Just a little more intro stuff…
As I look toward our study in Joshua, let me point out some interesting things we will find. Joshua was born into slavery and rose to become a great military leader and commander. He was a soldier, a servant, a spy, and a successor. The secret of Joshua’s success was his faith in the Word of God (Joshua 1:7-9), its commandments and its promises. Joshua obeyed God in everything and led the people into their new awaited land.
The book of Joshua records battles, defeats, sins, and failures. It also illustrates how believers today can bid good-bye to the old life and enter into their rich inheritance in Jesus Christ. It explains how we can face off with our enemies and defeat them, and how to claim for ourselves all that we have in Jesus Christ. We will see how Joshua is really a foretelling of what is ours in Christ. Like the land of plenty He promised the Israelites, God has promised us a fruitful life that we can enjoy as well.
In addition to gleaning from the book of Joshua, we will also look at Joshua the man. Why did God choose him? What made Joshua a perfect warrior and leader?
So, let’s begin by looking at God’s plan in motion…
Please read our key verse Exodus 3:8.
So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…
Before we delve into Joshua, it’s important we gain some background information first. This will set the stage for our study.
The book of Genesis records the beginning of God’s chosen people. It begins with the creation and concludes with Jacob and his family arriving in Egypt because of a severe famine in their homeland. It was here they multiplied and became enslaved for four hundred years.
Now, summarize the events of Israel’s early years in Egypt based on Exodus 1:1-7.
The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all. We read that they were fruitful and multiplied greatly and the land was filled with them (Exodus 1:7). This was truly the beginning of God’s promise to Abraham: “I will confirm my covenant between me and you and you will greatly increase your numbers” (Genesis 17:2).
Before they arrived in Egypt, the chosen people of God had a limited understanding of their God.
The greater knowledge would come later, when they were dwelling in the desert. Still, four hundred years is a long time for a nation to become immersed in another culture. I wonder if, over time, they strayed from their religious practices and fell into the Egyptian culture and worshiped their foreign gods.
Write down what you think it was like for the Israelites living in Egypt. What do you envision?
While the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, they also became slaves for four decades. As time went on, a new king in Egypt came to power—a king who did not know Joseph and one who seemed to have little concern for God’s people. Eventually, he made life unbearable for the Israelites (Exodus 1:8-10).
According to Exodus 1:10, why did the Egyptians make life difficult for God’s people?
What kinds of difficulties did God’s people face (Exodus 1:11-14)?
What else do you learn about their life in Egypt from Exodus 1:15-21?
Without a doubt, the Israelites were stuck. Miserable. And the king of Egypt didn’t care about them. They were struggling to survive under such harsh conditions.
That’s a perfect picture of slavery.
Here’s the thing: slavery in the church still exists. In fact, a great majority of believers today are chained up in captivity. Slaves.
Anything that has master over you is slavery.
What truth is found in Galatians 5:1?
What title does Paul give himself in Philippians 1:1?
The insight I gather from the previous verses is that I do not have to live as a slave because Jesus died for my freedom. But being a slave—or servant—to Jesus is a different thing all together.
Allowing sin, bondage, my past, fear, pride, or human nature to rule over me prevents me from enjoying the full life I was meant to have in Christ. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
So, letting Jesus be master over me puts me on a pathway of victory.
Which master will you choose? What is your plan of action?
Stay tuned for next week’s lesson…
Love and Blessings,
Wonderful lesson Sheryl! Love how you pointed out in the video how you used the word to counter the enemy and declare into the circumstances and atmosphere the truth of God in your situation. I remember when I used to do that! Want that fight back in my prayer life! Thanks for the encouragement! Love you! Was praying this morning that our Precious Father would just surprise you with His wonderful presence!
Thank you Rommy. What a blessing you are to me.
This is an excellent message Sheryl! God has been working on me on this very topic lately, so this is perfect timing.
Thank you, my friend, for sharing this. 😄
My Precious Teacher, Sister, and Dear Friend,
What a beautiful and profound lesson on Joshua! And I love how you started out with the following description of Joshua: “He was a SOLDIER, a SERVANT, a SPY, and a SUCCESSOR. And the secret of his success was his faith in the Word of God, its commandments, and its promises, and he obeyed everything…”
You also used powerful words in the second paragraph. For “the Book of Joshua records BATTLES, DEFEATS, SINS, and FAILURES.” It also helps us “to say goodbye to the old life and enter into the RICH INHERITANCE in Jesus Christ.” And what an awesome inheritance we have that cannot be stolen from us; for we rest in The Palms of Our Heavenly Father’s Hands! Glory!!!
Sheryl, you also brought forth the truth, that when God is on our side, we, like Israel, will be “fruitful, able to increase abundantly, and become mighty through the Power of His Arm.” This was pointed out in Exodus 1:1-7
And something else captured my attention where you wrote, “Before the Israelites arrived in Egypt, the chosen people of God had a limited understanding of Him.” Could it be that our desert experieces draw us so much closer to Him when we have to depend totally on Him Alone?
Another thoughtful thing you shared caused me to mediate upon children of God who live in an ungodly culture. Even in our day, there are so many idols tempting us to follow them and not draw into The LORD, Our God. We must always remember He is a jealous God and will have noone or nothing take His place. So, the question is, “What idol are we following or worshipping today?
Sheryl, I love the Scripture Verse you provided from Galatians 5:1, where we are told “to stand fast in the LIBERTY Christ has given us to make us free. We must not allow ourselves to be entangled again in ‘the Yoke of Bondage.'” What a great Word to feed upon! For as Paul pointed out in Philippians 1:1, we are only to be “A Servant of Christ.” For then we shall be like Him!
Powerful Lesson!! Thank you!!
Love you!!
Thank you Elsie for your beautiful words. Such great insight. I hope others will benefit from your inspiration as much as I did.
Sheryl – Great message and study. I’ve shared your video in this study on my facebook Writer’s page, as it is a great help to us all in learning to fight the enemy with the Word of God! Thank you!