Christ in more or less obvious ways. If we specifically focus on how the Old Testament character, Moses, points to, foreshadows, and prefigures Jesus in many ways. Here are a number of parallels.

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus says to his disciples, “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled;” and “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to [his disciples] in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (24:44, 27).
Because all the stories of the Old Testament point to, foreshadow, and find their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, this also means that these stories will have figures, events, traditions, symbols, etc. that will foreshadow Jesus Christ in more or less obvious ways. If we specifically focus on how the great Old Testament character, Moses, points to, foreshadows, and prefigures Jesus in many ways. Here are a number of parallels:
During the time of Moses, Pharaoh ordered a mass killing of every Hebrew baby under the age of 2 years old. During the time of Jesus, King Herod ordered a mass killing of every Hebrew baby under the age of 2 years old.
Moses came up out of Egypt to redeem his people. Jesus, though born in Bethlehem, at a young age fled with his family to Egypt and stayed there during his youth to avoid Herod’s persecution. And Jesus, too, like Moses, came up out of Egypt to redeem the world.
Moses was born without shelter, laid into a straw-thatched basket, floated down a river, and was picked up by Egyptian royalty. Jesus too was born without shelter, laid into a straw-filled stable, and was visited by Herodian royalty.
Moses grew up in the palace of Pharaoh, the highest place of esteem in his culture. Jesus grew up in the synagogues of Jerusalem, the highest place of esteem in his culture.
Moses was a Hebrew Levite. Jesus too was a Hebrew Levite.
Moses brought the Israelites out of slavery to Egypt. Jesus brought the Israelites and the world out of slavery to sin and death.
Moses received the 10 commandments from God on Mount Sinai. Jesus reinterpreted the 10 commandments from God in his Sermon on the Mount.
Moses carried the law and pointed to the gospel. Jesus fulfilled the law and IS the gospel.
The Israelites experienced 400 dark years of bondage to Egypt until Moses was born and came to rescue them. The nation of Israel experienced 400 dark years of silence from God until Jesus was born and came to save them.
Moses went through the wilderness and was doubtful to God before he began his ministry to redeem the Israelites. Jesus went through the wilderness and was tempted by Satan before he began his ministry to redeem the world.
Moses was royalty in Egypt but left his position of power to serve and save enslaved people. Jesus was royalty in Heaven but left his position of power to serve and save an enslaved world.
Moses was inconceivably both royalty and slave at the same time, being a prince but also a Hebrew. Jesus is inconceivably both God and man at the same time, being the transcendent Son of God but also a descendent Son of Man.
God spoke to Moses through a bush that was on fire, but it was not consumed. Similarly, God speaks to us through Jesus’ body on a tree that took the fire of God’s wrath, but he was not consumed.
Moses parted the Red Sea. Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee.
Moses chose 12 spies and sent them into the Promise Land. Jesus chose 12 disciples and sent them to proclaim the truer and better Promise Land, one not of earthly geography under God but one of spiritual restoration with God.
Moses pleaded that God would feed the thousands of Israelites so they wouldn’t die in the desert; God answered his prayer and miraculously provided more manna and quail from the heavens than they could possibly eat. In fact, there were loads upon loads of leftovers. Jesus pleaded that God would feed the thousands of followers so they wouldn’t starve in the countryside; God answered his prayer and Jesus miraculously provided more bread and fish than they could possibly eat. In fact, there were baskets upon baskets of leftovers.
God’s covenant was first given to Moses. God’s covenant is finalized in Jesus.
Moses is the author of the law. Jesus is the author of our faith.
Moses was the first mediator. Jesus is the final mediator.
Moses carried around the Ark of the Covenant and the makeshift tabernacle, which contained the presence of God. Jesus IS the presence of God, not limited to four walls or holy places.
Moses held up a pole with a snake on it, and everyone who looked upon it would be saved from their deadly snakebites. Similarly, Jesus was held up on the cross, and everyone who looks upon it will be saved from sin, the Serpent’s sting of death.
Moses first initiated the Passover Lamb to absorb the wrath of God. Jesus is the final and ultimate Passover Lamb who fully absorbed the wrath of God for sin once and for all. The Passover Lamb of Moses was simply a shadow of the coming Passover Lamb of Christ.
Moses turned water into blood. Jesus turned water into wine.
Moses appropriated the law. Jesus accomplished the law.
Moses did not marry a full Jew, but actually, a non-Jew who became grafted into the heritage of Israel. Jesus will marry the church, which is not fully Jews but actually non-Jews as well, who became grafted into the saving heritage of Israel.
Moses led his people to the Promised Land, but not into it. Jesus leads his people to the better Promised Land—reconciliation with God—and will one day usher us into the eternal, ultimate Promised Land—heaven.
While the Israelites were dying of thirst in the desert, Moses struck a rock, and from the blow, it spewed water to quench their thirst. Similarly, while we are dying of spiritual thirst in the desert of spiritual alienation from God, God struck a better Rock for our sins, Jesus, and from the blow, it spews Living Water to quench our thirst of spiritual alienation from God.

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Session 6 - IS THIS WHAT YOU GET FOR COMPLAINING; NOT SNAKES!

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READ: Numbers 21:4-9

The Bronze Serpent

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way.

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food."

6 Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

7 And the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

8 And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live."

9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

John 3

9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

11 Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13 No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved the World

16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

THINK ABOUT IT

John 3:16 is one of Scripture's most famous passages, and it follows from Jesus' explanation about Moses lifting up "the snake in the wilderness." Jesus made a connection to that story to describe the effects of our poisonous, deadly sins.

Freed from slavery in Egypt but then having to live in the desert, God's people complained that the Lord didn't provide for them. So God sent poisonous snakes to punish their complaints, but he also provided a way to be spared. When bitten, the people could look at the image of a bronze snake set up by Moses and live.

That event in Israel's history pointed to Jesus' death on the cross for our sake. He died to save us from all the sin emerging from the snake pit in our souls.

Daily we confess our snakelike deadly sins, and we turn to Christ for forgiveness. God has so loved us since before creation (Ephesians 1:3-10) that he sent his Son to save us from all our venomous sins.

Someone has said God loves in 3D: in breadth, the whole world; in length, from eternity past to eternity to come; and from the depths of hell to the heights of heaven. As Jesus puts it, "Everyone who believes may have [present tense] eternal life." New life with God begins now—today! We're not the victims of our poisonous sins— "for God so loved . . ."!

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

The attack of the king of Arad is Israel’s first confrontation with the Canaanites as they re-approach the border (v. 1). Why is the result of this confrontation at the place called Hormah (v. 3) different from the previous time Israel confronted Canaanites at the place called Hormah (see Num. 14:39–45)?

A repeated theme through the story of the exodus generation has been their complaining about the manna God has given them. As we approach the end of this generation’s history, Numbers 21:4–9 records one final complaint about “this worthless food” (v. 5), and it has a surprising end: this time, the people actually repent (v. 7)! God grants healing for those who repent, with a tangible reminder of his eagerness to forgive: a bronze serpent (vv. 4–9). Read John 3:14–17 and discuss how the bronze serpent foreshadows Christ.

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

After the death of Aaron, the people of Israel continued their journey toward Canaan. Since the king of Edom refused their passage through his territory on the King's Highway, the people had to travel through the area known as the Arabah. The Arabah is the name for the entire valley region from Mount Hermon in the north to the Red Sea in the south and includes the Sea of Galilee, the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea. The area south of the Dead Sea is a hot, barren desert, with steep, narrow ravines.

Since the Israelites could not travel on the highway, their journey was much more difficult, and they became very discouraged. Again, the people complained, not only against Moses but against God as well. The Lord sent poisonous snakes against them and many people died. The people then told Moses they had sinned and asked him to pray to the Lord to remove the snakes. What did God tell Moses to do?

EDOM. After the children of Israel left Mount Hor, they had to compass (go around) the land of Edom, traveling a difficult, little-used road through mountains and narrow valleys. (Num. 21:4).

The Lord commanded the Israelites to pass through the border of their brethren, the children of Esau, who dwelt in Seir. Edom would be _____________ of the Israelites. (Deut. 2:4)

Note. The Edomites were the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. b. The Israelites were not to meddle with Edom, for the Lord would not give the Israelites their land because He had given Mount Seir to ___________. (Deut. 2:5)

The Israelites compassed Mount Seir many days (Deut. 2:1) and went over the river (brook) _______________ which was the southern border of the land of Moab. (Deut. 2:13)

MOAB. Next, the children of Israel passed around Moab on its eastern border. a. The Lord told Moses not to distress the Moabites, nor contend with them in ____________________. (Deut. 2:9)

Note. Ar refers to a city in Moab east of the Dead Sea on the south bank of the Arnon River (Num. 21:15, 28; Isa. 15:1), probably the same place as the City of Moab (Num. 22:36). The term Ar, however, may refer to a district in Moab. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew.

