Lesson 15
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Inhabiting the Promised Land
"And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the Lord." The 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." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel." Joshua 24:21-23
Joshua 23 & 24
As the book of Joshua concludes, we see a nation that has struggled to receive the land promised by God and to become a people faithful to the Lord who walk in his ways and keep his covenant. They have by no means been perfect, but by God's grace they have possessed the land. They have prevailed. Now, near the end of Joshua's life, an era in Israel's history is coming to a close. It is not enough that they possess the land; they must continue to possess it through faithfulness to their covenant with God. They must persevere.
Read Joshua 23
1) Joshua, now an old man, summons Israel for a final address.
2) What do you learn from the following passages regarding God's promises and our need to persevere to the end?
Read Joshua 24
3) Notice that as God recounts Israel's history, it is not a story of what Israel has done, but about what God himself has done for them. What are the key events of your own salvation story? In what ways is your personal story similar to that of Israel?
4) As Israel renews their covenant with the Lord they choose to serve him and are commanded to put away their foreign gods. Why does Joshua tell Israel in verse 19 that they are not able to serve the Lord? (See Leviticus 19:2, Isaiah 29:13, and Jeremiah 17:9 for help.)
In Ezekiel 36:26-27 Israel is given promise of a new heart and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This is possible because of the new covenant made by Christ's sacrifice of himself on the cross. We renew this covenant each time we celebrate the Lord's supper.
5a) In the old covenant, on what was the Law written as a witness? (See Exodus 31:18)
b) On what is God's law written under the new covenant? (Jeremiah 31:33)
6) What other promises do Christians have in Christ?
7) What area of your life do you need special encouragement to remain faithful to the Lord? How will the knowledge of God's involvement in your life help you remain steadfast?
Because he knew the people's condition, Joshua warned Israel that they would not be able to serve the Lord. In Christ we have greater promises than Israel had. They were given the Law on tablets of stone but their hearts remained unchanged. We are given the Holy Spirit who writes God's law on our hearts and works in us that which is pleasing to him. He gives us everything we need. Most of all, he gives us himself; and he, dear ones, is life.
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
"And the people said to Joshua, "No, but we will serve the Lord." The 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." He said, "Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord, the God of Israel." Joshua 24:21-23
Joshua 23 & 24
As the book of Joshua concludes, we see a nation that has struggled to receive the land promised by God and to become a people faithful to the Lord who walk in his ways and keep his covenant. They have by no means been perfect, but by God's grace they have possessed the land. They have prevailed. Now, near the end of Joshua's life, an era in Israel's history is coming to a close. It is not enough that they possess the land; they must continue to possess it through faithfulness to their covenant with God. They must persevere.
Read Joshua 23
1) Joshua, now an old man, summons Israel for a final address.
- What does Joshua remind Israel that God has done for them?
- What exhortations does he give them?
- What warnings does he give them?
2) What do you learn from the following passages regarding God's promises and our need to persevere to the end?
- Philippians 1:6
- Colossians 1:22-23
- Hebrews 10:36
Read Joshua 24
3) Notice that as God recounts Israel's history, it is not a story of what Israel has done, but about what God himself has done for them. What are the key events of your own salvation story? In what ways is your personal story similar to that of Israel?
4) As Israel renews their covenant with the Lord they choose to serve him and are commanded to put away their foreign gods. Why does Joshua tell Israel in verse 19 that they are not able to serve the Lord? (See Leviticus 19:2, Isaiah 29:13, and Jeremiah 17:9 for help.)
In Ezekiel 36:26-27 Israel is given promise of a new heart and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This is possible because of the new covenant made by Christ's sacrifice of himself on the cross. We renew this covenant each time we celebrate the Lord's supper.
5a) In the old covenant, on what was the Law written as a witness? (See Exodus 31:18)
b) On what is God's law written under the new covenant? (Jeremiah 31:33)
6) What other promises do Christians have in Christ?
- Philippians 2:13
- Hebrews 13:21
- 1 Peter 5:10
7) What area of your life do you need special encouragement to remain faithful to the Lord? How will the knowledge of God's involvement in your life help you remain steadfast?
Because he knew the people's condition, Joshua warned Israel that they would not be able to serve the Lord. In Christ we have greater promises than Israel had. They were given the Law on tablets of stone but their hearts remained unchanged. We are given the Holy Spirit who writes God's law on our hearts and works in us that which is pleasing to him. He gives us everything we need. Most of all, he gives us himself; and he, dear ones, is life.
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.