Living in the Promised Land: A study in the book of Joshua
Lesson Twelve: God is faithful
A. Introduction
1. Greetings
2. Overview. [For those online, see this book overview from The Bible Project (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqJlFF_eU )
B. Today’s lesson: Chapter 12: God is faithful
If you have read this chapter, you know it’s another one of those which begs your discipline. You will find a list of 31 kings. Seriously, a list one-by-one of listed kings. And the serious student would want to investigate who is included and who might be excluded. The serious reader of the Bible for devotional purposes, which many are, would generally give a nod to such a list, and then move on, quickly, dare I say, and find more interesting or more compelling literature, hopefully in the next chapter.
This situation happens to me regularly, and maybe it does the same to you as you read the Bible. You are reading along, getting a lot. Then suddenly, the chronicler or the psalmist or the historian lays down old information in such a way that I scratch my head. “What?” I say. What’s the point of that genealogy or that shopping list or the pieces of the Tabernacle? Who cared then? And who cares now over 2,000 years later?
That’s our problem as we read chapter 12. In fact, most commentators give almost no mention, much less conversation to this chapter. But here we go.
1. The Unity of God’s people
Verses 1-6 highlight the Unity of God’s people. Remember the Og and Sihon stories of Aver Hayarden. The 2 and a half tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Menasheh who opted to choose land over there. The territory is expansive and listed with detail. I like that about the Bible. The details are not to be missed. The various creeks and rivers, the hills and Tels, the water holes and the ‘cities or hamlets are all listed to show the ancient boundaries. I like biblical clarity. Although the Bible is not always so clear in its definitions or descriptions, be sure that here in the text today, the answers to defined borders and boundaries was fixed.
I say the unity of God’s people is in view here. Remember the 2 and a half tribes had asked Moses for permission to take land across the river. And with a bit of reluctance and a bit of extra instruction and duty, Moses gave them what they asked.
There was going to be a question of loyalty and family when that happened, and Moses, who is mentioned here, or should I say, invoked here, made sure that the mishpochah would stay together long after he is gone.
I don’t mean to sound morbid, but I’m ever thinking in these terms here in Sydney. And that’s one of the reasons I want what we do, in the book shop, in the office, in our fellowship, on Shabbat gatherings, here on the Zoom call, I want what we do to last long after I’m gone. I don’t anticipate that this ending is very soon, but it’s certainly sooner than when I started here in Sydney in 1998.
Some of you might be the 2.5 tribes; some of you are the folks in the later land distribution (which happens beginning next week). Either way, the value of family is huge in the days of Moses and in the days of Bob.
Yeshua himself was asked about place distribution. It took place in Matthew 20. This chapter alone has some powerful teaching about who gets in and when.
Matt. 20:20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, bowing down and making a request of Him. 21 And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She *said to Him, “Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit one on Your right and one on Your left.” 22 But Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?” They said to Him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “My cup you shall drink; but to sit on My right and on My left, this is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.”
I show you this scene to highlight that Yeshua, like Moses, yields to God, and that the land or the placement of disciples is going to be something which requires sacrifice and humility. Grabbing for the seats of honour? Not a thing that God smiles on. Asking for place—not itself a bad thing—still leads to the reality of serving together, in family. Drinking the cup of affliction, that is going to happen. The cup of suffering. The cup of our Messiah. That’s part of how we make it in this transitory life.
The unity of God’s people is in view in verses 1-6.
What lesson we take from that? Perhaps that the Baptists and the Anglicans, the charismatics, and the Brethren, even the non-denominational denominations need to join, no matter where we ‘take our stand’ and serve God, in humility, in love for one another, in the reality of the unity for which Yeshua prayed in his final High Priestly prayer in John 17.
2. The faithful God is evident (7-24)
I suppose the list of the 31 kings won’t ever make it in your answer to someone’s question: “What’s your favourite section of the Bible?” But it has its purpose.
God is faithful. You’ve heard that before and you will hear it again. The faithfulness of God means something to me, today and each day. Maybe you have pondered this characteristic of the Almighty, even before this class today. Perhaps you have wondered if the longevity or the permanence of God is something to trust. We use the term ‘faithful’ to describe his ‘being there’ yesterday, today, and forever. Full of faith, that might be another angle on this, but today in this class, I want to highlight our confidence in the God who is still there.
The verses from 7 to 24 might appear monotonous, and certainly could be read that way. But listen to John Calvin on this section:
“But though each of those now summarily mentioned was previously given more in detail, there is very good reason for here placing before our eyes as it were, a living picture of the goodness of God, proving that there had been a complete ratification and performance of the covenant made with Abraham as given in the word, “unto thy seed will I give this land” (Gen 12.7, 13.15, 22.18).