SIHON, KING OF THE AMORITES. Next, the Israelites went to Mount Pisgah (identified with Mount Nebo) which overlooked the land of Canaan. Sihon, king of the Amorites, then fought against Israel who smote him and possessed his land from __________________ unto __________________. (Num. 21:23-24)

Note. Sihon’s territory was north of Moab between the Arnon and Jabbok which are two rivers east of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River.

OG, KING OF BASHAN. After conquering Sihon, the children of Israel had more battles with the Amorites who dwelt east of the Jordan River and with Og, king of Bashan, another Amorite king. After defeating Og, the Israelites pitched their camp in the plains of Moab on this (east) side of ____________________ across from ___________________. (Num. 22:1)

Session 7 - IS THIS WHAT THE LORD’S ANGER LOOKS LIKE; BALAAM AND BALAK

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READ: Numbers 22; 23; 24

Balak Summons Balaam

1 Then the people of Israel set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

2 And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

3 And Moab was in great dread of the people, because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This horde will now lick up all that is around us, as the ox licks up the grass of the field." So Balak the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,

5 sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, saying, "Behold, a people has come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the earth, and they are dwelling opposite me.

6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I shall be able to defeat them and drive them from the land, for I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed."

7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.

8 And he said to them, "Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as the LORD speaks to me." So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

9 And God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"

10 And Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, saying,

11 'Behold, a people has come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the earth. Now come, curse them for me. Perhaps I shall be able to fight against them and drive them out.'"

12 God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them. You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed."

13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, "Go to your own land, for the LORD has refused to let me go with you."

14 So the princes of Moab rose and went to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."

15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and more honorable than these.

16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, "Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: 'Let nothing hinder you from coming to me,

17 for I will surely do you great honor, and whatever you say to me I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'"

18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, "Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD my God to do less or more.

19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more the LORD will say to me."

20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you."

21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Balaam's Donkey and the Angel

22 But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

23 And the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey, to turn her into the road.

24 Then the angel of the LORD stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

25 And when the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam's foot against the wall. So he struck her again.

26 Then the angel of the LORD went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

27 When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

28 Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?"

29 And Balaam said to the donkey, "Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand, for then I would kill you."

30 And the donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?" And he said, "No."

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

32 And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before me.

33 The donkey saw me and turned aside before me these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live."

34 Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back."

35 And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border.

37 And Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?"

38 Balaam said to Balak, "Behold, I have come to you! Have I now any power of my own to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that must I speak."

39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep, and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.

41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.

Balaam's First Oracle

1 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams."

2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.

3 And Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the LORD will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you." And he went to a bare height,

4 and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, "I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.

5 And the LORD put a word in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus you shall speak."

6 And he returned to him, and behold, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his burnt offering.

7 And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "From Aram Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: 'Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!'

8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom the LORD has not denounced?

9 For from the top of the crags I see him, from the hills I behold him; behold, a people dwelling alone, and not counting itself among the nations!

10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!"

11 And Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have done nothing but bless them."

12 And he answered and said, "Must I not take care to speak what the LORD puts in my mouth?"

Balaam's Second Oracle

13 And Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You shall see only a fraction of them and shall not see them all. Then curse them for me from there."

14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar

15 Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here beside your burnt offering, while I meet the LORD over there."

16 And the LORD met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, "Return to Balak, and thus shall you speak."

17 And he came to him, and behold, he was standing beside his burnt offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, "What has the LORD spoken?"

18 And Balaam took up his discourse and said, "Rise, Balak, and hear; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:

19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

20 Behold, I received a command to bless: he has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

21 He has not beheld misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.

22 God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.

23 For there is no enchantment against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it shall be said of Jacob and Israel, 'What has God wrought!'

24 Behold, a people! As a lioness it rises up and as a lion it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain."

25 And Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all."

26 But Balaam answered Balak, "Did I not tell you, 'All that the LORD says, that I must do'?"

27 And Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there."

28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert.

29 And Balaam said to Balak, "Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams."

30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Balaam's Third Oracle

1 When Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens, but set his face toward the wilderness.

2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Spirit of God came upon him,

3 and he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:

5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!

6 Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the LORD has planted, like cedar trees beside the waters.

7 Water shall flow from his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters; his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted.

8 God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he shall eat up the nations, his adversaries, and shall break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.

9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you."

10 And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.

11 Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, 'I will certainly honor you,' but the LORD has held you back from honor."

12 And Balaam said to Balak, "Did I not tell your messengers whom you sent to me,

13 'If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own will. What the LORD speaks, that will I speak'?

14 And now, behold, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days."

Balaam's Final Oracle

15 And he took up his discourse and said, "The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling down with his eyes uncovered:

17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

18 Edom shall be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, shall be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly.

19 And one from Jacob shall exercise dominion and destroy the survivors of cities!"

20 Then he looked on Amalek and took up his discourse and said, "Amalek was the first among the nations, but its end is utter destruction."

21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, "Enduring is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in the rock.

22 Nevertheless, Kain shall be burned when Asshur takes you away captive."

23 And he took up his discourse and said, "Alas, who shall live when God does this?

24 But ships shall come from Kittim and shall afflict Asshur and Eber; and he too shall come to utter destruction."

25 Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.

THINK ABOUT IT

It’s not unusual to hear Christians say “I am blessed” when someone asks how they are doing.

Israel was indeed blessed. When God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendants, he said, “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you” (Genesis 12:2). God promised Israel the blessing of his presence. He promised them the blessing of prosperity. Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. God also promised the blessing of a land for his descendants to live in.

Because Israel had these promises in their past and future, God would not allow Balaam to curse his people. King Balak of Moab thought that the only way he could weaken Israel and keep them from taking his land was to get Balaam to put a curse on Israel. But that would not and could not work.

We too are blessed people. Because of Jesus, the blessings given to Abraham and Israel are ours. God also promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). That promise was fulfilled in Abraham’s descendant, Jesus. In Christ, God is for us; and if God is for us, no one can stand against us. No one can separate us from God’s love or keep us from receiving the eternal inheritance he has promised (Romans 8:31-39). In Christ, each of us can truly say, “I am blessed.”

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Moab Summons Balaam (22:1–41)

The attempts of other kings to stop Israel have failed. The king of Moab, in consultation with Midianite elders in his lands, determines that Israel must be weakened before Moab can attempt an attack. In order to defeat Israel in battle, Moab must first compromise Israel’s true source of strength (22:1–6). What does Balak’s strategy teach us about the true source of Israel’s success?

In verses 7–21, Moab’s delegation presses Balaam to come with them, but God will not allow it. Tempted by promises of wealth, Balaam seeks to persuade God to let him go (compare 2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 11). What indications of Balaam’s greed and his efforts to prevail upon God do you note in the passage?

God finally accedes to Balaam’s pleas to go but still holds him responsible for his sinful greed (Num. 22:20, 22). Compare this event to the occasion in which Israel lusted for meat and God relented to the request but did not excuse the people’s sin (11:18–20, 33). How do these lessons teach us about the ways of God at times in which we stubbornly pursue our sins and he seems to allow us what we want?

The story of Balaam and his donkey is one of the most humorous in the Bible. However, its irony is here not to entertain but to reveal profound lessons about the seer who cannot see (v. 33), the God who can speak by whomever he pleases (v. 28), and the honor-seeking man who is exposed as a fool (v. 29). What key lesson does Balaam learn through his donkey before he arrives in Moab (compare vv. 20, 35, and 38)?

Curses Turned to Blessings (23:1–24:13)

By strictly constraining Balaam to speak only as instructed, God turned the curses of Balaam into blessings for his people (compare Josh. 24:9–10; Neh. 13:2). Balaam attempts to curse three times, with each instance resulting in blessing instead. Which elements of Balaam’s three oracles are particularly comforting to you?

Balaam yearns for the wealth Balak offers but is unable to do what is required to receive it. Who did both Balak and Balaam blame for the failure of their collaborative effort (24:10–13)?

Blessings Turned to Curses (24:14–25)

Balaam finally announces a curse—against Israel’s enemies! Moab’s plan to curse Israel backfires. How does this turn of events demonstrate God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2–3?

Balaam’s final oracle anticipates the fall of Israel’s enemies (such as Moab, Edom, and Amalek), the future rise of the Assyrian Empire (Asshur; v. 22), and the eventual fall of the Assyrians before invaders from Kittim (Greece; v. 24). But the highlight of this final oracle is the vision in verse 17: who or what is promised in this verse?

JUST FOR YOU

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

After the incident with the fiery serpents, the children of Israel continued their journey once more. They traveled north on the east side of the Dead Sea and eventually camped in the plain overlooking the Jordan River opposite the city of Jericho.

First, the Israelites fought with Sihon, king of the Amorites, and defeated him, possessing his land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. Next Og, the king of Bashan, fought against the Israelites, and they defeated him and possessed his land. The Israelites then controlled all the land east of the Jordan River from the Arnon River north to Mount Hermon (Num. 21:21-35; Deut. 2:26-3:8).

