Study 16: Joshua 9: 1-15

Study 16 on Joshua focuses on the themes of consecration, worship, and reliance on God’s guidance. Trent highlights how the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, navigate their spiritual journey by dedicating themselves to God, engaging in acts of worship, and acknowledging God’s presence as the bridge between curses and blessings. The study emphasizes the importance of seeking divine direction over-relying on natural senses, as illustrated by the Israelites’ experiences with both victories and deceptions. Key lessons include the necessity of spiritual discernment and the understanding that the promised land, while filled with God’s promises, also comes with challenges that require faith and obedience to overcome.

Sermon Outline

Introduction and Prayer

• Timestamp: 09:54

• Description: Opening prayer and setting the stage for the study. Emphasis on seeking God’s word and revelation for understanding and transformation.

Consecration and Worship

• Timestamp: 08:48

• Description: Discusses the Israelites’ acts of consecration and worship as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. Highlights the importance of dedicating oneself to God and the power of worship in spiritual battles.

Victory at Jericho

• Timestamp: 02:55

• Description: Recounts the miraculous victory at Jericho, emphasizing God’s grace and the role of faith in overcoming obstacles. Includes the story of Rahab and her family’s salvation.

Defeat and Repentance at Ai

• Timestamp: 03:46

• Description: Details the initial defeat at Ai due to sin in the camp and the subsequent repentance and victory. Highlights the importance of obedience and dealing with hidden sin.

The Gibeonite Deception

• Timestamp: 40:44

• Description: Describes how the Gibeonites deceived the Israelites by pretending to be from a distant land. Discusses the consequences of relying on natural senses instead of seeking God’s guidance.

Lessons in Spiritual Discernment

• Timestamp: 17:25

• Description: Explores the need for spiritual discernment and the dangers of making decisions based on appearances. Encourages seeking God’s wisdom in all situations.

Renewal of the Covenant

• Timestamp: 07:51

• Description: Covers the renewal of the covenant at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. Emphasizes the importance of recommitting to God’s commandments and celebrating His blessings.

Strategy and Warfare

• Timestamp: 21:11

• Description: Discusses the ongoing spiritual warfare and the strategies employed by the enemy. Highlights the need for vigilance and reliance on God’s strength.

Trusting in God’s Plan

• Timestamp: 30:09

• Description: Encourages trusting in God’s plan and not leaning on one’s own understanding. Uses Proverbs 3:5-6 to illustrate the importance of acknowledging God in all ways.

Conclusion and Application

• Timestamp: 01:10:31

• Description: Concludes with practical applications for the listeners’ lives. Encourages making decisions based on God’s word and seeking His confirmation through prayer and community.

Scripture References

Joshua 9:1-2

• Connection: Introduction to the deceit of the Gibeonites and the need for Israel to inquire of the Lord instead of relying on their natural senses.

• Timestamp: 17:25 .

Deuteronomy 27:12-13

• Connection: Describes the ceremony of blessing and cursing on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, emphasizing the importance of obeying God’s commandments.

• Timestamp: 08:48 .

Proverbs 3:5-6

• Connection: Encourages trust in the Lord and not leaning on one’s own understanding, which relates to the Israelites’ need for spiritual discernment.

• Timestamp: 30:09 .

John 16:33

• Connection: Jesus’ words about having peace in the midst of trouble, paralleled with the Israelites facing challenges in the Promised Land.

• Timestamp: 19:18 .

Psalms 119:105

• Connection: God’s word as a lamp and light, guiding immediate steps and future decisions, similar to the guidance the Israelites needed.

• Timestamp: 43:39 .

Isaiah 30:21

• Connection: Hearing God’s voice behind, guiding the way, likened to the Israelites needing to follow God’s direction.

• Timestamp: 46:01 .

Isaiah 61:3

• Connection: The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, reflecting the power of worship in overcoming battles, as seen in the Israelites’ worship.

• Timestamp: 00:51 .

Joshua 8:30-35

• Connection: The Israelites building an altar on Mount Ebal and renewing the covenant, a significant act of worship and consecration.

• Timestamp: 01:59 .

Ephesians 6:10-11

• Connection: Putting on the full armor of God to stand against the devil’s schemes, paralleled with the Israelites’ need for spiritual readiness.

• Timestamp: 21:11 .

Joshua 7:1-26

• Connection: The sin of Achan and its consequences, illustrating the need for purity and obedience among the Israelites.

• Timestamp: 02:55 .

Reflection Questions

1. Reflect on Spiritual Discernment

• Question: How do you currently make decisions in your life? Reflect on a recent decision and consider how incorporating prayer and seeking God’s guidance might have impacted the outcome.

• Scripture for Meditation: James 1:5 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

2. Understanding Obedience and Consequences

• Question: In what ways can hidden sins or disobedience affect your life and those around you? Reflect on the story of Achan and consider any areas of your life that may need repentance and correction.

