Online Sermons
Lesson #3 - Prelude To Conflict
Series: No Time For NeutralityLESSON #3 – PRELUDE TO CONFLICT
Crossing The Jordan / Chapter Three
1. How much time elapsed between debriefing the spies and embarking for the Jordan? – vs.2
Joshua now prepares in earnest to do what God ordained him to do from the outset. – cf. Josh.1:2
~ Consider the hazards of such a crossing?
Men, women & children + animals & supplies. How wide? How deep? How swift? What season?
How many Israelites (after 40 years in the wilderness) had a first-hand recollection of crossing the Red Sea?
What assurance did God provide to Joshua? – vs.7 - - cf. Josh.1:5
2. How were they to proceed?
Who and what was to lead the procession? – vss.3 & 11
~ Remember: the ark of the covenant is the “ark of the Lord your God”. cf. Josh.4:5
~ Why were the people instructed to keep their distance from the ark (3,000 feet)? – vs.4
~ Not only would they need to concentrate on the task at hand, they also need be consecrated. – vs.5
Give a summary of Joshua’s pre-crossing message to the people. – vss.9f
~ How many nations were to be disposed? – vs.10
Canaanite … Hittite … Hivite … Perizzite … Girgashite …Amorite … Jebusite (seventy nations in all – cf. Acts 13:19).
3. Explain the logistics of the crossing. – vss.14f
“The priests who carried the ark…stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan.” – vs.17
Scholars speculate that the place name “Adam” (vs.16) was located approximately 30 miles up-river.
Was this “wonder” (vs.5) a MIRACLE? Are there similarities with the crossing of the Red Sea (cf. Ex.14:13ff)?
Stones Of Remembrance / Chapter Four
1. Who were “The Twelve” who were chosen and what special directives were assigned to them? – vss.2f
Describe the process of retrieving stones of remembrance.
Where and why were they to be erected? – vss.6-7 and 19-20.
What other stones did Joshua erect and where were they placed? – vs.9
2. How long did the priests accompanying the Ark remain in the middle of the river? – vs.10
What happened when they finally came ashore? – vs.18
3. Besides the actually crossing, what other “message” was galvanized by these events? – vs.14 - - cf. Josh.3:7
Laboring in the shadow of Moses, how did this benefit both Joshua and the nation of Israel?
4. How did this crossing impact “the neighborhood”? – vs.24 - - cf. Josh.2:11 with 5:1 and 6:1
Can FEAR sometimes be a good thing? - - cf. Ps.111:10 and Eccl.12:13 - - What does it mean to fear God?
Circumcision Of Male Israelites / Chapter Five
1. With her enemies dis-spirited & discouraged, wouldn’t this have been an opportune time to attack without delay? – v.1
Yet, at this juncture, God chooses to render Israel weakened and very venerable. Why? – vss.2f
~ Although all (males) were circumcised before the exodus (Ex.12:44 & 48), such had not taken place during the journey. – vs.5
~ Describe circumcision at Gilgal (circle). What did it symbolize (vs.9 - - cf. Deut.10:16 & 30:6) and why was it so necessary?
~ Explain some of the benefits of circumcision - - both practical and spiritual?
2. Note that the observance of the Passover was also connected with this time of consecration? – vss.11-12
3. Whom did Joshua encounter near Jericho? – vss.13-15
Who was this captain of the host of the Lord and what was Joshua told to do in His presence? – vs.15
Would this “theophany” have served to embolden Joshua? – cf. Deut.1:28