After the children of Israel defeated the two Amorite kings and their armies and were camped in the land they had conquered, Balak the king of Moab was alarmed, for the Israelite camp was on the borders of his territory. Therefore, Balak hired Balaam, a soothsayer (magician) from Pethor, a city on the Euphrates River, to come and curse the Israelites with his magical arts.

Although God at first forbade Balaam to go to Balak, eventually Balaam did go. Nevertheless, God prevented Balaam from cursing Israel. Instead, Balaam three times blessed Israel, for he spoke only as God directed him.

A. BALAK'S MESSAGE TO BALAAM

1. When the children of Israel pitched their camp on the east side of the Jordan River opposite Jericho, Moab was ____________________. (Num. 22:1-3)

2. Balak sent messengers to Balaam and asked him to come and ___________ the people who had come out of Egypt, for they covered the face of the earth. (Num. 22:4-6)

3. Balaam told the men to return to their own land, for the Lord ______________ to give him permission to go. (Num. 22:13)

4. Balak sent more messengers to Balaam, but Balaam said he could not go against the word of the Lord even if Balak gave him his house full of

______________________________. (Num. 22:18)

5. That night the Lord told Balaam to ____________ and __________ if the men called him, but to do only what the Lord should tell him. (Num. 22:20)

B. BALAAM'S JOURNEY. The next morning Balaam saddled his donkey and went with the messengers from Balak. The Lord's anger was aroused because Balaam went without being called, and the angel of the Lord stood in the way with a sword in his hand. Three times the angel stood in the way, three times the donkey balked when she saw the angel, and three times Baalam struck the donkey.

1. Each time the donkey turned aside, Balaam ____________________ the donkey. (Num. 22:23, 25, 27)

2. The Lord opened the _______________ of the donkey who asked what she had done to Balaam that caused Balaam to strike her three times. (Num. 22:28)

3. Balaam told the donkey she had mocked him, and if he had a sword, he

would have killed her (Num. 22:29). Then the Lord opened the ___________ of Balaam, and he saw the angel with his sword drawn. (Num. 22:31)

4. The angel told Balaam He would have killed Balaam if the donkey had not turned aside (Num. 22:32-33). Balaam said he had ____________________ and would go back; however, the angel told him to continue with the men, but to speak only the word that the angel should speak to him. (Num. 22:34-35)

Note. God had spoken to man previously at different times and in different ways–to Adam and Eve in the garden, to Noah, to Moses from the burning bush, and on Mount Sinai. In this incident, God used a donkey to communicate his message.

C. THE THREE BLESSINGS. In Old Testament times it was the custom for people to go to the tops of hills and mountains, called high places, to worship their idols and false gods. Balak, therefore, took Balaam first to Bamoth-Baal, or the high places of Baal (Num. 22:41). Baal was the chief male god of the Canaanites and was believed to be the god who brought rain (good harvests) and fertility (animal reproduction).

Next Balak took Balaam to the top of Pisgah, a mountain ridge that slopes steeply into the Jordan valley below (Num. 23:14). The third time, Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, a mountain probably north of the Dead Sea opposite the city of Jericho (Num. 23:28). All three of these mountain tops overlooking the Israelite camp and the land of Canaan.

In preparation for each of his speeches, Balaam told Balak to build seven altars and sacrifice one ram and one bullock on each altar. These sacrifices were probably an attempt by Balaam to influence God to allow him to do as Balak requested. However, God's purpose could not be changed, and Balaam spoke as God directed him. Each blessing Balaam spoke was greater than the previous blessing.

Match the blessings in the right-hand column to the mountain in the left-hand column where Balaam spoke the blessings.

D. THE FOURTH SPEECH. After Balaam pronounced these three blessings, Balak was furious and dismissed Balaam without rewarding him. Before leaving, Balaam delivered another speech that partly revealed the future of Israel and the kingdom of Christ.

1. There shall come a _______________ out of Jacob, and a _______________ shall rise out of Israel. (Num. 24:17)

2. Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have _________________________. (Num. 24:19)

Note. The Star, the Scepter, and the dominion (power, authority) all describe Christ and his kingdom.

E. THE CONCLUSION. Although Balaam was not an Israelite, he knew enough about God to obey him. He thought he could influence God by offering many sacrifices, but he could speak only as God directed him, for the Spirit of God was upon him (Num. 22:38; 23:5, 12, 16, 26; 24:2, 13). However, since he was greedy and wanted the reward Balak offered him, he advised Balak how to tempt the children of Israel to sin so that God would curse the people.

1. Balak sent young Moabite and Midianite women into the Israelites' camp who enticed the young men of Israel to eat things sacrificed to _______________ and to commit ____________________. (Rev. 2:14)

2. As a result God sent a plague throughout the camp and _________________ died. (Num. 25:9)

3. Later the children of Israel warred against the Midianites, and Balaam they also ______________________________. (Num. 31:8)

There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel…Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion. Num. 24:17, 19

Although Balaam was right to speak only what God told him to speak, Balaam gets very bad press repeatedly in the Bible...

God was angry with Balaam because he went to Balak (Numbers 22:22). But God's anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the LORD took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Moses said Balaam gave evil counsel that brought a plague on Israel (Numbers 31:14-16). 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle. 15“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16“They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.

Balaam had wanted to curse the children of Israel, to be paid the hire (Deuteronomy 23:3-6). 3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation. 4 For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. 5 However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you. 6Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.

Balaam was killed by the Israelites in the days of Joshua (Joshua 13:22). 22 In addition to those slain in battle, the Israelites had put to the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination

The Lord recalled Balaam's sin in Joshua's farewell speech (Joshua 24:8-10) 8“ ‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.

Recalled again through the prophet Micah (Micah 6:5) O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the LORD."

Re-visited in Nehemiah's time (Nehemiah 13:1-3). On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them--yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

Peter recalls how Balaam "loved the wages of unrighteousness" (2 Peter 2:15-16). Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

Similarly, Jude recalls how "for pay... the error of Balaam" was committed (Jude 1:11) Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.

Jesus recalls how Balaam "Kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality" (Revelation 2:14) 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.

About Soothsaying!

In reading the bible, it is obvious that God wants us to have nothing to do with soothsayers or diviners. Here are some bible references to soothsaying:

1. Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying.

2. Micah 5:12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:

3. Leviticus 20:6 “I will also turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those who consult the spirits of the dead. I will cut them off from the community.

4. Leviticus 19:31 “Do not defile yourselves by turning to mediums or to those who consult the spirits of the dead. I am the LORD your God.

5. Leviticus 20:27 “‘A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'”

6. Deuteronomy 18:10-14 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. The nations you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery or divination. But as for you, the LORD your God has not permitted you to do so.

Trust in God alone

7. Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

8. Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

9. Psalm 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.

Hate evil

10. Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

11. Psalm 97:10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

12. Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!

13. Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Reminders

14. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

15. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

16. James 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

17. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Hell

18. Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

19. Revelation 22:15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

Bible examples

20. Acts 16:16-18 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

21. Joshua 13:22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.

22. Daniel 4:6-7 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

23. 2 Kings 17:17 They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens and sold themselves to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, arousing his anger.

24. 2 Kings 21:6 Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the LORD’s sight, arousing his anger.

25. Isaiah 2:6 For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners.

Session 8 - HOW DID GOD PROTECT THE SPIES; RAHAB HIDES THE SPIES

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READ: Joshua 2

Rahab Hides the Spies

1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there.

2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, "Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."

3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from.

5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."

6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.

7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out.

8 Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof

9 and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.

10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.

11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.

12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign

13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."

14 And the men said to her, "Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."

15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall.

16 And she said to them, "Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way."

17 The men said to her, "We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear.

18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household.

19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.

20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear."

21 And she said, "According to your words, so be it." Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing.

23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them.

24 And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us."

THINK ABOUT IT

Everybody lies, even prostitutes. To the king’s messengers, Rahab said, in effect, “I don’t know where those guys came from, and I don’t know where they went.”

Then Rahab went to the spies’ hiding place and confessed what she did know: “It’s over for Canaan. Our gods are incapable of dealing with the LORD your God, who rules over heaven and earth. I know we are as defeated as the kings your God defeated in the desert on the other side of the Jordan.”

Rahab’s words underscore her actions. Not only does she confess that Canaan’s future lies in God’s hands, but also, by making this confession, she’s become a traitor to her own people’s vision of the good life.

Being a traitor is the right thing to do if it means turning from your sinful way of life and acknowledging the true God’s power to save and to bless. By her confession and actions, Rahab showed she knew that.

It’s all about what and who you trust. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, to bring them to new birth by the power of the Spirit. Worship today gives us an opportunity to confess our sinful past and to entrust our future to the God who made the heavens and the earth.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

A Visit with a Prostitute (2:1–14)

One way the writer of Joshua draws attention to features in his story is through surprise. Surprises make up this chapter, although they may be obscured if you’re familiar with the account. With an eye to these surprises, read verses 1–14 and list unexpected things that happen. Which surprise is most significant?

