We shall continue with
the study of the Book of Joshua this week.
(1) God knew exactly who committed the crime. Why would He tell Joshua to perform a tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, man by man process?
(2) What should Achan do before he was finally drawn?
(3) If you were Joshua, when Achan was drawn, what would you have said?
(4) What did Joshua say?
(5) Why did Joshua begin with saying, “give glory to God and give Him the praise?” Why would Joshua tell someone who sinned so horribly and was about to face the punishment of death to give God glory and praise?
(6) Read Achan’s confession. Did he give glory to God? Was his confession a sign of repentance?
(7) The Israelites had gone through 40 years in the wilderness which meant that they would have rarely seen any Babylonian robe, let alone own one. Together with 5 – 6 lbs. of silver and 1¼ lbs. of gold, it was certainly a huge temptation. How might Achan justify what he did at the time of his action?
(8) Given the seriousness of Achan’s sin, was the punishment of the whole family still a little harsh? Try to recount all the consequences of his sin.
(9) What is the main message to you today?
Technically, what Achan did was not theft. Whatever he did was part of a normal act during a war, especially in the Ancient Near East. As you took part in conquering your enemies, the loot which in this case included a robe and some silver and gold was part of your entitlement, not to mention that the poor guy had spent all of his life in the wilderness and would have never seen such a beautiful a robe, let alone own one.
However, Achan was no ordinary person and the war was no ordinary war. He was part of the Chosen People of God. He was delivered together with his people out of Egypt; and together with his people, they belonged not to themselves, but to the Lord. As much as the war was a path to the Promised Land for their enjoyment, it was not their war. It was the Lord’s and was fought for His glory! As a result, what was common and acceptable to the world was not necessarily common and acceptable to them. They had to live by and play by the rules and standards, not of the world, but of God.
The parallel to Christians cannot be clearer. We do not live by or play by the rules and standards of the world, but only that of the Bible. Therefore, we can never defend our disobedience by saying, “But, everybody does that!” We are clearly not “everybody”; we belong to the Lord. Not even Achan dared to say anything in his own defense.
(1) What did the Lord remind Joshua of in 8:1?
(2) Now, in the attack of Ai for the second time, the Lord allowed them to carry off their plunder. Why did God change His rule all of a sudden?
(3) How did this change of rule reveal God’s intention in His original (earlier) command? What can you learn from this?
(4) How many people did the city of Ai have? (8:25)
(5) How many people did Joshua use last time (7:4)? How many did he mobilize this time? How might you define “faith” in this context?
(6) We know that we should not lie or do anything deceptive, but in the battle of Ai, Joshua led the Israelites to flee as if they were being driven back so as to allow the other 5,000 men to ambush their enemy. Together with the story of Corrie ten Boom who hid the Jews from the Nazis, how might you understand Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”?
(7) What was the main lesson learnt by the Israelites that day?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
It is interesting to read that at the second attempt to attack the city of Ai, the Lord suddenly changed the rule to the battle: “except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves” (Jos. 8:2).
If I were one of the Israelites, I would have wondered if I had heard it correctly from Joshua. And if I were Joshua, I would have asked the Lord why He changed His rule or standard which had gotten Achan killed in the first place. Why tempt Achan, if the rule could be changed?
We always talk about not putting God in a box, and I think this is a very good case in point. God was not interested in simply defeating their enemies and giving them the Promised Land. He was far more interested in making them His People, a people who would understand His heart and reflect His character. The entire process of exodus, wilderness and possession of the Promised Land was one of molding them into a holy nation. Therefore, at the beginning of their campaign of possessing the land from the Canaanites, the people needed to learn absolute obedience and contentment.
Yes, Achan failed the test, but not all Israelites did. But his failure had served God’s purpose as well, in that the whole nation now understood the importance of absolute obedience and contentment. The rule for not carrying off their plunder could now be changed. It is not unlike how we train our children. When they were teenagers, we needed to impose certain rules, such as curfew. But as they grew into adulthood, those rules were no longer needed. Not that the parents have changed their standards, but that the children have matured.
This passage should be read in conjunction with Deuteronomy 27, especially vv. 1-8.
(1) What might be the main difference between hearing the words of Moses at the time of Deuteronomy and the hearing of the words from Joshua now standing at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim (one to the north and the other to the south of Shechem)?
(2) What was the significance of building an altar to the Lord and presenting burnt offerings and fellowship offerings at this time?
(3) How important was it that the stones had to be uncut, without tools being used on them (i.e. what was its spiritual implication)?
(4) The emphasis of the writer on the hearers and participants includes “all” Israel, aliens, citizens, elders, officials, judges women and children. How important was it that “all” had been included in this ceremony?
(5) How were the blessings and curses made even more real, being pronounced at a time like this?
(6) How may you emulate the Israelites in “copying” the word of God upon your heart and that of your family (or your church)?