Paul the apostle said, “God was able to perform what he had promised.” (Romans 4.21)
Dale Davis says of this section, “These verses do not drip with tedium; they tingle with excitement.” (page 109) Davis says the words are not a dull archive; “they are the lyrics of a song.”
Why is that? you say. Because it’s a listing of every moment and then some, in the history of our people, in the conflicts and the pains and the suffering. It’s a history of God’s actions and God’s successes. IT’s a definition of Promise made/ Action taken/ Promise fulfilled.
Without going into detail again, God is showcasing himself! He is to be trusted. He promised. You and he can take action together. God will fulfill his promises. Be sure of HIM.
Yesterday our staff spent the whole day in prayer. We were the opening batsmen of the entire JFJ international staff. We had volunteers with us. We had Jonny overseas with us. We even spent some of the day with our team from the Former Soviet Union and prayed for them, and for ourselves. We prayed for Israel and the situation there. We prayed along with the entire international team across the world, as they are still praying just now, it’s still Thursday in the US, and the answers are forthcoming.
One of the highlights to me was the sympathetic realities of our lives. One of our Russian Jewish sisters wanted prayer for a particular situation, in which one of our Sydney sisters had just gone through. One of our brothers overseas wanted prayer for his shifting house and two of us are in the same experience at this very moment. What I’m saying is that which Paul said to the Corinthians, “
13 No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
There it is; God is faithful. We all go through things together. Maybe not at the same time, maybe not in the same place, but we all will be tempted. We all will be given suffering moments. We all will ache and hurt and experience tough times in our lives.
What is our hope in those times? God who is faithful. God will give you a way of escape. God will open doors. God will close doors. He will keep you in his grace and love. Do you believe that? If you don’t, then read this list of kings who are no longer royal. Read the 31 out loud. God is faithful. You will be given the land. You will not be tempted beyond what you are able. He will win the victory.
3. Finally, a full victory is forthcoming
When we speak about victory in the Bible, sometimes this has to do with military battles. In our personal faith realm, that is, in the time without dungeons and dragons, we are fighting other forces. We are fighting sloth and laziness. We are fighting depression and demoralization. We are fighting health issues and marital problems. We are waging war with people on the bus, and with ourselves, to be kinder and more human. We are needing God’s faithful grace to carry on his life in the midst of a world which is anything but about him.
Theologians often use the term “Now and not yet.” This describes the tension between what is and what will be. It highlights that we are winners, victors because Yeshua won the final battle against sin and death when he died on the cross. It means we are winners, and we are going to heaven because of Messiah’s victory there.
At the same time, it’s ‘not yet’ because we still live in this mortality. Our bodies are fading, some faster than others, but to be sure, we are going to pass on to the next life. And there, and only there, will death have no more claim on us. And in the next life, yes, full of heavenly glory and pain-lessness, in the future, in the ‘not yet’ we will see Yeshua face to face. We will know as we are known. This mortal will take on immortality. What a day of rejoicing that will be. Amen?
So, when I read chapter 12, I see a claim by the Lord of his own faithfulness, and I see a ‘not yet’ in the victory of the Jewish people. Our own televisions this week have shown us that the Jewish people are still trying to claim the territory promised to Abraham. There still are battles there with missiles and counter missiles named the Iron Dome.
There will be a day when Yeshua, as our Messiah, puts his foot down on the Mount of Olives and declares final victory. When the ‘not yet’ becomes the ‘now.’ When faith becomes sight. Until that day we wait, not without hope, but with the sure anchor of our souls, on the Faithful God, who will do it. Amen?
Invitation
Dear friends, do you have such a commitment to the Lord of Lords today? Have you met the one who was cursed on the Roman tree for you in Jerusalem? if you have never asked Yeshua to be your Saviour, today as we keep learning from Joshua, would you choose to believe the Lord of life? Would you be willing to take a stand for him who took a stand and died on a Roman cross for you? We love Yeshua because in his death he accomplished salvation for all people. He took the curse we deserved to give us his righteousness which he deserved.
Without that kipporah (sacrifice) we would be hopeless, but because Yeshua died in our place on Passover, as the Passover lamb, and his blood was applied to the doorposts of our hearts, we can be forgiven.
If you’d like to receive that today, just now, join me as we pray.
Say something like this: “Father in Yeshua’s name, forgive me my sin, I was wrong to dismiss you and to disbelieve in you. I need your mercy. I deserve punishment but you are kind and merciful and I receive your grace. I repent. I receive Yeshua as my saviour and Lord. I will live because of my faith in Messiah Yeshua. Amen.
If you prayed that, please let us know of your profession by writing straightaway, won’t you?Bob@JewsforJesus.org.au We’d love to hear from you.