It seems suspect for Israel’s spies to enter the home of a prostitute. Does the context suggest any wrongdoing? Why might it have been strategic to enter a prostitute’s house?

Rahab’s confession is probably the last thing these men expected. She is a female, Gentile prostitute in a Canaanite city. Read Rahab’s confession in 2:9–13 and list everything you learn she believes about God. What does it tell us about Rahab’s knowledge of Yahweh that she would appeal to these men for help?

A Sneaky Escape (2:15–24)

What surprises do you see in this second half of the story?With the city gate closed behind them, the spies were no doubt relieved by Rahab’s getaway plan. By her actions Rahab demonstrated her creativity and intelligence, but the most important thing about Rahab was her faith in Israel’s God. How would you respond to someone who said, “I find it hard to believe that this Gentile prostitute really believes what she says. Where’s the proof?”

The spies’ meeting Rahab was not accidental. What purpose does Rahab serve in God’s plan of salvation? What do we learn from her about God’s concern for the nations?

Prostitutes don’t normally receive praise for their actions, yet Rahab did. What do her mentions in Matthew 1:5 and Hebrews 11:31 tell us about who God is and the kind of people he saves?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

While the Israelites were camped in the plains of Moab, the first barrier to the promised land facing them was the Jordan River. Their next obstacle after crossing the river was the strategically located city of Jericho which lay in the river valley. The city was about eight to ten miles northwest of the Dead Sea and just west of the main ford on the lower river. A spring watered the area and today still waters the modern oasis. West of the city the hills of Judea rise abruptly, and just one mile away is a 1500-foot-high ridge. These hills to the west of the city are cut by valleys and gorges which lead to the interior of the land. Jericho, therefore, guarded the entrance to the land of Canaan and was a fortified city.

In preparation for the Israelite invasion of Canaan, Joshua sent two spies into the city of Jericho. The two men came to the house of a woman whose name was Ra hab. When the king of the city heard that there were Israelite spies in Jericho, he sent messengers to Rahab demanding she turns them over to him, but she hid the spies on the roof of her house.

Rahab told the spies the city feared the children of Israel, for they had heard how the Lord had dried up the waters of the Red Sea, and how the Israelites had destroyed Sihon and Og and their armies. She asked the men to save her and her family when they attacked the city, and the men agreed.

After dark Rahab let the spies down over the wall, for her house was on the city wall. She told the men to go to the mountain and hide for three days, for the king had sent men to the fords of the Jordan to search for them. This mountain Rahab mentioned

was probably the 1500-foot-high ridge just west of the city and in the opposite direction from where the searchers had gone.

1. Joshua sent two spies to Jericho who came to the house of _______________. (Josh. 2:1)

2. When the king of Jericho heard there were spies in the city, he sent messengers to Rahab telling her to bring forth the men in her house, for they had come

to ______________________________. (Josh. 2:2-3)

3. Rahab took the spies and _______________ them. (Josh. 2:4)

4. Rahab told the king's messengers that the men had come to her, but she did not know who they were; they had gone out of the city when it was dark about

the time the ______________________________. (Josh. 2:4-5)

5. She told the king's messengers to ____________________ them quickly, and they might overtake them. (Josh. 2:5)

6. Rahab hid the spies on the roof in the _______________________________. (Josh. 2:6)

7. The king's men pursued the spies to the Jordan to the ___________________. (Josh. 2:7)

8. Rahab told the spies she knew the Lord had given the Israelites the land, and the people of Jericho were terrified, for they had heard: (Josh. 2:10)

a. how the Lord dried up the water of the ____________________ b. how the Israelites destroyed the two _______________, Sihon and Og 9. She said the Lord your God is God in ____________________ above and on ____________________ beneath. (Josh. 2:11)

10. She asked the spies to spare her family when the army attacked the city; then

she let them down by a _______________ through the window, for her house was on the city wall. (Josh. 2:15)

11. She told the men to get to the ____________________ and hide for three days. (Josh. 2:16)

12. In order to save herself and her family, the men told her: (Josh. 2:18) a. to bind a ____________________ in the window b. gather her family into her ____________________

13. The men went to the mountain, returned to Joshua after three days, and told

him that truly the Lord had ____________________ all the land into their hands. (Josh. 2:24)

14. How was Rahab saved according to the Hebrew writer? (Heb. 11:31)

15. If Rahab was saved by faith as the Hebrew writer says, but yet she had to follow certain instructions in order to be saved, what does faith include?

Session 9 - HOW TO CROSS A RIVER; JORDAN RIVER ROCKS

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READ: Joshua 3; 4

Israel Crosses the Jordan

1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp

3 and commanded the people, "As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it.

4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before."

5 Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

6 And Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, 'When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'"

9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God."

10 And Joshua said, "Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan.

12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.

13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap."

14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest),

16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho.

17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan

1 When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,

2 "Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,

3 and command them, saying, 'Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.'"

4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.

5 And Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,

6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, 'What do those stones mean to you?'

7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."

8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.

9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.

10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.

11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people.

12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them.

13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.

14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

15 And the LORD said to Joshua,

16 "Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."

18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.

20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.

21 And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?'

22 then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.'

23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,

24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

THINK ABOUT IT

The stones at the bottom of the Jordan River probably hadn’t seen a dry day till the people of Israel crossed that barrier on dry land. But when taken from the exposed riverbed, twelve of those stones became a monument to God’s mighty works. Standing in a pile beside the river, the stones were to remind all who passed by that the Lord had dried up the Jordan so that his people Israel could cross over into the promised land.

As time went on, Israel had trouble remembering all that God had done for them. Perhaps they were too busy enjoying the milk and honey of the promised land. But the stones at Gilgal were a reminder. Memory was their ministry: to remind everyone of God’s power and of his faithfulness to his promises.

You and I may also have trouble remembering who God is and what he has done for us. Perhaps we’re so busy enjoying the gifts God has given that we overlook his sacrifice of love and care for us through Jesus Christ.

But struggles will come—they always do in this world—and the stones of memory will be there to remind us of the source of all goodness and joy. To this very day, God’s Word reminds us of all God has done, especially through Jesus Christ. It’s a great collection of memory stones pointing us to the Savior as our chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Witnessing God’s Wonders (3:1–17)

On a human level, passing over the Jordan is impossible. Both the waters and what is on the other side present a grave threat to Israel’s life. List the features of this story that add a sense of impossibility.

The ark of the covenant was not a magic charm that allowed Israel to do miraculous things. The ark represented God’s presence among his people. It was a symbol of his great holiness, as well as his grace and nearness. What is the ark’s function in this episode (see 3:10–13)?

At one level, God’s purpose in performing this miracle is to move his people into the land. But twice in this passage, we have an indication of God’s more significant purpose. What is this purpose?

What wonder has God performed for the Christian, and how does this advance the same purpose for his people today?

Declaring God’s Mighty Hand (4:1–24)

Chapter 4 begins when “all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan,” yet the Lord still holds back the water for a time. In fact, all of chapter 4 takes place at the riverbank. There the Lord gives instructions for a memorial. At the end of the chapter, two purposes are expressed for this memorial, one each for two different groups. Who are these two groups, and what is the Lord’s purpose for each?

What does the provision of this memorial tell us about God? What does the need for this memorial reveal about human nature?

In 4:14 we hear an echo from a verse in chapter 3. What verse is it? What does the repetition of this statement tell us about how God chooses to bring salvation?

Joshua 3:10 reveals God’s purpose in leading his people using the ark of the covenant. What does chapter 4 reveal about God’s purpose for the nations through this event?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

Since the city of Jericho lay at the eastern entrance into the land of Canaan, it was necessary for the children of Israel to capture this fortified city first before they could conquer the land. But before they could attack Jericho, they had to cross the Jordan River. For three days they camped on the banks of the river, planning and preparing for their river crossing.

Normally the Jordan River is not a wide stream or very deep. But at this particular time–spring harvest time–the river had overflowed its banks. Therefore, without God's miraculous help, the crossing would have been impossible.

Joshua instructed the priests to carry the ark of the covenant to the brink of the river. When the soles of their feet entered the water, the waters would cease flowing some distance above, and the waters below flowing into the Dead Sea would be cut off. The people would then follow, passing over on dry ground, and keeping a space of 2000 cubits (more than one-half mile) between them and the ark. In their wilderness wanderings, the ark was always carried in the center of their camp, but now it was to be at the head of their army as a guide.

Twelve men were selected, one from each tribe, to carry a stone from the place where the priests stood with the ark to the other side (west side) of the river. Joshua also took twelve stones from the place where the priests stood and set them up on the east bank of the river. These two heaps of stones were to be a memorial to the children of Israel that they had crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.

When all the people had crossed over the river, then the priests carrying the ark crossed to the other side. As soon as their feet touched the dry land–the banks of the river–then the waters of the river ran once more, overflowing the banks as before.

