Observation:
- Read Joshua 11 &12
- Read Joshua 11 & 12 and mark every reference to: Joshua, the kings and their people (mark as one), God, Moses, commanded, the land, struck, utterly destroyed
- Using your journal answer the following questions:
- Who comes up against Israel in Chapter 11?
- How are these people described?
- What does the Lord tell Joshua about this battle?
- How does Joshua respond to what God says?
- What is the outcome of this battle?
- How is Joshua described in verse 15?
- What has happened to the hearts of the kings in the land (verse 20)? Why?
- What do we learn in verse 23 about the conquest of the land?
Interpretation:
- What is the importance of Joshua 11:16-12:24? Read through this section and then read Joshua chapter 1. How do these chapters compare?
- Joshua 11:19-20 are important for us to look at further. What is the importance of these verses? What do they tell us?
- Look up the following words using Blue Letter Bible: harden, mercy, (verse 20)
- Read Deuteronomy 20:10-18, what do you learn about how the Children of Israel were told to take the cities. How does this passage connect with Joshua 11:19-20?
- Read Romans 9:15-18, how does this passage connect with Joshua 11:19-20?
- Read Ephesians 2:4-10 and write down what you learn about mercy in this passage.
Application:
How have you seen God be faithful in the book of Joshua? Write down the ways you have seen Him be faithful. Now consider your own life. What ways do you see God being faithful? Write them down in your journal.
If you remember before Spring Break we studied chapter 9 of Joshua where the children of Israel made a covenant with a group of people inside the land. This week we will look at what it means for them to keep that covenant.
Observation:
- Read Joshua 10
- Read Joshua 10 and mark every reference to: Joshua, Gibeonites, the people of Israel, The Lord, 5 Kings of the Amorites, struck, fight (fought)
- Using your journal write down the answers to the following questions:
- Who rose up against the Gibeonites? Why?
- Why did Israel get involved?
- What does the Lord say about this matter?
- How are the Amorites killed?
- What event happens here that makes it like "no day like it before or after"
- What happens to the kings of the Amorites?
- What happens after Joshua kills the kind of the Amorites? What cites are then conquered?
- Why were Joshua and the people able to defeat these cities? (Verse 42)
Interpretation:
- Why did the Israelites get involved when someone rises up against the Gibeonites?
- Read 2 Samuel 21:1-14 and mark every reference to covenant (and oath). What do you learn in this passage about the gravity of making a covenant and not honoring it?
- Read 1 Samuel 20:15-17,23,42 and mark the words agreement and oath (like you did for covenant). Why was Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan spared?
Application:
What have you learned about the gravity of covenant? Why is this lesson important for us? What else did you learn about God this week? How does what you have learned changed what you know to be true and how you live your life?
Observation:
- Read Joshua 9
- Read Joshua 9 and mark every reference to: Joshua, the Gibeonites, the land, covenant (sworn, oath),
- In your journal record the flow of events in Joshua 9.
- Answer the following questions in your journal:
- Where are the Gibeonites from?
- Why do they want to make a convenant with Israel?
- Does Israel consult the Lord in this matter?
- Is Israel hesitant to make a covenant? How come?
- What is the conflict that arises in Joshua 9:16-27 between the people and their leaders? What was the decision?
Interpretation:
A covenant is a solemn binding agreement between two people or parties. A covenant made between two parties brought the parties into a partnership which agreed, among other things, protection from one's enemies. A covenant is not something to be entered into lightly. Once made covenants were only broken by death.
- Read Exodus 23:20-33, Exodus 34:12-16 and Deuteronomy 7:1-2. In your journal write out how these passages connect with our passage in Joshua. (Make sure you note why God says what He does about covenants).
- Do you remember what happened at the end of the last chapter? What had Israel just heard?
Application:
What have you learned this week about the Lord or what it means to follow Him. Write down your thoughts in your journal.
