Attention Activity
Let the class sit a few minutes without anyone to teach the lesson.
What were your feelings as you recognized that there was not leader?
Why do we need leaders?
What thoughts went through your head as we spent time without a leader?
What does it take to be a good leader?
What does the Lord expect of a
good leader?
What thoughts go through your mind when you are called to
be the leader?
Explain that this lesson is about Joshua, the prophet who
led the children of Israel in their conquest of the promised land.
During the Israelites’ 40-year sojourn in the
wilderness, Moses had given them God’s law, acted as God’s spokesman, and
served as their guide. He was the only leader an entire generation of Israelites
had known. But the Lord took him at the end of their sojourn—just when
they faced a great test. Remembering his promises to Israel, the Lord raised
up a new leader, Joshua, who ably directed the conquest and settlement
of the promised land.
Every Israelite over twenty years of age when they
left Egypt under Moses’ leadership was now dead, except for three people:
Moses, Joshua, and Caleb (see Numbers 14:38).
All
the others had died without realizing their cherished blessing. Why?
What
caused those Israelites who left Egypt by God’s power to lose their privilege
of setting foot upon the promised land?
What blessings are we promised that we may not be getting?
Read Joshua 1:1-9
1 NOW after the death of
Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the
LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, [“Joshua,
the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, was first called Oshea or Hoshea,
. . . [Numbers 13:16], which signifies saved, a saviour, or salvation;
but afterwards Moses, guided no doubt by a prophetic spirit, changed his
name into . . . Yehoshua or Joshua, which signifies he shall save, or the
salvation of Jehovah; referring, no doubt, to his being God’s instrument
in saving the people from the hands of their enemies, and leading them
from victory to victory over the different Canaanitish nations, till he
put them in possession of the promised land. . . . By the Septuagint he
is called . . . , Jesus Naue, or Jesus son of Nave: and in the New Testament
he is expressly called . . . Jesus; [see Acts 7:45; Hebrews 4:8].” (Clarke,
Bible Commentary, 2:3.) In other words, in the original Hebrew both Joshua
and Jesus were the same name. ] Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead;
now therefore arise,
[
What challenges do you think Joshua faced
when the Lord called him to succeed Moses in leading the Israelites? He
was to lead Israel in the conquest and settlement of Canaan, which was
a mighty undertaking. He was also taking the place of a great leader. What
kind of emotion do you feel when you have a new calling? How do you overcome
those feelings? ] go
over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which
I do give to them,
even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole
of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto
Moses.
4
From
the wilderness and this Lebanon even
unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites,
and unto the great sea toward
the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
[
See Bible Map 4 & 5 - Biblical Israel is generally thought of as that
region south and southwest of the Lebanon mountains, north and east of
Egypt, east of the Mediterranean coastal plain, and west of the Arabian
desert. In dimension, Israel was roughly 150 miles from Dan to Beersheba,
and at its greatest width it was about 75 miles across. The Lord promised
Joshua that the original extent of the land promised to Abraham was to
be given to Israel (see Genesis 15:18; Joshua 1:4). Although the Israelites
who went into the promised land with Joshua were generally faithful and
obedient, as a nation Israel soon returned to their old ways and lost
the blessings promised to them of winning the whole land. Not until the
time of David and solomon (about two hundred years later) did Israel
control the land given in the original covenant see map#7 and then only
for a short while, for they soon lost the outermost parts of it again.]
5 There shall not any man
be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:
as
I was with Moses, so I
will be with thee: I will
not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
[
What does Joshua first challenge appear to
be? Recognizing that
he was called of God and that the Lord was going to help him. In otherwords
Joshua - you are going to be doing my work, as a result I will be with
you just as I was with Moses, you will have access to the same powers that
Moses had. What
comfort do you think that provided for Joshua? How can this assurance help
us in new callings or challenges? Does anyone have any examples of how
the Lord helped you in such circumstances?
]
6
Be
strong and of a good courage:
[The
first thing the Lord tells Joshua to do is Be strong and of good courage. What
does the Lord means by that? Why does a leader need to be strong, strong
in what? Why does a good leader need courage? With
any leader there will be times when things are not going as planned and
you will need to have courage to maintain the course. Notice
the Lord is goiing to repeat this direction three times. What
is is that Joshua will need courage and strength to do? vs7] for
unto this people shalt thou divide for
an inheritance the land,
which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and
very courageous,
that
thou mayest observe to do according to all the law,
[Keep
the commanadments] which Moses my servant commanded thee:
turn not
from it to the right hand or to the left,
[
What is the Lord suggesting to Joshua here? don't
try to walk on the edges of the commandments - keep them as if they are
black and white - don't make them gray. How
are we faced with these types of chellenges today? How does understanding
and observing the law help protect us from these challanges? Does anyone
have any examples that they have observed of moral courage? ] that
thou mayest prosper whithersoever
thou goest.