1. The children of Israel moved their camp to the banks of the Jordan River, and after three days, Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves, for the next day

the Lord would do ____________________ among them. (Josh. 3:5)

2. Joshua told the priests to take the _________________________ and go before the people. (Josh. 3:6)

3. The people were told to follow, leaving a space of ____________________. (Josh. 3:3-4)

4. When the soles of the feet of the priests that carried the ark rested in the water,

the waters of the river that came from above would _____________________. (Josh. 3:13)

5. The Jordan ______________________ all its banks all the time of harvest. (Josh. 3:15)

6. The priests that carried the ark stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the

Jordan, and all Israel passed over on ___________________________. (Josh. 3:17)

7. The Lord told Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe, to carry

____________________ from the place the priests stood to the other side of the river where they were lodging that night. (Josh. 4:1-3)

8. These stones would be a _____________________ for the children of Israel forever. (Josh. 4:6-7)

9. Joshua then set up ____________________ in the place where the priests had stood. (Josh. 4:9)

10. The priests that carried the ark stood in the midst of Jordan until everything was ____________________ that the Lord commanded. (Josh. 4:10)

11. On that day the Lord ____________________ Joshua in the sight of Israel, and they feared him as they had feared Moses. (Josh. 4:14)

12. Joshua then commanded the priests to come out of the river, and when the soles of their feet touched the dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned

to their place and ___________________ the banks as before. (Josh. 4:17-18)

Israel Crosses the Jordan River, 9 - 3

13. The people crossed the Jordan River on the ____________________________ and camped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. (Josh. 4:19)

14. Joshua set up in Gilgal the ____________________ carried by the twelve men. (Josh. 4:20)

15. The stones were to be a memorial for the people to tell their children that Israel came over the Jordan on ____________________. (Josh 4:21-22) 16. The Lord dried up the waters of the Jordan as He did to the ________________

that all peoples of the earth might know the hand of the Lord is ____________. (Josh. 4:23-24)

Session 10 - COULD IT BE THE NOISE, SHOUT, OR CLAY JARS; THE BATTLE OF JERICHO

Printable Download

READ: Joshua 5:10-15; 6

First Passover in Canaan

10 While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.

11 And the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.

12 And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

The Commander of the Lord's Army

13 When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?"

14 And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?"

15 And the commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

The Fall of Jericho

1 Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.

2 And the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.

3 You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.

4 Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

5 And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him."

6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD."

7 And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the LORD."

8 And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD following them.

9 The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.

10 But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."

11 So he caused the ark of the LORD to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

12 Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

13 And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.

14 And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

15 On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.

16 And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the LORD has given you the city.

17 And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.

18 But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it.

19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD."

20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city.

21 Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

22 But to the two men who had spied out the land, Joshua said, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring out from there the woman and all who belong to her, as you swore to her."

23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.

24 And they burned the city with fire, and everything in it. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.

25 But Rahab the prostitute and her father's household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive. And she has lived in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26 Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, "Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. "At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates."

27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.

THINK ABOUT IT

Israel’s entry into the promised land was up against a wall. They had no advanced weaponry or military strategy. But they did have something that was far better and more powerful. Israel had God.

But how can God’s people access and apply the power of God?

It can happen in various ways, but it happens only by faithful dependence on God. With God’s help, Israel fought more than a few battles. God’s power can also come through the words of a prophet or in response to an offering.

Now, acts of faith in God may not always look very powerful or impressive. Some Israelites may well have muttered: “What’s the point of all this walking around these walls?”

For that matter, does prayer look powerful and impressive?

Or how about submitting to death on a cross?

Israel had to learn what we all repeatedly have to relearn: that the biggest obstacles to receiving the promised land, God’s kingdom, are not enemy walls or armies. The biggest obstacles are the forces of Satan, sin, and its consequences. And the only power that can defeat them is the power of God. Through faith in Jesus, God works his power to fulfill his promises.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Living and Leading on God’s Terms (5:10–15)

Now that the nation has passed over the Jordan, we might expect an immediate move on Jericho. Instead, several things must happen first. The first order of business is circumcision, a covenantal imperative that had been neglected by this generation. Based on Joshua 5:9, how would you express the purpose of circumcision for Israel (see also Gen. 17:10–14 and Deut. 30:5–6)?

Joshua Receives the Battle Plan (6:1–5)

Throughout the book of Joshua, we hear a cadence of commands—and promises to make them possible. In 6:1–5, what does God promise? What does he command?

As this book unfolds, the ark of the covenant is consistently in the middle of the action. How would you explain the role of the ark in Israel’s life? What implication does this have for the moral legitimacy of Israel’s invasion and destruction of these Canaanite cities?

Joshua Carries Out the Battle Plan (6:6–27)

This chapter builds suspense, especially when Joshua tells the people to shout (vv. 16–20). Just before they shout, Israel receives a set of commands. What is the significance of the timing of these commands?

Joshua’s victory at Jericho is total. List every indication in the story of Joshua’s complete victory. Then, read Genesis 15:12–21 and state one reason for the totality and timing of this battle.

The nation has crossed the Jordan and taken Jericho with perfect success. How should the people of Israel and the reader of the story respond to this success?

Joshua 6:21 presents some readers with difficulty. The destruction of men, women, children, the elderly, and animals should sober us as we read. Thankfully, we may trust God’s Word at every point without grasping fully why God says or does what he does. Assuredly God is good (Ps. 119:68) and just (Gen. 18:25), and his Word proves true (Prov. 30:5; Ps. 12:6). What is your best explanation for why God is just in issuing these orders? Several passages may be helpful in working this out, including Genesis 1:1; 15:15–16; Deuteronomy 9:5; 20:10–18; and Leviticus 18:24–25; 20:1–5.

In Hebrews 11:30–31, two feats of faith are mentioned. What separates and unites these feats?

First Corinthians 1:18–31 describes salvation through Christ similarly to how we might describe salvation at Jericho. Read that passage and answer these questions: How does God save? Whom does God save? Why does God save in this way?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

As the children of Israel camped at Gilgal while preparing for their battle at Jericho, the Lord commanded Joshua to circumcise all the males. Those born during the wilderness wanderings had not been circumcised as God had required in his covenant with Abraham (Josh. 5:2-9).

On the fourteenth day of the month, the people kept the Passover, then the next day they ate parched grain which was the produce of the land, and unleavened bread. The day after eating the produce of the land, the manna ceased–the bread that God had provided for Israel during their forty years of wilderness wanderings. (Josh. 5:10-12).

As Joshua scouted the city while preparing for the battle at Jericho, a Man with a drawn sword appeared to him. Joshua asked the Man if He was a friend or foe. The Man told him He was captain (prince, commander) of the host of the Lord. The Man (perhaps the Son of God, for Joshua, fell to the ground and worshipped him, and He is called the Lord in Josh. 6:2) assured Joshua that Jericho was given to him (Josh. 5:13-15). He then gave instructions to Joshua for capturing the city (Josh. 6:1-5).

God's plan for the capture of Jericho–the order of procession and instructions:

• All the armed Israelite men of war shall lead the procession;

• Seven priests blowing seven trumpets of ram's horns shall follow;

• The priests bearing the ark shall come next;

• The multitude of people shall march in the rear in silence;

• The procession shall compass the city once for six days;

• The seventh day the procession shall compass the city seven times;

• The seventh time when the priests blow the trumpets, the people shall shout;

• The walls of the city will then fall down flat, and the army shall enter the city;

• All that were in the city shall be destroyed except for Rahab and her family;

• All the gold and silver and the brass and iron vessels in the city shall be given to the treasury of the Lord, the people shall not keep any spoil for themselves.

A. THE MAN WITH THE DRAWN SWORD

1. When Joshua asked the Man with the sword if He was for the Israelites or their enemies, what did the Man say? (Josh. 5:13-14)

2. What did Joshua do and say? (Josh. 5:14)

3. What did the Man tell Joshua to do? (Josh. 5:15)

4. The Lord instructed Joshua how to capture Jericho. Place a 1, 2, 3, or 4 before the following statements to show the order of the procession as it marched around Jericho. (Josh. 6:8-9)

_____rear group of people

_____armed men

_____ark of the covenant

_____seven priests with seven trumpets of ram's horns

B. THE BATTLE. The city of Jericho was a strongly fortified city, and the instructions for its capture must have seemed strange to Joshua. Nevertheless, he submitted himself to the command of the Lord.

1. After the people compassed the city for the seventh time on the seventh day, what did the priests do and what did Joshua tell the people? (Josh. 6:16)

2. What happened to the walls of Jericho? (Josh. 6:20)

3. Who in the city was allowed to live? (Josh. 6:17)

4. What were the Israelites to bring to the treasury of the Lord? (Josh. 6:19)

The Battle of Jericho, 10 - 3

5. What did the Israelites destroy in the city? (Josh. 6:21)

6. Whom did Joshua command to rescue Rahab? (Josh. 6:22) 7. What did the Israelites then do to the city? (Josh. 6:24)

8. Where did Rahab dwell after the city was destroyed? (Josh. 6:25) 9. How did the walls of Jericho fall? (Heb. 11:30)

10. If the walls fell by faith, but the children of Israel had to follow certain instructions in order for the walls to fall, what does faith include?