(7) As much as we now live under grace, what might be the “blessings” and “curses” you receive because of your obedience and disobedience to the Lord in your life?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
Joshua and the Israelites now stood in Shechem, sandwiched between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, the two mountains that they had heard about from Moses, but which they now saw with their own eyes. The words of Moses, now repeated by Joshua, carried a far greater reality and relevance. With the Promise Land firmly planted beneath their feet, the promises of God became powerfully real, and so were the curses and blessings that they were now being cautioned of. And before this ceremony of hearing the curses and blessing, they sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord — a reminder that they were a special people who had made peace with the Holy God who could now be accessed through the sacrifices of animals in their place. Moses had also commanded that these offerings be made on an altar of uncut stones on which no iron tool had been used (Jos. 8:31). That means no human effort could bring them to be acceptable by God, it was God’s grace through and through.
Indeed, the grace of God has now been manifested fully in the person of Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son whose death has made possible for us to gain access to God’s presence. It is grace and grace alone, not human effort that has brought us our salvation as God’s children. However, our God remains a Holy God. As much as we believe that when we are saved by grace through faith, our status as His children will not change by our continuous transgressions, but our fellowship with Him is constantly marred by our disobedience. This is why the Apostle John, writing to believers, urges us to continuous repentance, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)
When you think about it, isn’t God’s grace marvelous! We have been saved by grace (Eph. 2:8), and yet even as we continue to sin, we continue to be cleansed of our sins! That’s grace, marvelous grace. But we should also listen to the Apostle Paul when he says, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?” (Rom. 6:1)
For those who truly understand the wonder of God’s grace, they would join Paul and answer emphatically, “By no means!”.
(1) If you have access to maps of the Bible, take a look at how vast a region was covered by the people who gathered to make war against Israel as described by vv. 1-2. It was no more a war between two nations, but many against one. This appears to be the pattern faced by Israel even up to the present days. What might have changed over the years in this respect? What might have remained constant?
(2) How did the people of Gibeon react differently from these people in vv. 1-2? What might be the core reason for their decision? Could they not have joined the others? Were they cowards and weaklings? (See 10:2)
(3) Why could the Israelites not make a treaty with the Gibeonites if they were neighbors? (See Deut. 20:10-18)
(4) It is true that the Israelites (obviously including Joshua) “did not inquire of the Lord” (v. 14). If they did, what might the Lord say to them? (In the entire story, the Lord never rebuked Joshua or the Israelites for their action.)
(5) The OT Scholar, Richard Hess remarks that, “the Gibeonite confession of faith in the Israelite God lies at the center of the structure.” Do you agree with his remark and why?
(6) How may their willingness to be Israel’s servants (v. 9) speak to the above?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
Years ago, I marked in the margin of my NIV Bible beside chapter 9 of the Book of Joshua, “What if the leaders inquired of the Lord?”
On the surface, it was because the people and their leaders (including Joshua obviously) “did not inquire of the Lord” that they were fooled by the Gibeonites and believed that they were not their neighbors, but people beyond Canaan (Jos. 9:14). As a result, they were spared, but made to be slaves of Israel.
Of course, my question remains a hypothetical one to which the Bible does not provide a direct answer, but I believe the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 speaks to the heart of God who is the same “yesterday, today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
When the woman cried for help on behalf of her demon-possessed daughter, she was greeted with horrible, racial sarcasm from Jesus, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”, followed by some even more demeaning words, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” But as the woman pled persistently in humility, she was rewarded not only with the healing of her daughter, but a heart-felt commendation by Jesus, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted” (Matt. 15:28).
I believe that Jesus’ demeaning words reflected not so much His own heart (because “God so loved the world”), but the attitude of his disciples and the Jews of the time. As a result, should Joshua inquire of the Lord and should the Gibeonites respond like the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15, the outcome would have been the same. They would have been spared, as Richard Hess puts it, “the Gibeonite confession of faith in the Israelite God lies at the center of the structure” (Hess, Joshua, COTC, 179).
(1) Was it right for the whole assembly to grumble against their leaders?
(2) What was the reason given by the leaders of Israel to spare the lives of the Gibeonites? Do you think it was right for them to do so in spite of the apparent violation of God’s instruction to wipe out all the Canaanites (Deut. 20:16-18)?
(3) It appears the leaders saw the breaking of an oath before the Lord to be far more serious than the violation of God’s instruction in Deuteronomy. If I say that this incident demonstrated that the leaders truly understood the spirit of the Law (or the heart of God), would you agree? Why or why not?
(4) What was the curse imposed on them by Joshua?
(5) Were they mere woodcutters and water carriers? Was it really a curse?
(6) In what way was Joshua a type of Christ as described in v. 26?
(7) How are we, NT Christians, like the Gibeonites?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
I find it very amusing that Joshua would tell the Gibeonites, “You were now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” (Jos. 9:23) Is it really a curse that one will never cease to serve the house of the Lord, even as a woodcutter or water carrier? The words of one of the psalmists come to mind, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked” (Ps. 84:10).
I invite you to reflect on the lyrics of this wonderful hymn, as we make drawing close to God our greatest yearning:
Refrain:
Close to thee, close to thee,
close to thee, close to thee,
all along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with thee.
1
Thou my everlasting portion,more than friend or life to me,
all along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with thee.
2
Not for ease or worldly pleasure,nor for fame my prayer shall be;
gladly will I toil and suffer,
only let me walk with thee.
