Lesson 14
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Inhabiting the Promised Land
"You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you." Joshua 22:2
Joshua 22
In our last lesson Israel had finally taken possession of their inheritance and was given rest. Now, after many battles with other nations, their hard won peace is threatened by an impending internal conflict.
Read Joshua 22:1-9
1) Before their return home, Joshua commends the the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for their faithfulness to the Lord. You will remember that these two and a half tribes had requested an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Their request was granted on the condition that they cross the Jordan with their brothers and work with them to gain possession of Canaan. What commands does Joshua give to these tribes as he sends them away with a blessing? 2) Joshua commanded the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to divide the spoil with their brothers. Not only those who had fought with the sword were to enjoy the benefits of conquest but also those who stayed behind to farm and protect the women and children. This wasn't a case of each man for himself, but a case of God blessing an entire nation. What do you learn from the following passages about spiritual reward and passing on what God has done for us?
Read Joshua 22:10-34
3) What action east of the Jordan alarmed the entire congregation?
4) How did the congregation respond to this? Why? See Leviticus 17:8-9 for help.
It is interesting to note that Israel was called to be a worshiping community and the first internal threat to this young nation regarded appropriate worship.
"Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!" Joshua 22:29
5) What principles of worship do you learn from the following New Testament passages?
Read John 17:22-23
6) Israel was stirred to action when the unity of the congregation was threatened by apparent rebellion. The unity of God's people matters just as much now as it did then. What do you learn from this passage concerning God's plan for unity in the church?
Read Ephesians 4:1-16
7) What have you learned from this passage about your part in maintaining church unity?
As followers of Christ it really does matter what kind of worshipers we are. The triune God we serve is holy and requires purity of worship. We are Christ's body and each of us affects those around us for good or for ill because together we make up a single, living organism. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:24-26
Copyright © 2007, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Read Mark Learn Bible Studies
Inhabiting the Promised Land
"You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you." Joshua 22:2
Joshua 22
In our last lesson Israel had finally taken possession of their inheritance and was given rest. Now, after many battles with other nations, their hard won peace is threatened by an impending internal conflict.
Read Joshua 22:1-9
1) Before their return home, Joshua commends the the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh for their faithfulness to the Lord. You will remember that these two and a half tribes had requested an inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Their request was granted on the condition that they cross the Jordan with their brothers and work with them to gain possession of Canaan. What commands does Joshua give to these tribes as he sends them away with a blessing? 2) Joshua commanded the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to divide the spoil with their brothers. Not only those who had fought with the sword were to enjoy the benefits of conquest but also those who stayed behind to farm and protect the women and children. This wasn't a case of each man for himself, but a case of God blessing an entire nation. What do you learn from the following passages about spiritual reward and passing on what God has done for us?
- 1 Corinthians 3:8
- Mark 10:43-45
- Ephesians 4:11-12
Read Joshua 22:10-34
3) What action east of the Jordan alarmed the entire congregation?
4) How did the congregation respond to this? Why? See Leviticus 17:8-9 for help.
It is interesting to note that Israel was called to be a worshiping community and the first internal threat to this young nation regarded appropriate worship.
"Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away this day from following the Lord by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle!" Joshua 22:29
5) What principles of worship do you learn from the following New Testament passages?
- John 4:24
- Romans 12:1
- Hebrews 12:28-29
Read John 17:22-23
6) Israel was stirred to action when the unity of the congregation was threatened by apparent rebellion. The unity of God's people matters just as much now as it did then. What do you learn from this passage concerning God's plan for unity in the church?
Read Ephesians 4:1-16
7) What have you learned from this passage about your part in maintaining church unity?
As followers of Christ it really does matter what kind of worshipers we are. The triune God we serve is holy and requires purity of worship. We are Christ's body and each of us affects those around us for good or for ill because together we make up a single, living organism. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:24-26
Copyright © 2007, Carol Duffy. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