Session 11 - MAYBE YOU WILL LISTEN NEXT TIME; DEFEAT AT AI

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READ: Joshua 7; 8:1-29

Israel Defeated at Ai

1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."

4 So about 3,000 men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai,

5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.

7 And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!

8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!

9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"

The Sin of Achan

10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?

11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

13 Get up! Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, "There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you."

14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man.

15 And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.'"

16 So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.

17 And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.

18 And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

20 And Achan answered Joshua, "Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did:

21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

23 And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD.

24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

25 And Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.

26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

The Fall of Ai

1 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.

2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it."

3 So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night.

4 And he commanded them, "Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready.

5 And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them.

6 And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, 'They are fleeing from us, just as before.' So we will flee before them.

7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will give it into your hand.

8 And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you."

9 So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people.

10 Joshua arose early in the morning and mustered the people and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.

11 And all the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near before the city and encamped on the north side of Ai, with a ravine between them and Ai.

12 He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city.

13 So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.

14 And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.

15 And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness.

16 So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city.

17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.

18 Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand." And Joshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.

19 And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire.

20 So when the men of Ai looked back, behold, the smoke of the city went up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that, for the people who fled to the wilderness turned back against the pursuers.

21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city, and that the smoke of the city went up, then they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.

22 And the others came out from the city against them, so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side. And Israel struck them down, until there was left none that survived or escaped.

23 But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him near to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open wilderness where they pursued them, and all of them to the very last had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai and struck it down with the edge of the sword.

25 And all who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000, all the people of Ai.

26 But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.

27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the LORD that he commanded Joshua.

28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day.

29 And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.

THINK ABOUT IT

When Israel returned to Ai, the people of Ai were confident that they could rout Israel, as they had done before.

What was different this time? This time Israel began its battle with the Lord’s permission, and they followed his instructions. When God’s people comply with heaven, God’s will is done on the earth (see Matthew 6:10). And because Jericho was the firstfruits that went into the Lord’s treasury, Israel would receive the riches of Ai.

Unable to resist the divinely planned ruse, Ai’s soldiers hurried out to swat the pesky flies of Israel. But the Lord’s strategy—hiding and catching the enemy by surprise—brought Ai to its knees.

In time, God will build his own city, Jerusalem, and into it will flow the treasures and peoples of the nations (Revelation 21:24).

Following the Lord in this world can be dangerous and messy, for body and soul. But not following him leads to far greater danger.

The destruction of Jericho and Ai is a sign, to this day, of the nations’ fear of God. The death and resurrection of Christ are also a sign, to this day, not of fear but of God’s victory over sin, over misplaced confidence, and over those who gather together against the Lord and his anointed (Psalm 2:1-6).

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

A Pile of Stones (7:1–26)

The chapter begins with a sober indication of sin’s presence in Israel. Because of one man’s sin, the “anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel” (7:1). Put this statement about God’s anger in your own words. How can God be angry with all the people of Israel for the sin of one Israelite?

We are given the backstory of why Israel failed at Ai, but Joshua didn’t have the whole story yet. What do you make of Joshua’s response in 7:7–9? Was Joshua’s confusion and despair justified?

This chapter has a very clear structure, moving from the setting, conflict, and climax, to resolution. As the story grows in tension, what is its climax?

God’s response to Achan may seem harsh, given Achan’s specific sin. But this was much more than a small theft. Go back through the chapter and list the various descriptions of Achan’s sin.

We may be able to hide our sins from others, but sin is never hidden from God. Identify indications from this chapter of the Lord’s perfect and complete knowledge.

Even if coveting isn’t a regular part of our vocabulary, Achan’s desires are nonetheless a regular part of our lives. Recall again Hebrews 13:5–6: what is the deeper problem behind our covetousness? What sins of covetousness come to mind when reading this chapter?

Achan clearly confessed his sin, but the broader context of Achan’s confession, including its timing and what he didn’t say, is not encouraging. What features of this account highlight the problem in Achan’s heart?

Joshua 7:1 and 7:26 bookend the chapter with a contrast. What happened that changed the Lord’s posture toward his people?

Another Pile of Stones (8:1–35)

In this story, two piles of stones are better than one! What is the significance of pairing the story in chapter 7 with the story in chapter 8?

Israel conquered Ai but took the king alive and proceeded to hang him before burying him under the heap of stones. We will see such action again in the next few chapters. Do you think it was appropriate? Why or why not?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

The city of Jericho, the first city in the land of Canaan captured by the Israelites, was to be completely devoted to God. The people were not allowed to keep for themselves any of the spoils (plunder, loot, valuables) found in the city. The unusual method used for the capture was designed by God to test the faith, obedience, and patience of the people. Their success in following God's instructions would encourage them in the difficulties they faced as they continued their invasion of Canaan because they would know God fought for them at Jericho.

The next objective for the Israelites was Ai in central Canaan. The site of this ancient city is uncertain but it was east of Bethel (Gen. 12:8; Josh. 7:2), and archaeological digs in the area are attempting to determine its exact location. Joshua sent spies to search the area, and when they returned, they said the city was small and could easily be conquered. Joshua, therefore, sent 3000 soldiers to attack, but they were defeated soundly leaving thirty-six of their number dead.

When Joshua prayed to the Lord in great distress, the Lord informed him there was sin in the camp. Someone had stolen some valuables from the city of Jericho contrary to God's command. When the sinner was identified and punished, then Joshua sent 30,000 soldiers to Ai who captured the city by an ambush.

A. THE SIN (match the answer at the bottom)

1. _____The children of Israel committed a trespass, for Achan took of the (7:1)

2. _____The anger of the Lord was kindled against men the (7:1)

3. _____The spies told Joshua that Ai was small and to send about (7:2-3)

4. _____The men of Ai chased them and killed them (7:5)

5. _____The Lord said Israel had sinned, stolen the accursed thing, putting it among their own (7:10-11)

6. _____In the morning the people brought forward according to their (7:14)

7. _____The Lord took the tribes, then the family, then the household, then (7:14)

8. _____The tribe taken was (7:16)

9. _____The man taken was (7:18)

10. _____Achan said he had sinned, and he took out of Jericho (3 answers) (7:20-21)

11. _____He hid them in the earth in his (7:21)

12. _____Achan and his family were (7:24-25)

a. man by man b. 2000 or 3000 c. stoned, burned d. accursed (devoted) thing e. stuff f. Judah g. 36 men h. Babylonian garment i. Achan j. 50 shekels of gold k. tribes l. children of Israel m. 200 shekels of silver n. tent

Note. Since the stolen items were hidden in Achan's tent, his family knew of the sin and were also guilty. Although Achan confessed his sin, and the stolen items were returned to Joshua, he still had to pay the penalty for breaking the law.

B. CAPTURE OF AI. With the sin of Achan uncovered, and the punishment complete, God turned from his anger and told Joshua He had given into his hand the king of Ai, his people, city, and land. He told Joshua to take the men of war and set an ambush behind the city. Accordingly, Joshua sent a detachment of soldiers by night to conceal themselves west of the city. Joshua and the rest of the army camped on the north side facing the city with a valley between them and Ai.

In the morning when the king of Ai saw Joshua and his army before the city, he and his men went out to battle against Israel. Joshua and his men pretended to flee, and the people of Ai pursued. When all the people of Ai had left the city, Joshua stretched his spear in the air, and the Israelites in ambush behind the city rose up, entered the city, and set it on fire. Joshua and his men then turned back and attacked their pursuers.

The Israelites smote all the people of Ai that day, but they took their king alive. He was hanged on a tree until evening. Then his body was taken down, cast at the entrance of the city, and a heap of stones raised over it.

1. The number of soldiers Joshua sent against Ai the second time was: (Josh. 8:3)

a. 300

b. 3000

c. 30,000

2. Joshua and his main army camped: (Josh. 8:10-11)

a. on the north side of Ai

b. in the valley

c. in the woods

3. Joshua set in ambush on the west side of the city: (Josh. 8:12)

a. 500 men

b. 5000 men

c. 50,000 men

4. When Joshua and his men approached the city and the people of the city came out against them, Joshua and his men: (Josh. 8:14-15)

a. fought

b. were defeated

c. fled as if they were beaten

5. Joshua signaled his men in ambush to enter the city by: (Josh. 8:18-19)

a. shooting an arrow into the air

b. stretching out his spear

c. firing a cannon

6. When the men of Ai left the city to pursue after Joshua and his men, then the Israelites in ambush: (Josh. 8:19)

a. entered the city

b. went to Joshua's assistance

c. set the city on fire

7. When Joshua saw the city on fire, he and his men: (Josh. 8:21)

a. continued to flee

b. turned back again

c. slew (struck down) the men of Ai

8. The number that the Israelites killed in Ai was: (Josh. 8:25-26)

a. 12,000 men and women

b. all the inhabitants

c. some of the inhabitants

9. The Israelites were allowed to keep for themselves: (Josh. 8:27)

a. cattle (livestock)

b. spoil

c. none of the spoil

10. The king of Ai was: (Josh. 8:29)

a. hanged on a tree

b. taken down at evening

c. cast at the entrance of the city and a heap of stones raised over him

Session 12 - HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE; THE SUN AND THE MOON STAND STILL

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READ: Joshua 10:1-28

The Sun Stands Still

1 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,

2 he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,

4 "Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel."

