Joshua

Passages: Joshua 1-2, 6, 23-24; Deuteronomy 1-3

This week in the Redemption Series, students moved from the end of Deuteronomy into the book of Joshua. Moses had just closed out his final words to Israel with a choice: life or death, blessing or curse, and Israel would spend the rest of its story answering that choice one generation at a time. Moses was not allowed to lead Israel into the Promised Land himself. That job went to Joshua, one of only two spies who had trusted God enough to say Canaan could actually be taken.

What Was Taught

A new leader, ready or not

Joshua stepped into leadership right after Moses died, and God's first words to him were not a strategy, they were a command: be strong and courageous. Joshua had watched Moses talk with God face to face, and it is easy to imagine him feeling unqualified to follow that. God did not remove Joshua's fear. He asked for obedience anyway, and Joshua's willingness to seek and surrender to God became the thing that carried him forward.

Rahab and the spies

Before Israel moved on Jericho, Joshua sent two spies into the city. Rahab, a prostitute living in the city wall, hid them from soldiers because she and the rest of Jericho had already heard what God had done for Israel and feared Him. In exchange for protecting the spies, she asked for her family to be spared when Israel attacked, marked by a scarlet cord tied in her window. Her story is proof that even someone completely outside Israel could recognize and respond to God's power.

The fall of Jericho

God told Joshua the city was already as good as won, then gave him a battle plan that looked nothing like a battle: march around the city, blow trumpets, and shout. Jericho was Canaan's most fortified city, and Israel's only weapon was obedience. On the seventh day, after marching in silence for six, the walls came down exactly as promised.

• Faith. Israel believed an unusual plan because it came from God.
• Obedience. They followed the instructions exactly as given.
• Courage. They marched with no defense and stayed vulnerable the whole time.
• Endurance. They kept going even when nothing seemed to be happening.
• Trust. Their confidence was in the Lord, not in themselves.

Finishing what God started

Jericho was only the first of many battles as Israel moved through the south and north of Canaan. Some victories came easily, others took real fighting, and Israel got it wrong at least once, disobeying God at Ai and paying for it before God corrected and moved them forward again. Scripture later stops to summarize that God gave Israel the land and kept every promise He made, but that did not mean the work was finished. Some tribes pressed in and claimed what was theirs. Others got comfortable and left the job half done, a decision that would cost them later.

Joshua's final challenge

Near the end of his life, Joshua gathered Israel one last time and retold their whole story, repeating "I gave, I gave, I did" to make sure they knew every bit of it was God's doing, not theirs. Then he handed the decision back to them: choose who you will serve. Israel answered that they would serve the Lord, and Joshua made a covenant with them as a witness to that promise. Not long after, he died and was buried in the very land God had promised to give them.

Talk About It at Home

These are the questions students were asked tonight. Use one or two, not all three:

1. Like Joshua looked back at Israel's whole story, take a minute to look back at yours. Where has God already been faithful to you, even if you didn't notice it at the time?
2. Even after everything God had done, some tribes still didn't finish the job. Why do you think it's possible to believe God kept His promises and still not fully obey Him? Is there something God has called you to that you've gotten comfortable leaving unfinished?
3. "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." If you said that and meant it, what would actually have to change this week?

A few easier openers if you want to start smaller:

• Has there ever been a time you had to lead or step up even though you didn't feel ready?
• What's something that seemed impossible that turned out fine once you actually tried it?
• Is there something you've started and never quite finished?
• If you had to say out loud who or what you're serving right now, what would it be?

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