Conclusion
We are delighted you have joined us today. Please join us next week and learn with the others how you can stay on track in 2021 and beyond. I hope to see you next week as we continue our studies in Joshua. You will certainly see yourself in the readings and in the lessons. Next week we start the section of the book we call, “Possessing the Land” and will look at chapter 13, in what I call “Inheritance lessons” and see what lessons we can draw for ourselves from the events there!
Hope to see you then… until then, Shabbat shalom!
Bibliography
Butler, Trent C., Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 7. Joshua. Word, Waco, 1983.
Davis, Dale Ralph, Joshua: No Falling Words, Christian Focus, Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland, 2019.
Hess, Richard. Tyndale Commentary Complete.
Meyer, F.B., Joshua and the Land of Promise, Christian Literature Crusade, Ft Washington PA, 1977.
Pritchard, James, “The Bible reports on Gibeon.” Penn Museum, Expedition, 1961. Volume 3, Issue 4.
Sanders, J. Oswald, Promised-Land Living, Moody Press, Chicago, 1984.
Toms, Paul, This land is your land. Gospel Light Publishing, Glendale CA, 1977.
Weirsbe, Warren. Be Strong: Putting God's Power to Work in Your Life. David C. Cook Publishing, Colorado Springs, 2010.
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D-Groups for this week
1) Monday 11 am Sydney time. Led by James Howse
2) Monday 7 pm, Sydney time, led by James White
(Contact our office for zoom details)
If you’d like to host a D-Group either online or in person, please contact bob@jewsforjesus.org.au for further details. It’s time to step up. Ponder this—who will be in your D-Group?
The Book of Joshua: Outline.
C. Entering the Land (Chapters 1-4)
a. Chapter 1: A funeral and a promise (Leadership Lesson 1)
b. Chapter 2: A harlot saves the day
c. Chapter 3: Go against the flow (Part 1)
d. Chapter 4: Go against the flow (Part 2)
D. Taking the Land (5-12)
a. Chapter 5: Roll away iniquity: a study in sacraments
b. Chapter 6: Joshua fit d’battle ob Jericho
c. Chapter 7: Getting it very wrong: Achan and his mistakes
d. Chapter 8: Combat and Covenant
e. Chapter 9: Common sense is not so common
f. Chapter 10: Southern dominance
g. Chapter 11: How not to win
h. Chapter 12: God is faithful
E. Possessing the Land (13-21)
a. Chapter 13: Inheritance lessons
b. Chapter 14: For example
c. Chapter 15: Geography lesson
d. Chapter 16: Trends of note (Part 1)
e. Chapter 17: Trends of note (Part 2)
f. Chapter 18: Apportionment (Part 1)
g. Chapter 19: Apportionment (Part 2)
h. Chapter 20: Provisions (Part 1)
i. Chapter 21: Provisions (Part 2)
F. Retaining the Land (22-24)
a. Chapter 22: Can an altar alter anything?
b. Chapter 23: Staying on edge
c. Chapter 24: Three funerals and Renewing the covenant
The Seven Nations
1. Amorite
2. Canaanite
3. Girgashite
4. Hittite
5. Hivite
6. Jebusite
7. Perizzite
Josh. 12:1 Now these are the akings of the land whom the sons of Israel 1defeated, and whose land they possessed beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon as far as Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east: 2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled afrom Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, both the middle of the valley and half of Gilead, even as far as the brook Jabbok, the border of the sons of Ammon; 3 and the aArabah as far as the Sea of 1Chinneroth toward the east, and as far as the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward 2toward bBeth-jeshimoth, and on the south, 3at the foot of the slopes of Pisgah; 4 and the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of athe remnant of Rephaim, who lived at bAshtaroth and at Edrei, 5 and ruled over Mount Hermon and aSalecah and all Bashan, as far as bthe border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half of Gilead, as far as the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Moses the servant of the LORD and the sons of Israel 1defeated them; and aMoses the servant of the LORD gave it to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a possession.
Josh. 12:7 Now these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the sons of Israel 1defeated beyond the Jordan toward the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even as far as aMount Halak, which rises toward Seir; and Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions, 8 in athe hill country, in the lowland, in the Arabah, on the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the 1Negev; the Hittite, the Amorite and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite: 9 the aking of Jericho, one; the bking of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; 10 the aking of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14the king of Hormah, one; the king of aArad, one; 15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one; 16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one; 17 the king of Tappuah, one; the aking of Hepher, one; 18 the king of aAphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; 21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 the king of aKedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one; 23 the king of Dor in the 1heights of Dor, one; the king of aGoiim in Gilgal, one; 24 the king of Tirzah, one: ain all, thirty-one kings.
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