5 Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, "Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us."

7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.

8 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you."

9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.

10 And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

12 At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

15 So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Five Amorite Kings Executed

16 These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

17 And it was told to Joshua, "The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah."

18 And Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them,

19 but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand."

20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,

21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.

22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave."

23 And they did so, and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

24 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, "Come near; put your feet on the necks of these kings." Then they came near and put their feet on their necks.

25 And Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight."

26 And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening.

27 But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

28 As for Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Conquest of Southern Canaan

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.

30 And the LORD gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel. And he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it.

32 And the LORD gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it.

35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it

37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it

39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.

40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the LORD God of Israel commanded.

41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.

42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.

43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

THINK ABOUT IT

When heaven fights, there is no escape, only terrible confusion and inescapable ice missiles (hail). “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD… Victory rests with the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30-31). Joshua and Israel had only to mop up and finish the victory God had given them. And they had plenty of daylight to work in as “the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

The sun and moon were worshiped as gods by many ancient nations. But the Lord showed his power over these lights he had made (see Genesis 1:14-18). And his enemies, who followed the ways of darkness (evil), fell headlong before him.

Of course, this passage is not meant to teach that the sun revolved around the earth; that’s just the way things looked until we learned more about the solar system. Instead, this passage shows that God controls the whole universe—and somehow, at the request of a human being, God gave Israel an extra “full day” of light as they battled his enemies who sided with the powers of darkness.

As we seek to serve God in our world today, we can often face challenges that come from the powers of darkness. But we know that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), and his brightness never fades. He calls us to be light for his sake (Matthew 5:14-16) so that others can see him and be saved from destruction.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Five Kings Hang from Trees (10:1–43)

Chapter 10 ends with this summary: “The Lord God fought for Israel” (10:42). List the ways God fought for Israel. Although unmentioned, what character from earlier in the story is responsible for these victories?

We have read numerous indications of God’s purpose to exalt Joshua. Here again, as with the king of Ai, Joshua dramatically slays these kings (10:24–27). How might God’s promise to the Serpent in Genesis 3:15 inform Joshua’s method of execution?

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

When the king of Jerusalem heard what the Israelites had done to Jericho and Ai, he sent messages to the kings of Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon to join him in an alliance against the Israelites. The five kings with their armies gathered together and went to besiege the city of Gibeon. The people of Gibeon had made a treaty with Joshua–they promised to serve the Israelites if Israel would protect them from their enemies. Therefore, when the Gibeonites informed Joshua they were being attacked, Joshua and his army went to their aid as promised.

The Lord assured Joshua He had delivered the five kings into the hands of the Isra elites. Joshua and his army then marched by night to Gibeon, and with a surprise attack defeated the five kings and their armies, killing many of their numbers. As the remainder fled with the Israelites pursuing, the Lord sent great hailstones from heaven. More died from the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

As the Israelites were succeeding in the defeat of the armies of the five kings, Joshua spoke to the Lord and asked that the sun and moon stand still. This request was in order to allow more daylight time for the Israelites to complete their victory.

The five kings fled to Makkedah, a city in southern Canaan, and hid in a cave. Joshua ordered that a stone be placed at the entrance of the cave so the kings could not escape. When the fleeing enemy had been completely destroyed, the Israelites returned to the cave, and Joshua commanded that the stone be removed. The kings were brought out of their cave prison and killed. The bodies were hung on five trees until evening, then removed and cast into the same cave. The cave was then sealed with great stones laid at the mouth.

1. The king of Jerusalem sent messages to four other kings to help him smite

Gibeon, for it had made ___________________ with Joshua and the Israelites. (Josh. 10:3-4)

2. When the people of Gibeon sent messages to Joshua to come to help them, the

Lord told Joshua, Fear not, for I have ____________________ them into your hand. (Josh. 10:8)

3. Joshua came upon the enemy suddenly, for he came from Gilgal by ________. (Josh. 10:9)

4. The Lord routed the enemy before Israel and there was great ______________. (Josh. 10:10)

5. As the enemy fled, the Lord cast down great stones from heaven, and more died from the ____________________ than by the sword. (Josh. 10:11)

6. Joshua spoke to the Lord and said before all Israel, _______________ stand still upon Gibeon, and _______________ in the valley of Aijalon. (Josh. 10:12)

7. The sun stayed in the midst of heaven and did not go down for about a whole ____________. (Josh. 10:13)

8. Describe this day. (Josh. 10:14)

9. The five kings fled and hid in a _______________. (Josh. 10:16)

10. Joshua commanded that _________________________ be rolled at the mouth of the cave and a guard posted. (Josh. 10:18)

11. Joshua told his people to pursue after their enemies and _________________ the rear guard, not allowing them to enter their cities. (Josh. 10:19)

12. When the Israelites had finished the slaughter, some of the enemy escaped and entered their ______________________________. (Josh. 10:20)

Sun and Moon Stand Still, 12 - 3

13. The army then returned in peace to their camp at Makkedah, and Joshua said to

open the mouth of the ____________________ and bring the five kings to him. (Josh. 10:21-22)

14. Joshua smote them and hanged them on _________________________. (Josh. 10:26)

15. When the sun was going down, Joshua commanded that the five kings be taken down and cast into the _______________. (Josh. 10:27)

16. ________________________ were laid at the mouth of the cave. (Josh. 10:27)

Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon;

and thou, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed,

until the people had avenged themselves

upon their enemies.

Josh. 10:12-13

Session 13 - JOURNEY & A FARWELL; THE LAND PROMISE & JOSHUA'S GOODBYE

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READ: Joshua 21:43-45; 24

Joshua 21

43 Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there.

44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands.

45 Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.

The Covenant Renewal at Shechem - Joshua 24

1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God.

2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods.

3 Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac.

4 And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

5 And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out.

6 "'Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.

7 And when they cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time.

8 Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.

9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you,

10 but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand.

11 And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand.

12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow.

13 I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.'

Choose Whom You Will Serve

14 "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

16 Then the people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods,

17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.

18 And the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

19 But Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.

20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good."

21 And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the LORD."

22 Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses."

23 He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel."

24 And the people said to Joshua, "The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey."

25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem.

26 And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.

27 And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God."

28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

Joshua's Death and Burial

29 After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old.

30 And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.

31 Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD did for Israel.

32 As for the bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up from Egypt, they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.

33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died, and they buried him at Gibeah, the town of Phinehas his son, which had been given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

THINK ABOUT IT

Israel had won many battles, but it was the Lord who gave them rest from their enemies. After years on the battlefield, Israel could serve God without interruption from the enemy. The freedom to serve God that Moses had demanded of Pharaoh before they left Egypt (Exodus 5:1; 7:16) was finally achieved in the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Still, the conquest remained incomplete. Non-Israelites remained in the land, and they worshiped other gods. But their kings had no power to enslave Israel. Israel was now free to serve the Lord, who had rescued them. This was good news for all.

The freedom Christ has won for his disciples is also good news. No longer enslaved to the power of sin, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to resist our passions and addictions. Still, the power of sin remains; it beckons and tempts us all to rebel and walk away from God. But God has given us victory.

We may be buffeted on all sides by the old enemies of pride, lust, or greed, but, having been clothed with the righteousness of Christ and the armor of God, we can resist and deflect the darts of the evil one. No enemy can withstand the righteousness of God through Christ our Lord.

SOMETHING TO CONSIDER AS YOU THINK

Joshua’s Parting Speech to the Nation (24:1–28)

Joshua’s final speech begins with a rehearsal of Israel’s history in 24:2–13. Again, paying attention to the verbs, list all that Joshua records concerning God’s work on Israel’s behalf.

Paying special notice to verses 12–13, note what point the Lord is making in this speech to Israel. What should Israel be feeling at the conclusion of this brief review of her history?

In verses 14–15, Joshua commands the people to “fear the Lord . . . serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness . . . and put away” their false gods, choosing whom they will serve. Why doesn’t Joshua give these commands at the beginning of his speech?

Time and again Israel is warned against serving other gods. Using descriptions of God and his ways in this chapter, finish the following sentence in at least five ways: “When Israel serves other gods, she . . .” (for example: denies, forgets, clings, etc.).

