25: Joshua challenged Israel: Love the Lord your God (Josh 23:1 – 16)

As death nears him, Joshua summoned the leaders of Israel and encouraged them to love and obey the Lord.

πŸ‘‰ Read Joshua 23:1 - 16


Q1. Now, Joshua has become very (        ) (1). He summoned all Israel and said, “You saw everything the Lord (              ) did for you. He (         ) for you (2-3).  See, I have parceled out to your tribes this land (4). The Lord (              ) will drive them out, so you can occupy their land as He (            ) you (5).

Now, Joshua has become very ( old ) (1). He summoned all Israel and said, “You saw everything the Lord ( your God ) did for you. He ( fights ) for you (2-3).  See, I have parceled out to your tribes this land (4). The Lord ( your God ) will drive them out, so you can occupy their land as He ( promised ) you (5).

At the beginning of the Book of Joshua, after Moses' death, the Lord encouraged Joshua, who needed to lead Israel to conquer the land, to keep His commands. Joshua encouraged the Israelites, who were facing similar circumstances: the loss of strong leadership and the daunting task of completing the conquest, in the same way the Lord had encouraged him. Fully trust and obey the Lord.

Joshua repeatedly says ‘the Lord your God.’ Four times.



Q2. Even though Joshua will soon die, the Lord their God will continue to lead them. Therefore, what truly matters is their loyalty to God. What does it mean to be loyal to the Lord their God? (6 – 7)

Be strong and careful to obey God’s words

Do not associate with the Canaanites

Do not worship their gods.



Q3. If they intermarry with the Canaanites and are not faithful to their God, He will no longer drive out the Canaanites. The remaining Canaanites will become a (            ) that tears their sides and (            ) that (          ) their eyes

The remaining Canaanites will become a ( whip  ) that tears their sides and ( thorns ) that ( blind ) their eyes.

Obeying His commands is not enough; you must love the Lord (11). Without that love, worldly anxieties will wear you down, and the earthly wealth will blind your mind.



Q4. (14 – 16) According to Joshua's reasoning, how certain is it that the Lord will punish their disobedience?

Just as every promise was faithfully fulfilled, every word of judgment will come to pass if they disobey. (15)


Q5. Find the verses of ‘good land.’ 

13, 15, 16.

Joshua uses this term, ‘good land,’ in his warning for disobedience. No matter how good the land is, the Lord could make it accursed land if they disobey Him. 




Though Joshua, their great leader, is about to die, what matters to them is to be faithful to the Lord's commands and to love Him. For the True Leader is the Lord, not human representatives.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. πŸ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers πŸ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer πŸ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

26: Other Laws concerning human life (#6 no murder) (Deut 21:1 – 22:8)

The command ‘do not murder’ should be extended to its full measure and completeness. They needed to remove the guilt of unresolved murder, keep the dignity of the female slave, respect the patrilineal inheritance, and preserve various lives. πŸ‘‰ Read Deuteronomy 21:1 - 22:8 When a homicide victim is found, and no one knows the murderer, the elders of the nearest town must do a ritual of atonement through the death of a heifer. What is the purpose of doing so? (7-9) If you had made your female slave your wife, you can divorce her but not (             ) her. For a man with two wives, if his less-loved wife’s son is the firstborn, let him inherit the (            ) portion. He should not show favoritism according to his affection for one of his wives. When a son doesn’t listen to his parent, he is like a glutton and (             ). Why should they not leave the corpse on the tree of execution overnight? When you see someone’s lost possession, do not (           ) it. You must not re
Read more

35: I am the True Vine. You are the Branches (John 15:1 – 17)

Image
The vine tree analogy so vividly illustrates our relationship with Jesus. As the branches of a vine share the life of the vine, we share and live from Jesus’ life. πŸ‘‰ Read John 15:1 - 17 Q1. Why do we need to remain in Jesus? (2, 4) Answers πŸ‘‰ To bear fruit. God takes away any branch that doesn’t bear fruit. We might debate the security of salvation: do we lose our salvation if we bear no fruit? However, it is better to focus on how to bear fruit rather than how to get salvation.  “You are clean already.” It would refer to a born-again status, a rightful relationship with the Father, one who bathed (13:10). John uses the imagery of cleanness for salvation. In the OT bible, one should be ritually clean to stand before God.  When we believe Jesus’ gospel, we are reconciled with the Father. Though sinners, we can approach God by Jesus’ blood. The pruning (lit. cleaning) (2) of our life is to make us bear more fruit. “Remain”: You should stay, not stop by. No plant produces fruit
Read more