Rels Reflection

Israel takes the Land – the Book of Joshua

I. Who is Joshua

Son Nun, he was the follower of Moses

1. The meaning of his name

= “God saves” = Jesus

2. His character as a leader

i. His preparation – mentoring (Prov 13:20)

ii. His mission – to lead Israel across the Jordan river and into the promised land (land of Canaan) – difficult to keep the main mission the main mission

Characteristics of a leader: A good leader is __________

Will sacrifice themselves for others

Two types of leadership attitudes:

· The people exist to serve me

· I exist to serve the people

· The people must be willing to die for me to live

· I am willing to die so the people can live

iii. His success

II. The Mission: To take the land of the Canaanites by destroying them (Deut 7:1-5; Deut 20:16-18)

1. Is it ethical to take other peoples’ land?

i. questioning God’s character: is God commanding ________________? Is God a _________________? Is God commanding ____________ _____________?

2. Some points to consider about the command:

i. All the earth ___________________ (Gen 1:9)

ii. God allows nations to live in the land based on “usurfruct”= the right to live in the land as long as you respect the laws

3. How have the Canaanites behaved in the land God gave them?

i. Gen 15:15ff – God _______________________________ “sin of the Amorites has not reached full measure” (not yet complete)

This shows that God is very patient; God never disciplines too soon; God gives nations time to repent;

ii. The nature of Canaanite religion

1. Baal the god of _______________

2. sympathetic magic _______________ = you do on earth what you want the gods to do in heaven rain was the sperm of Baal

Baal’s temple had priests and priestesses

iii. Lev 18 – description of Canaanite lifestyle

iv.

1. _________________________ = Incest; love is love

2. _________________________ =child sacrifice

3. _________________________ = homosexuality

4. _________________________ = Bestiality

v. Conclusion: the command to attack the Canaanites and take their land is for:_________________________________ Judgment against the Canaanites for their sinful behaviors God is not a racist; he doesn’t hate Canaanites just because they are Canaanites;

Joshua and the Israelite army are God’s weapon to discipline the Canaanites

God is patient, but not forever.

vi.

4. Evidence that God does not hate the Canaanites

i. warning to Israel

ii. the treatment of Rahab in Josh 2 and 6; and Matt 1

Jericho =

Who is Rahab: woman, Canaanite and a prostitute

Joshua fought 3 mighty battles and took Canaan.

He then divided the land into 12 parts and gave each tribe one part.

· 930 BC Israel broke into two nations, called Israel (north) and Judah (south)

· In 722 BC Assyria wiped out Israel

· 586 BC Babylon came and wiped out Judah and took most of the people into exile

· Go to SETL and fill in the course evaluation

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