The exchange between Joshua and Israel in verses 14–28 is a bit of a surprise. Read Deuteronomy 31:21–29. What did Moses and Joshua know about Israel that God’s people struggled to understand?

Joshua’s Death (24:29–33)

The book of Joshua begins with the death of Moses and ends with the death of Joshua. With the death of every person, especially every leader comes an important reminder for God’s people. What is that reminder?

As the story of Joshua comes to a conclusion, we can be grateful that the story of the Bible is not over. Read Hebrews 3–4 and 11:1–12:2. List all the commands given to New Testament Christians on the basis of the Old Testament story.

MORE TO THINK ABOUT

(The content below is offered to those who want additional reading and is not necessary for class discussion)

As the leader of the children of Israel and the captain of their army, Joshua needed courage, strength, and faith in God. He was chosen by God to succeed Moses in the sight of all the people (Num. 27:18-23). He was filled with the spirit of wisdom by the laying on of Moses' hands (Deut. 34:9). The Lord assured Joshua, He would not fail him nor forsake him, but his success depended upon his observing the law and meditating on it day and night (Josh. 1:5, 8). Joshua proved to be a man of faith, a humble servant, and a keeper of the law.

Joshua was also a military captain and master of strategy. In order to conquer Canaan, it was necessary first to conquer the strategically located city of Jericho which lay in the Jordan River valley just west of the fords of the river. After accomplishing this victory, Joshua then conquered the cities of Ai and Bethel in the heart of the central hill country, thus dividing the land in two (Josh. 8:1-29; 12:7-9, 16). He could then conduct separate military campaigns against the cities in the south and the cities in the north.

After the battle with the five kings of the south, Joshua and the Israelites engaged in more battles with other cities in the south and left none remaining (Josh. 10:40-43). Next Joshua and the army turned to the north and defeated an alliance of northern kings. "So, Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their division by their tribes. And the land rested from war" (Josh. 11:23).

With the land at rest from war, Joshua became the peace administrator. Joshua, Eleazar (the high priest and son of Aaron), and heads of the tribes divided the land by lot among the twelve tribes (Josh. 18:10; 19:51). Each of Joseph's two sons,

Manasseh and Ephraim, received a portion of land along with the other sons of Ja cob. However, the Levites did not receive an allotment of land. Instead, they were given forty-eight cities in which to dwell. Since the Levites' responsibility was to serve the religious needs of the people by teaching the law and caring for the tabernacle, they were scattered throughout the entire land (Josh. 21:1-42).

A. THE LAND PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB FULFILLED

1. How much land did Joshua take and give to the Israelites for their inheritance? (Josh. 11:23)

2. Who was in charge of dividing the land among the tribes? (Josh. 19:51) 3. How was the land divided? (Josh. 18:10; 19:51)

4. No word failed of any good thing which the Lord spoke to the house of Israel; all _________________________. (Josh. 21:45)

B. CALEB'S INHERITANCE. Remember Caleb? He was the spy who along with Joshua said the land of Canaan could be conquered. Because the other ten spies said the Israelites were not strong enough to take the land, the children of Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and all those over twenty had died there except Joshua and Caleb. Because of his faithfulness, when the land was divided, Caleb was allowed to choose where he would settle.

1. How old was Caleb when he spied the land? (Josh. 14:6-7)

2. How old was he when the land was conquered? (Josh. 14:10) 3. How was he physically? (Josh. 14:11)

4. Caleb belonged to the tribe of Judah. What portion (city) was he given in Judah's territory? (Josh. 14:13-14)

C. THE TABERNACLE AND JOSHUA'S INHERITANCE

1. The tabernacle, tent of meeting, was set up in _______________, a city in the portion of land given to Ephraim. (Josh. 18:1)

2. The children of Israel, according to the commandment of the Lord, gave

Joshua the city for which he asked, Timnath-Serah, in __________________. (Josh. 19:49-50)

D. JOSHUA'S FAREWELL ADDRESS. When Joshua was old, he gathered all the people together. He spoke to them of their history–Abraham and his journey from Ur to Canaan, Isaac, Jacob and Esau, Jacob's move to Egypt, Moses, the plagues, crossing the Red Sea, the battles with the Amorite kings, Balaam and Balak, crossing the Jordan River, and the conquest of Jericho and Canaan. He reminded the people of God's promises and exhorted them to remain faithful and obedient.

1. Joshua told the people to put away the gods their fathers had served beyond the River (Euphrates) and Egypt and serve the Lord. He then said if it seemed evil to them to serve the Lord, then choose whom they would serve: the gods their fathers served beyond the River (Euphrates), or the gods of the Amorites in the land of Canaan. Joshua said he and his house would serve whom? (Josh. 24:15)

2. What would happen if the people forsook God and served idols? (Josh. 24:20)

3. What did the people tell Joshua? (Josh. 24:24)

4. How old was Joshua when he died? (Josh. 24:29)

5. How long did Israel serve the Lord? (Josh. 24:31)

6. What about the bones of Joseph? (Josh. 24:32)

One last thought - What Does Joshua 24:15 Mean?

Connecting the story of Joshua to God’s larger promises, pastor Trent Hunter offers readers rich insights into the book’s overarching story of salvation and helps them apply its message to their lives today.

This verse comes to us in the course of Joshua’s final speech before he dies, a speech given to the whole congregation of Israel. A high point indeed! What did this passage mean for the original hearers? What did it mean for the original readers? What does it mean for us?

A Call to Serve

On the surface, Joshua issues a call to his hearers to serve the Lord in the land by means of his own example and resolve.

Service is, after all, the goal of the exodus, expressed many times over in Moses’s confrontation with Pharaoh. We’re familiar with the first part of his charge, “Let my people go,” but must remember what he said next: “. . . that they may serve me” (Ex. 4:23; 7:16; 8:1). What is more, Joshua’s generation lives not only on the other side of the Red Sea but in the land promised to Abraham.

Thus, the people standing before Joshua have every reason to serve the Lord. Not only have they seen his wonders, but Joshua has recounted and interpreted these wonders for them. As sure as they stand in the land, they stand in the sovereign grace of God, their covenant Lord who has done all to bring them to this momentous place. He took Abraham when Abraham was worshiping his gods, he gave him Isaac when he had no children, he sent Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, he brought the people out of Egypt, and he delivered the inhabitants of Canaan into their hands (Josh. 24:1–13).

Israel had every reason to serve the Lord, and she knew it. “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD who brought us and our fathers up” (Josh. 24:16–17).

But there’s more than sunshine in the land and in the hearts of these people on the occasion of this speech. Clouds on the horizon cast an ominous shadow through Joshua.

A Cynical Speech

Not so subtly, Joshua’s parting speech is marked by cynicism. If the original hearers didn’t quite get it, the first readers could not have missed it.

Joshua’s response to Israel’s commitment to obey is shocking: “You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good” (Josh. 24:19–20). He sounds like his predecessor, Moses, who predicted the same long-term problem. The people would not keep the covenant and they would be exiled from the land for it (Deut. 29:21–27; Deut. 30:6; Deut. 31:14–18).

Thus, this high point in the book of Joshua portends more than a low point to come, but a continual descent into rebellion. Joshua was not an unhappy old man who had lost his edge. He saw clearly and he spoke prophetically. His words are a roadmap for Israel’s next 500 years of stubborn rebellion.

Jesus is our new Joshua, a better Savior who brings a better salvation.

The back and forth is indicting. The people insisted, “No, but we will serve the LORD” (Josh. 24:21). Joshua replied, “You are witnesses against yourselves” (Josh. 24:22). They said, “We are witnesses” (Josh. 24:22). Joshua continued, “Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD” (Josh. 24:23). The reply was, once again, self-assured: “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey” (Josh. 24:24).

Joshua is a book overwhelmed with fulfillment, but Adam’s shadow looms. But his is not the only shadow. For, while the people cannot and will not listen to the Lord or obey his voice, Moses spoke of a greater prophet to come, to whom the people would listen (Deut. 18:15). That greater prophet would not be Joshua, but he would bear Joshua’s name, a name which means “The LORD Is Salvation,” the name given to the Lord Jesus (Num. 13:16; Matt. 1:21).

A Summons to Choose

Joshua’s call to Israel was urgent: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh. 24:15). For us today, this remains an urgent and timely summons to choose the Lord.

What’s the difference between them and us? Do we have any hope of choosing the Lord?

Because of Jesus, yes, we do. Joshua brought the people into the land of God’s presence, but he could not bring them out of rebellion. Jesus is our new Joshua, a better Savior who brings a better salvation. He does so through a new and better covenant, a covenant by which he gives to us a new heart for true service and willing obedience—all by grace (Ezek. 36:26; Jer. 31:31–34; cf. Deut. 10:12–14).

Our new Joshua has made us willing and able to hear his call to serve. And so, we say with Israel of old, “We will serve the Lord,” except this time, by the grace of God and through faith, we mean it. More than that, by God’s grace, albeit imperfectly for now, we keep it.

Source: TrentHunter.net

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