3
Lead me through the vale of shadows,bear me o'er life's fitful sea;
then the gate of life eternal
may I enter, Lord, with thee.
(Fanny Crosby, 1820-1915)
(1) Did the Gibeonites expect that their peace treaty with Israel would invite attack by their powerful neighbors?
(2) Did the Gibeonites show any regret for their action? Why or why not?
(3) The target of these neighboring kings was originally Israel (9:1-2). Why did they change their target and attack the Gibeonites? What were they trying to achieve?
(4) Why did they not follow the footsteps of the Gibeonites?
(5) What message did God give to Joshua? Why was it necessary?
(6) What surprise move did Joshua make? Was it normally a prudent military strategy? Why did it work?
(7) Why did God choose to intervene with hailstones? After all, were the people of Israel not already winning the battle?
(8) What prompted Joshua to ask for the sun to stand still? What did it achieve? How big was this miracle?
(9) Why did God answer Joshua’s prayer? Can we pray for something similar? Why or why not? (Matt. 17:20)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
In an effort to prove the accuracy of the biblical account of Joshua 10 in which God made the sun stand still, an over-zealous Christian resorted to fabricating stories of evidence produced by NASA only to be refuted by NASA publicly. I find the following comments sensible in that our faith does not really depend on so-called scientific evidence:
"Primarily this: it was a miracle. Joshua prayed for divine assistance, and he received it. An omnipotent God could have helped in any way He chose. Before anyone can dismiss the Bible because it reports miracles as though they really happened, he must do two things. First, he must prove that there is no God Who has the ability to accomplish such tasks. Now, if there is a God Who is capable of speaking the entire Universe into existence (Ps. 33:9), then it must be admitted that He has the power to do with it whatever He wishes. Who is measly man to say that the God of the Universe does not have the power to stop the Earth, Moon, and Sun, and still maintain every other semblance of order? By definition, God is beyond the scope of such criticism.
"Second, the critic must be able to prove that the Bible is of purely human origin. However, the Bible itself is one of the best-known examples of a miracle. When all of the facts are considered, it is evident that without God, the Bible cannot be explained. The burden of proof rests with the skeptic; until he can prove there is no God, and that the Bible is merely a human production, he has no basis upon which to deny the biblical record of a miracle. To dismiss the Bible because it contains accounts of 'impossible' events is inane. With God nothing is impossible except, of course, those things which are at odds with His nature (e.g., He cannot lie — Tit. 1:2). As with all miracles, no explanation is given as to how the feat in Joshua 10 was performed. How did the axe head float (2 Ki. 6)? How did five loaves and two fish feed over five thousand (Matt. 14)? How did Jesus give sight to the blind (Jn. 9)? That these things happened is sufficient for the man who accepts the omnipotence of God.
"Accordingly, two of the above solutions seem to fit the data. First, God may have caused the solar rays to linger over Palestine for the specified time. If God thus made the Sun to appear — from Joshua's perspective — to hang in the sky above Gibeon, it would be correct to report the event in such terms. Or second, it may be that the Sun (and indeed the entire solar system) was suspended miraculously for a day. Whether the miracle was local or universal is not specifically stated in the text. Either way, 'there has been no day like that, before it or after it' (Josh. 10:14)!"
(Excerpt from Did the Sun Stand Still, www.apologeticspress.org, by Brad Bromling)
(1) Can you list from this passage words spoken by Joshua that were words spoken to him by God in the first place? This appears to be the first time that Joshua repeated to his people these words which were originally meant for him. If this was the case, what can we say of Joshua’s journey of faith?
(2) V. 21 is an interesting verse. Why would the author say, “no one uttered a word against the Israelites”? How might this verse speak to your own situation today?
(3) Why did Joshua ask the army commanders to put their feet on the necks of the kings? Did these commanders expect such a great victory against this powerful bloc of enemies?
(4) What had this battle and the way it was won meant to the Israelites?
(5) What had this battle meant to the Gibeonites who had made a difficult decision to be servants to the Israelites?
(6) What had this battle meant to Joshua at this (still) beginning stage of his campaign?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
As God chose Joshua to succeed Moses in leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, He knew that Joshua would face enormous challenges and that it would be an impossible task, humanly speaking. This was why whether through Moses (in Deut. 31), through the mouth of the 2½ tribes (Jos. 1:18), or through direct appearances to Joshua (Jos. 1, 8 and 10), God repeatedly told him not to be afraid and be strong and courageous. God knew Joshua needed to learn to trust in Him.
Through the drying up of the River Jordan, the sudden collapse of the walls of Jericho, the complete victory over Ai and now the heavenly intervention of hailstones and the sun standing still, Joshua has truly come to be strong and courageous, and not to be afraid. How do we know that? Because it was the first time we read that he was able to repeat the same words in Joshua 10:25 to the people: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.”
I believe Joshua was a very honest person, he could not tell the people what he himself could not do — not that he did not believe the words of God before this victory at Makkedah, but that he was still trying to overcome his own fear. Total faith in God is a process. Finally, he has come to a point that he could utterly trust in God and thus he could honestly tell the people what God has been telling him all along. In other words, now his life is his sermon.