8
This
book of the law [the
scriptures] shall not depart out of thy mouth; but
thou
shalt meditate therein
day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein:
[Study the scriptures day
and night] for then thou shalt make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
[ What
do you think that Lord was trying to teach Joshua with this council?
How are we blessed with "Good success" in our lives when we study the
scriptures daily? ]
9
Have
not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid,
neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy
God is with
thee whithersoever thou goest. [ How
is this good advice but hard when we get down to the reality of life? Is
it possible to always be strong, to never have doubt in ourselves? If so
how? ]
Read Joshua 3:1-3,6-17
CHAPTER 3
Joshua leads Israel to Jordan—The Lord
cuts off the water of Jordan; it stands up as a heap, and Israel passes
over on dry ground.
1 A
ND Joshua
rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan,
he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed
over.
2 And it came to pass
after three days, that the officers went through the host;
3 And they commanded the
people, saying,
When ye see the ark of
the covenant [ What
was the Arc Of The Covenant? Was a portable
altar that contained sacred writings, including Moses’ writings and the
tablets containing the Ten Commandments. An oblong chest of acacia or shittim
wood overlaid with gold, 2 1/2 cubits long, 1 1/2 broad and high, made
by Moses at God’s command (Ex. 25). It was the oldest and most sacred of
the religious symbols of the Israelites, and the Mercy Seat which formed
its covering was regarded as the earthly dwelling place of Jehovah (Ex.
25: 22). The Ark was fitted with rings and staves, by which it was carried.
Prayers were recited before it moved or rested (Num. 10: 35, 36), and during
its progress it was treated with the greatest reverence. According to 1
Kgs. 8: 9 it contained only the Tables of the Law, but in Heb. 9: 4 it
is said to have contained the “pot of manna,” and “Aaron’s rod that budded,”
which had been ordered to be kept “before the Testimony,” (Ex. 16: 32-34;
Num. 17: 10; cf. Ex. 25: 16; Ex. 40: 20). The usual resting place of the
Ark was in the Holy of Holies] of the LORD your
God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from
your place, and go after it.
[ What
kind of message is the Lord symbolically teaching the children of Israel
by having them commit to follow the Arc of the Covenant? Symbolic
of following him, and just as the waters are paered for their safe travel
so to will there lives be if they follow him.]
4 Yet there shall be a
space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not
near unto it, that ye may know the way by
which ye must go: for ye have not passed
this way heretofore.
5 And Joshua said unto
the people, Sanctify yourselves:
for to morrow the L
ORD will do wonders among you.
6 And Joshua spake unto
the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before
the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the
people.
7 ¶ And the L
ORD said
unto Joshua,
This day will I begin to magnify thee
in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I
will be with thee.
[This is the beginning
of a process that the Lord is going to unveil to show Israel that Joshua
is in fact endorsed by the Lord as was Moses, by using a miracle similar
to one performed by Moses. These miracle are very public ones with all
of Israel and the surrounding nations being witness to it. Thus, all nations
witness the power of the Lord firsthand (cp. 4:24). Why
is it important to the Lord that the children of Israel understand that
Joshua is the new leader and that the Lord is with him? ]
8 And thou shalt command
the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying,
When
ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in
Jordan. [ They have passed the Arc of The
Covenant around the camp and now the Arc is going to lead the Israelites
across the River Jordan. Compare to Ex 13:21-22 where the Pillar of light
/ clouds lead the children of Israel through the Red Sea. ]
9 ¶ And Joshua said
unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the L
ORD your
God.
10
And
Joshua said,
[speaking as a prophet - uses
in a way the words which we often here in the Book Of Mormon - and thus
you will know or see. A prophetic declaration of things to come.] Hereby
ye shall know that the living God is among
you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites,
and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites,
and the Amorites, and the Jebusites. [ How
would you put this in more plain language? In
otherwords, I am going to show these other people my power, I will protect
you at their expense and drive them away. What
else does this message imply in order for them to have the "living
God amoung them"? That they are keeping
the commandments. ]
11 Behold,
the
ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth
over before you into Jordan.
[ The arc is
a proxy for the Lord's presence, which during the previous splitting
of the Sea of Reeds was apparent, cp. Ex. 14:19-20. The Lord said he
was to no longer be present among Israel, cf. Ex. 33:3. so, while there
are some commonalities among the two divisions of the water, there are
also so sharp contrasts as a result of Israel's rebellions against the
Sinaitic Covenant.]
12 Now therefore take
you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13 And it shall come to
pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark
of the L
ORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the
waters of Jordan,
that the waters of Jordan
shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and
they shall stand upon an heap.
