Jos-Lesson 9

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JOSHUA 8
Lesson #09
BE AN OVERCOMER THROUGH FAITHFUL PERSEVERANCE

• Memory verse: John 4:24

• Read Joshua 8:1-13
• Spiritual truths:
• God’s reassurance and mercy come after the sin of Achan has been resolved. (1)
• The first attack on Ai consisted of 3,000 men while this one consists of 30,000 men.
• God does things his way and not man’s way.
• However, the way back from sin is harder. It required more men.
• Is the spiritual battle ever the same after sin and disobedience have been dealt with? No.
• The way back from sin requires greater effort because:
• Temptation is more prevalent.
• Faith is weaker.
• Assurance is low and discouragement is high.
• But there is still victory! God is merciful.
• Consider that question in light of particular experiences in your own life.

• Read Joshua 8:14-29 The Battle for Ai
• The city of Ai was the strongest Canaanite city.
• The name Ai means = heap of ruins.
• In this case the name is a prophecy of its future at the hand of God.
• The city of Bethel
• The name Bethel means “House of God”.
• The Israelites waited between Ai and Bethel before the battle of Ai.
• Spiritual warfare strategy:
• The Israelite plan was to draw the Canaanites out of the city of Ai as though they are retreating.
• Then they would attack the city.
• The plan was to make the enemy think they were weak and then kill him.
• What new attitudes must be present to gain victory after sin?
• A new reliance on God.
• A new determination for victory.
• A new resolve to obedience.
• Persistent spiritual warfare.
• Read Eph 6:12
• The enemies of Israel were physical enemies.
• The enemies of the Christian are spiritual enemies.
• Notice the victory spoils (27)
• Ai and Bethel are burned as an offering to God, but the material blessings of victory belong to the people…the glory is God’s, but the blessings are ours.
• Jericho was the first fruits offering to God. Therefore no spoil of victory was allowed there. If Achan had been patient, he would have been blessed.
• Memorial #4
• What is the significance to us today of the fourth memorial that Joshua established in Jos 8:29?
• Mark the place where God’s mercy and faithfulness restore victory after repented sin.
• We must remember not to repeat this sin again.

• Read Joshua 8:30-35
• They travel from Ai and Bethel north into enemy territory to worship. Moses said they were to go there following God’s instruction.
• Read Deu 27:1-8.
• These instructions in Deu 27:1-8 are fulfilled exactly in Joshua 8.
• Cursing and blessing: Jos 8:30-35 and Deu 27-28
• Mt. Ebal (the mountain of cursing):
• The altar was built here (Jos 8:30).
• The altar was made of natural uncut stones.
• Man’s efforts profit nothing in reaching God.
• The law was written on the stones of the altar. (Jos 8:32).
• A burnt offering and a peace offering were made (Deu 27:6-7).
• The burnt offering was for sin.
• The peace offering was a thanksgiving to God for His peace through forgiveness.
• The curses were read. (Jos 8:34) (Deu 27:15-26).
• Mt Gerizim (the mountain of blessing):
• Then the blessings were read from this mountain. (Jos 8:34) (Deu 28:1-14)
• Mt. Ebal (the mountain of cursing): More curses were read from this mountain. (Deu 28:15-48)

• The setting:
• These two mountains are 1/2 mile apart forming a natural amphitheater.
• Mt Gerizim is shorter.
• Both names, Gerizim and Ebal, mean = “barren” as there was no vegetation on either mountain.
• According to Deu 27 and 28 curses were read from Mt. Ebal, blessings were read from Mt. Gerizim.
• An examination of Deu 27 and 28 reveals that there are more curses than there are blessings.
• Curses = verses 15-26 of Deu 27. Verses 16-19 of Deu 28. = 16 verses total.
• Blessings = verses 3-6 of Deu 28. = 4 verses total.
• Mt. Ebal, the mountain of cursing is taller than the mountain of blessing.
• The lesson of the two mountains:
• Why did they build the altar on Mt. Ebal?
• You would think they would build the altar on the Mt. of Blessing.
• The purpose was to remind the people they would not be perfect and would need an altar to take care of the abundance of sin that produced curses.
• The burnt offering was to atone for sin.
• Why was the altar made of whole uncut stones?
• No human mark upon it, so we must come to God his way.
• We must come to God through our own sinfulness and not of the works of our own hands.
• In this way, we humble ourselves to ask God for forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
• Why was the law written on the stones?
• Sin is God’s broken law.
• It is God’s broken law that brings curses.
• A burnt offering was performed for dealing with sin.
• Then a peace offering was performed signifying acceptance of forgiveness–peace with God.
• The Samaritan woman
• Read Joh 4:5, 19-24
• The Samaritans worshipped from Mt. Gerizim. Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well that Jacob dug near Mt. Gerizim in John 4.
• Notice that they worshipped from the Mt. of Blessing instead of the Mt. of Cursing as God commanded.
• She asked him which was the right place to worship, Jerusalem where the Jews worshiped or Mt. Gerizim where the Samaritans worshiped.
• Jesus’ answer:
• Salvation was of the Jews. Worship was to be in Spirit and Truth.
• The Samaritans tried to get God’s blessings on their own without dealing with sin on the altar of Mt. Ebal.
• Even though man’s intentions are good, man’s efforts cannot solve the sin problem.
• Read Heb 9:22
• For the Old Testament people, the shedding of animal blood in sacrifice covered sin.
• For the New Testament people, only the shed blood of Jesus Christ takes away sin.
• Scriptural events at Shechem (Sychar): The place of decision, for or against God.
• Jacob’s family chooses God as his Lord. (Gen 33:18-20)
• Mt. Ebal (Mt. Of cursing) and Mt. Gerizim (Mt of blessing) lay on either side of Shechem (Jos 8:30-35). Joshua renewed the covenant here.
• Joshua says to “choose” God. (Jos 24)
• The decision was made to split the kingdom here. (1Kin 12:25)
• The Northern Kingdom of Israel established their capital here.
• This became the chief city of the Samaritans with their temple on Mt. Gerizim. (Joh 4:20)
• Sychar in Joh 4:5 is Shechem where Jesus confronts the woman at the well.

• Application:
• What significance to us today is this object lesson of the two mountains?
• Are we to keep the law in order to gain God’s blessings? No.
• We must come to God His way through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ and not through works, that we might possess God’s unconditional promises.
• We must live in obedience to the standard of God’s character keeping the moral intent of God’s law and therefore reap God’s conditional promises of blessing.
• We must be the ones who overcome through perseverance in spiritual warfare and always through the blood of Christ.

• Prayer:
• Ask God to help you be a doer of the Word.

• Next lesson: is breaking a promise justified when it was obtained deceitfully by others?

HOMEWORK
JOSHUA 9
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joshua 8
• Write down a time in your Christian walk when God forgave you of a specific sin.

• Write down how He gave you the victory over that sin and temptation.

• Preparation for Joshua 9:
• Read Joshua 9:1-15
• Was the treaty with the Gibeonites God’s perfect will? How do you know?

• What was the nature of the treaty?

• Read Joshua 9:16-27
• Why didn’t Joshua cancel the treaty when he found out it was made through deception?

• What kind of servant position were the Gibeonites to have?

• Read: Psa 15 Mat 5:33-37 Eze 17:16-20 Heb 6:13-20

• Is it ever justified to break one’s promise when that promise was obtained deceitfully by others?

• Why do you think an oath is so important to God?

• Memory verse: Mat 5:37