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JOSHUA 22
Lesson #18
A TESTIMONY OF A BALANCE OF HOLINESS AND LOVE
- Memory verse: 1 John 2:10
- The tribe of Levi
- In our last lesson, we discussed the inheritance of the tribe of Levi.
- The six cities of refuge.
- The forty eight cities of residence for the tribe of Levi.
- The story of the tribe of Levi is the story of every believer today. It is the story of a messed up life, failure and shame, repentance and restoration, forgiveness and grace.
- This tribe lost its opportunity for inheritance of land because of murder and disgrace. Levi planned vengeance with his brother Simeon to avenge the rape of their sister. (Gen 34:35)
- Aaron, the high priest from the tribe of Levi, was instrumental in permitting the Israelites to worship the golden calf. They then had to pay for that sin by destroying all who worshipped the idol. (Exo 32:26-28)
- God gave them the ministry of reconciliation as priests of a Holy God. God has given the ministry of reconciliation to believers today. (2Cor 5:17-18) In the same way that God gave them the ministry of the priesthood, He gives us the ministry of being New Testament priests of God. (1Pet 2:9)
- Read Jos 21:43-45
- God gave the Israelites all the land and delivered all their enemies into their hand. However the Israelites failed to take advantage of the advantages that God gave them. They tolerated the enemy in their midst.
- They permitted the Canaanites to live in their midst.
- They took tribute from them.
- They began to intermarry with them.
- They began to tolerate worship of their foreign gods, and then began to worship these idols themselves.
- As believers in Jesus Christ, we fail God in the same ways as the Israelites and for the same reasons.
- We quench the conviction of the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin, and we begin to tolerate “small” sins in our lives.
- Then we begin to give more and more areas of our lives over to control by our spiritual enemy.
- Finally we discover that we live like non-believers and that Gods presence and work in our lives is non-existent or given only a small priority in our lives.
- But despite these failures, God trusts us with the ministry of carrying His Word to others. Why do you suppose He does that?
- God is patient with us. He waits until we come to the end of our own strength before finally surrendering completely to Him.
- God wants our love, but He wants it freely given. When we freely give him our lives totally in obedience, then He can use us to serve others.
- What do we need to remember?
- Read Joshua 1:3-6
- Read Psa 138:7-8
- Read Jos 22:1-9
- Read Num 32:1-22
- The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh
- These tribes decided to remain East of the Jordan River.
- They did not want the inheritance on the West side of the Jordan River in the Promised Land.
- God permitted them to have the land East of the Jordan River. However, Joshua said that they must fight with their brothers for the Promised Land on the West side of the Jordan River.
- After all the battles on the West side of the Jordan River, these tribes RETURN ed to the East to their own land.
- We have discussed how this was not Gods best, but His permissive will. To live in the permissive will of God will result in bringing leanness to the soul. (Psa 106:15).
- It is a more difficult life because there are more temptations.
- It is like living on the edge of a precipice.
- The realization of the presence of God is weaker.
- The commitment to the way of God is weaker.
- Read Jos 22:10-20
- The building of the altar:
- What was their motive for building the altar?
- It was a problem of identity on the East side of the Jordan River.
- This was to be a copy of the true altar to prove they had a right to worship. This was not directed by God nor did they ask God for permission.
- What was the disagreement about in the minds of the west bank tribes?
- =1= They feared that it would be used for sacrifice instead of coming to the tabernacle for worship. (16, 20).
- =2=They feared that they would use it to worship other gods.
- What wrong reactions were committed by the west bank tribes?
- Gossip (11)
- Quick hostility and anger (12) as they were ready to fight it out.
- They jumped to presumptuous conclusions.
- What right attitudes were among the west bank tribes?
- Righteous indignation at sin (if it was a sin).
- Fear of the Lord because of Peor (17, 18).
- Read Num 25:1-5,9 (sin of the group) fear of the Lord because of Achan (20).
- Read Jos 7:1,24 (personal sin)
- A determination to find out the true facts.
- A love for your brother no matter what you find out about him.
- Read Jos 22:21-34
- What right actions were taken?
- Take an authority figure with you but only after you have confronted your brother personally. (Mat 18:15-17).
- They found out the facts (21-29).
- They offered a solution of love (19).
- This solution would have cost the west bank tribes money and land.
- This kind of cost comes from a motive of love.
- What was the response of the east bank tribes?
- An explanation of their actions.
- There was no anger at being accused.
- Why do you think there was a happy ending?
- They committed themselves to God before parting (5).
- The fruit of right attitudes and actions performed in love and personal sacrifice results in unity.
- The sixth memorial:
- What was the memorial supposed to represent?(26-27)
- This was to be a witness between the tribes of their joint-identity with the Lord and with each other. An identity of unity.
- The altar was named “ed” means =”witness”.
- Of what significance is this memorial to us today?
- We are to be so committed to Christ and each other so that everyone will know that we are believers (2The 3:14-15)
- Therefore, we maintain the balance between holiness and love. That is to be our witness to the world. The world must see our testimony of the unity of the body of Christ.
- When the world sees this unity of worship, we fulfill Christs prayer for unity in John 17.
- Application:
- As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to live a life of holiness. When we become more like Christ, we will defeat the temptation to sin.
- As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to love others with an unconditional love.
- This is the love that is explained in 1Cor 13.
- Read 1Cor 13:4-7
- When we put holiness and love together in our relationships with other believers, we will have unity of Spirit, fulfilling Jesus prayer for unity in the body of Christ.
HOMEWORK
JOSHUA 23 AND 24.
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.
- Application of Joshua 22:
- How are the relationships between you and the members of your family?
- What actions can you take, like the tribes of Israel, to make peace?
- Preparation for Joshua 23 and 24
- Read Joshua 23:1-16
- What are Joshua’s last commands given in Joshua 23?
- What would cause the Israelites to lose the land?
- Read Joshua 24:1-13
- Joshua 24 is a review of Israel’s history. Review in your mind your own life’s history with God.
- What further commands are given by Joshua in Joshua 24:24-28?
- Of what significance is the seventh memorial at Shechem? (Jos 24:27)
- Is there a difference between “belief” and “conviction”? Explain
- Memory verses: Joshua 23:10-11