[
The Lord parts the waters of the river Jordan. Compare to EX 14:21-22 where
the Lord parts the waters as they leave Egypt. Now he parts the waters
as they enter Canaan. ]
14 ¶ And it came
to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan,
and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
15 And as they that bare
the ark were come unto Jordan, and
the feet of the
priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan
overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) [ What
did the priests who carried the ark have to do before the waters of the
Jordan River stopped? They had to step into
the overflowing river while carrying the ark. What
did that require of the priests? Faith and
courage to do the will of the Lord. How does
the Lord sometimes ask similar things of us?
Elder Boyd K. Packer said:
“Shortly after I was called as a General Authority, I went
to Elder Harold B. Lee for counsel. He listened very carefully
to my problem and suggested that I see President David O.
McKay. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I
should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way
possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.
“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to
move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The
trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’
I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two
ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn
to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into
the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way
before you’ ” (“The Edge of the Light,” BYU Today, Mar. 1991,
22–23). ]
16 That the waters which
came down from above stood
and rose
up upon an heap very far
from the city Adam, that
is beside Zaretan: and those that came
down toward the sea of the plain,
even the salt
sea, failed,
and were cut off: and the people passed over right
against Jericho.
17 And the priests that bare
the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground [ How
does this compare to the miracle performed by Moses in parting the
Red Sea? What do you suppose the people were saying? Jordan
was not as great as the Red Sea, He has the same power as Moses - both
sides within the group. Miracles do not make believers always. How
does hearing of this miracle effect the people in the surrounding areas? They
know that God is with the children of Israel. Would
that cause any concern for you if you lived there? ] in
the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground,
until all the people were passed clean over Jordan. [ What
are some comparisons between Moses and Joshua that the Lord uses to
teach the children that he is with them and that Joshua is his prophet? What
ways did the Lord use to teach the people that Joshua had the same
power and that Moses had?
| Moses (40 years earlier) |
Joshua (40 years later) |
| Pillar of light/cloud leads (Ex. 13:21-22) |
Ark of the Covenant leads (Josh. 3:1-8, cp. Ex.
33:3) |
| Parts water leaving Egypt (Ex. 14:21-22) |
Parts water entering Canaan (Josh. 3:14-17) |
| Abrahamic Covenant invoked (Gen. 15:13-14) |
Abrahamic Covenant invoked (Josh. 5:2-9) |
| Manna starts (Ex. 16:14-15) |
Manna stops (Josh. 5:11-12) |
| Raised hands in war (Ex. 17:11) |
Raised hands in war (Josh. 8:26) |
| Teach your children (Ex. 12:26-27) |
Teach your children (Josh. 4:6-7) |
| Memorial built (Ex. 24:4) |
Memorial built (Josh. 4:8-9) |
| Passover precedes Exodus (Ex. 34:1-20) |
Passover follows entry (Josh. 5:10) |
| Walls fall on enemies (Ex. 14:27-29) |
Walls fall on enemies (Josh. 6:5) |
]
Read Joshua 4:1-9
CHAPTER 4
Israel places twelve stones to commemorate crossing
of Jordan—Joshua is magnified before Israel as they cross Jordan—After
priests bearing the ark pass over, the river returns to its course.
1 A
ND it
came to pass, when all the people were clean passed
over Jordan, that the L
ORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
2
Take
you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
[One
man is chosen to represent each tribe, 12 men 1 from each tribe - symbolic
that everone is represented - further symbolic indication is that everyone
saw the miracle. ]
3 And command ye them,
saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where
the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones,
and ye shall carry them over with you,
and leave them
in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. [
Place the twleve stones as a memorial. Why
does the Lord have them create a memorial of the event? A
memorial is created to commemorate and remind Israel concerning this miracle
they witnessed. Thus is the nature of miracles, they are stunning in the
present but fade quickly in memory. Hence the need for a memorial to reinforce
the reality of it, and also to remind Israel. ]
4 Then Joshua called
the twelve men, whom he had
prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5 And Joshua said unto
them, Pass over before the ark of the L
ORD your God into
the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder,
according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
6 That this may be a
sign among you,
that when your children ask their fathers in
time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? [ Why
is it important to make note of sacred events through marking with stones
and journals, or What is accomplished by such actions? It
is the nature of man that we forget, so they act as a reminder to those
that witnesses the event. They are also meant to teach or remind us that
we need teach our children from the sacred events that we have witnesses,
and testify to them. How does testifying
to your children embed gospel principles into their lives? Does anyone
have any examples of how they were told spiritual stories from the parents
or grand parents that has changed their lives? Grandma
Green and the Ogden Temple.]
7 Then ye shall answer
them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of
the covenant of the L
ORD; when it passed over Jordan, the
waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto
the children of Israel for ever.
8 And the children of
Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the
midst of Jordan, as the L
ORD spake unto Joshua, according
to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them
over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 And Joshua set up twelve
stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests
which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this
day.
