Joshua

Lesson 4Joshua Chapters 4 and 5

In our last lesson, we saw how God took a group of murmuring freed slaves into the desert -- and brought them to edge of the Jordan as an organized group, ready to occupy the land that God had prepared for them.

We discussed the faith that would have been required for the priests to take that first step into the swollen Jordan river, and the effect that the drying up of the Jordan River must have had on both the faith and the courage of all that the people that the Lord had arrayed along the banks. We saw, once again, that God’s ways are not our ways, nor are our thoughts His thoughts. So, in our personal lives, when we are faced with a swollen Jordan River to cross, we simply need to trust in God’s provisioning for us, and then we need follow his leading. This is easier said than done sometimes, isn’t it.

Bible

In this lesson we will look at the final stages of transformation for the descendants of Abraham as they cross the Jordan River and camp for the first time in the Promise Land. Many teachings relevant to our own lives can be found in Chapters 4 and 5, as God continues to transform us into the person he desires us to be.

Let’s begin our study by reading Chapters 4 and 5 and considering the following:

  1. In Joshua Chapter 4, two twelve-stone memorials are built at God’s direction. Name the two locations where these memorials were placed. (see Joshua 4:3, 4:9, and 4:19-20)
  2. What was the purpose of these memorials? (see Joshua 4:6-7 and 4:22-23)
  3. In the camp at Gilgal, what were the children to be taught, and what were the children to do with this knowledge? (see Joshua 4:19-22)
  4. How many people did God want to know about the Jordan crossing miracle, and why? (see Joshua 4:24)
  5. Compare Joshua 5:1 with Joshua 2:9-11. What common attributes can you identify in both passages?
  6. By having all the male children of Israel circumcised, the Israelites renewed their covenant with God and took on a physical distinction identifying them as descendants of Abraham. In turn, God made a statement about them in Joshua 5:9. What was it, and what did He mean by saying it?
  7. See Joshua 4:19 and 5:10-12. The Israelites were camped at Gilgal until:
    1. they were "healed" or were "whole" from the circumcision?
    2. they were no longer given manna to eat?

In conclusion, the Israelites were transformed by (1) their crossing of the swollen Jordan River by faith, (2) their circumcision, and (3) their celebration of the Passover. Then, and only then, were they ready to occupy the land that God had promised them and to be the people that God had prepared them to be.

Today, in our Christian lives, we have many "Jordan Rivers"s to cross by faith. By accepting Christ into our hearts, we "circumcise" our hearts to him and become adopted into Abraham’s family --heirs of the promise. Through Christ&rsqquo;s sacrifice, He has become our Passover Lamb; and we celebrate His great saving act each time that we observe Communion (or the "Lord’s Supper", depending on your tradition).

We too are to be transformed so that we can become the people that God wants us to be, and so that we can serve God and follow his Lordship, just as he wanted the Israelites to do. We are called to a royal priesthood so that we may proclaim the gospel to the whole earth, so that they will know that Christ is the Messiah and that there is only one true God, and only one way to God: through Jesus the Christ.

May God touch your hearts and minds as we continue our study in the lessons to come, so that your transformation will be hastened and that Christ will be both your Savior and the Lord of your life!

Yours in Christ,

Wes

[2003]