JOSHUA
LESSON #17
CHAPTER 22
LESSON #17
A BALANCE OF HOLINESS AND LOVE
MEMORY VERSE: 1 JOHN 2:10
READ JOS 22:1-9
THE TWO AND ONE HALF TRIBES ARE SENT HOME TO THE EAST SIDE OF
THE JORDAN.
READ NUMBERS 32:1-22
THE TRIBES OF REUBEN, GAD, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH
THESE TRIBES DECIDED TO REMAIN EAST OF THE JORDAN. THEY DID NOT WANT THE INHERITANCE ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE JORDAN IN THE PROMISE LAND. GOD PERMITTED THEM TO HAVE THE LAND EAST OF THE JORDAN. HOWEVER, JOSHUA SAID THAT THEY MUST FIGHT WITH THEIR BROTHERS FOR THE PROMISE LAND ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE JORDAN. AFTER ALL THE BATTLES ON THE WEST OF THE JORDAN, THESE TRIBES RETURNED TO THE EAST TO THEIR OWN LAND.
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.
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. FEAR THAT IT WOULD BE USED FOR SACRIFICE INSTEAD OF COMING TO THE TABERNACLE (VERSE 16, 20).
2. FEAR THAT THEY WOULD USE IT TO WORSHIP OTHER GODS.
WHAT WRONG REACTIONS WERE COMMITTED BY THE WEST BANK TRIBES?
1. GOSSIP (VERSE 11)
2. QUICK HOSTILITY AND ANGER (VERSE 12) AS THEY WERE READY TO FIGHT IT OUT.
3. JUMPED TO PRESUMPTUOUS CONCLUSIONS.
WHAT RIGHT ATTITUDES WERE AMONG THE WEST BANK TRIBES?
1. RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION AT SIN (IF IT IS A SIN).
FEAR OF THE LORD BECAUSE OF PEOR (VERSE 17, 18).
NUM 25:1-5,9 (CORPORATE SIN) FEAR OF THE LORD BECAUSE OF ACHAN (VERSE 20).
JOS 7:1,24 (PERSONAL SIN)
2. A DETERMINATION TO FIND OUT THE FACTS.
3. A LOVE FOR YOUR BROTHER NO MATTER WHAT YOU FIND OUT ABOUT HIM.
READ JOS 22:21-34
WHAT RIGHT ACTIONS WERE TAKEN?
CONFRONTED YOUR BROTHER PERSONALLY. MAT 18:15-17.
2. THEY FOUND OUT THE FACTS (VERSE 21-29).
3. THEY OFFERED A SOLUTION OF LOVE (VERSE 19).
IT WOULD HAVE COST THE WEST BANK TRIBES MONEY AND LAND
WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE OF THE EAST BANK TRIBES?
1. AN EXPLANATION OF THEIR ACTIONS.
2. THERE WAS NO ANGER AT BEING ACCUSED.
WHY DO YOU THINK THERE WAS A HAPPY ENDING?
THEY COMMITTED THEMSELVES TO GOD BEFORE PARTING (VERSE 5).
THE FRUIT OF RIGHT ATTITUDES AND ACTIONS WAS PERFORMED IN LOVE AND PERSONAL SACRIFICE IS UNITY.
THE SIXTH MEMORIAL:
WHAT WAS THE MEMORIAL TO REPRESENT?
(VERSE 26-27) A WITNESS BETWEEN THE TRIBES OF THEIR JOINT-IDENTITY WITH THE LORD AND WITH EACH OTHER.
THE ALTAR WAS NAMED "ED" MEANING "WITNESS".
OF WHAT SIGNIFICANCE IS THIS MEMORIAL TO US TODAY?
WE ARE TO BE SO COMMITTED TO CHRIST AND EACH OTHER THAT EVERYONE WILL KNOW WE ARE BELIEVERS (2TH 3:14-15) AND THEREFORE, WE MAINTAIN THE BALANCE BETWEEN HOLINESS AND LOVE. THAT IS TO BE OUR WITNESS TO THE WORLD.
HOMEWORK FOR JOSHUA 23 AND 24
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY. DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK TO THE TEACHER FOR CORRECTION.
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"?
WHY, OR WHY NOT?
MEMORY VERSES: JOSHUA 23:10-11