Quick review
What was the story of Jericho? Any lessons we learn from
the story?
Read Joshua 23:3-13
Toward the end of his life, Joshua reminded the Israelites what God had
done for them.
3 And ye have seen all that the LORD your
God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your
God is he that hath fought for you.
4 Behold, I have divided
unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your
tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto
the great sea westward.
5 And the L
ORD your
God, he shall expel them
from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess
their land, as the L
ORD your God hath promised unto you.
6 Be ye therefore very courageous to
keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that
ye turn not aside therefrom
to the right hand or
to the left;
7
That
ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither
make mention of the name of their gods,
nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves
unto them: [ What
are the children of Israel to do as they take over the Canaanite cities? Expell
everyone. Are we not supposed to be missionaries? Why
are they instructed to expell everyone from the cities? Since
men tend to adopt the values or habits of those with whom they associate,
it was imperative that all idolatrous nations in Canaan be destroyed.
Joshua warned Israel of three things in the event that some heathen nations,
including those that surrounded them, were allowed to remain: (1) beware
of social intercourse with them (see Joshua 23:7) as we do we tend to
drop dow to their level, (2) refrain from worshiping their false gods
(see vv. 7–11), and (3) avoid intermarriages with them (see v. 12). Otherwise,
“snares and traps,” “scourges,” and “thorns” awaited Israel (v. 13).
]
8 But
cleave unto
the LORD your God,
[ means
to glue or join together. How can we “cleave
unto the Lord” rather than cleave to the world? What
does Josua say will be the consequences if they don't choose to cleave
unto the Lord? ] as
ye have done unto this day.
9 For the L
ORD hath
driven out from before you great nations and strong: but
as for you,
no man hath been able to stand before
you unto this day.
10 One man of you shall
chase a thousand: for the L
ORD your God, he
it is that fighteth for
you, as he hath promised you.
11 Take good heed therefore
unto yourselves, that ye love the L
ORD your God.
12
Else
if ye do [Here is the warning of what will
happen if they get lax in cleaving unto the Lord.] in any wise
go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations,
even these
that remain among you, and shall make marriages with
them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13
Know
for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive
out any of these nations from before you;
[This
is the result of not following the previous warning - God will no longer
fight your battles - you will be on your own.] but
they shall be snares and traps unto you,
[ What
is common about snares and traps? well the
are usually hidden a little, they may even seem harmless, until we are
caught in their grips - them there is no escape. What are some
of the snares and traps of the world that we face today?] and scourges in
your sides, and thorns in
your eyes,
until ye perish from
off this good land which the LORD your God hath given
you.
[until you loose your inheritance. How
is this also a message for us in our day? ]
What other important counsel did Joshua give
at the end of his life? (See Joshua 24:14–15.) This has become a
very well know verse.
Whom did Joshua and Israel covenant to serve? (See
Joshua 24:15–18, 21–25, 31.) Why can’t a person serve the true God and
worldly gods at the same time?
What powers do we gain when we really
choose to serve the Lord? Problem solving...without the Lord (it's
just you and the problem), with the Lord (you repent, santify yourself
and the draw on the lords power, through prayer-->God's Power --> is the
applied to the problem - additonal help in solving the problem)
Why is it important to choose today to serve
the Lord? Does it really make any difference in our choice?
How can we show that we have chosen to serve him?
Read in conclusion
Elder
Marvin J. Ashton said: “Joshua reminds us of the importance of making decisions
promptly: ‘Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and
my house, we will serve the Lord’ (Joshua 24:15). Not tomorrow, not when
we get ready, not when it is convenient—but ‘this day,’ straightway, choose
whom you will serve. He who invites us to follow will always be out in
front of us with His Spirit and influence setting the pace. He has charted
and marked the course, opened the gates, and shown the way. He has invited
us to come unto Him, and the best time to enjoy His companionship is straightway.
We can best get on the course and stay on the course by doing as Jesus
did—make a total commitment to do the will of His Father” (in Conference
Report, Apr. 1983, 41; or Ensign, May 1983, 30–31).
Joshua’s final counsel to the Israelites included the same charge that
the Lord had given when calling him to be a prophet—to be strong and to
have courage (Joshua 23:1–6). The charge applies as much today as it did
then because we are all engaged in the important spiritual battle between
good and evil. Elder Ezra Taft Benson said that two principles are essential
for security and peace: “First, trust in God; and second, a determination
to keep the commandments, to serve the Lord, to do that which is right.
… The Lord has made it very clear in the revelations that even though times
become perilous, even though we be surrounded by temptation and sin, even
though there be a feeling of insecurity, even though men’s hearts may fail
them and anxiety fill their souls, if we only trust in God and keep his
commandments we need have no fear” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1950, 146).