• Scripture for Meditation: Joshua 7:11 - “Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions.”

3. Applying Trust in God

• Question: Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the Lord with all our heart. Reflect on a challenging situation you are facing and write down ways you can trust God more fully instead of relying on your own understanding.

• Scripture for Meditation: Proverbs 3:5-6 - “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.”

4. The Power of Worship

• Question: Isaiah 61:3 speaks of a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. How has worship played a role in your spiritual battles? Reflect on a time when worship helped you overcome a difficult situation and consider how you can incorporate more worship into your daily life.

• Scripture for Meditation: Isaiah 61:3 - “To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

5. Lessons from Gibeonite Deception

• Question: The Israelites were deceived by the Gibeonites because they did not inquire of the Lord. Reflect on a time when you were misled or made a poor decision due to not seeking God’s guidance. What steps can you take to ensure you seek God’s wisdom in all future decisions?

• Scripture for Meditation: Joshua 9:14 - “The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.”

Word Study

Shalom (שָׁלוֹם)

• Translation: Peace

• Definition: Completeness, soundness, welfare, peace; a state of harmony and wholeness.

• Scripture References:

• Joshua 8:31 - “as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.”

• Isaiah 26:3 - “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

• Significance: Shalom is significant in the context of Joshua as it represents the peace and completeness that comes from obedience to God and His commandments. It underscores the theme of peace that results from trusting and following God’s direction.

Mizbeach (מִזְבֵּחַ)

• Translation: Altar

• Definition: A place of sacrifice, worship, and dedication to God.

• Scripture References:

• Joshua 8:30 - “Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal.”

• Genesis 8:20 - “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it.”

• Significance: The altar is a central symbol of worship, sacrifice, and consecration to God. In Joshua, the building of the altar on Mount Ebal signifies the renewal of the covenant and the importance of worship and obedience to God.

1. Exegetical Study Prompt: The Altar on Mount Ebal

Text: Joshua 8:30-31

• Prompt: Conduct an exegetical study on Joshua 8:30-31, focusing on the construction of the altar on Mount Ebal. Examine the historical and cultural context of building altars in ancient Israel. How does the command to use uncut stones (as prescribed by the Law of Moses) influence the understanding of the altar's significance? Compare this event to other altar-building instances in the Old Testament, such as those by Noah (Genesis 8:20) and Abraham (Genesis 12:7). How does this passage highlight the themes of obedience and worship in the context of Israel’s covenant relationship with God?

Questions:

• What was the purpose of using uncut stones for the altar, and what does this signify about the nature of worship and obedience in ancient Israel?

• How does the construction of the altar on Mount Ebal reaffirm Israel’s covenant with God following their victory over Ai?

• What similarities and differences can you identify between Joshua’s altar and other altars mentioned in the Old Testament?

2. Exegetical Study Prompt: Blessings and Curses on Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim

Text: Deuteronomy 27:12-13; Deuteronomy 30:19-20

• Prompt: Investigate the theological and literary significance of the blessings and curses pronounced on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal. Analyze Deuteronomy 27:12-13 and Deuteronomy 30:19-20 in their broader context within the book of Deuteronomy. What was the purpose of dividing the tribes between these two mountains, and how did this act serve as a public reaffirmation of the covenant? Explore the implications of these blessings and curses for the Israelites' understanding of their relationship with God. How does the juxtaposition of blessings and curses enhance the gravity of covenant obedience?

Questions:

• What is the significance of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in the context of Israel’s covenant renewal, and why were the tribes divided between these two locations?

• How do the blessings and curses serve as a reminder of the covenant terms, and what impact do they have on the Israelites' communal identity and behavior?

• What theological insights can be drawn from the choice set before the Israelites to choose life and blessings or death and curses?

3. Exegetical Study Prompt: Grace and Forgiveness on the Mountain of Curses

Text: Galatians 3:13; Romans 5:20

• Prompt: Explore the concept of grace and forgiveness as it relates to the idea of the altar being built on Mount Ebal, the mountain associated with curses. Analyze the theological connection between the curses pronounced on Mount Ebal and the establishment of an altar for forgiveness and fellowship offerings. How does this event foreshadow the New Testament understanding of Christ’s redemptive work as described in Galatians 3:13 and Romans 5:20? Examine the continuity of God’s grace and mercy from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

Questions:

• What is the significance of establishing an altar for sacrifices and forgiveness on Mount Ebal, the mountain associated with curses?

• How does the concept of grace and forgiveness on Mount Ebal relate to the redemptive work of Christ in the New Testament?

• In what ways do the themes of grace, forgiveness, and mercy underscore the continuity of God’s covenantal relationship with His people from the Old Testament to the New Testament?