Lesson #4: Israel Disobeys God

Hi Parents

This week we discussed Israel's disobedience, and how one generation removed from the time of Joshua and the conquests led to a people "who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel." (Judges 2:10); this generation became idolatrous and adopted many of the customs of the people they were suppose to drive out of the promise land.   Below is the Teacher Devotion, which goes into this in more detail. See the Parent's Corner Tab, which has all the links to the Homework and Lesson Themes. I was not able to make copies this week of the homework, so you will have to print them out at home.  Sorry about that.

I do find it great that our kids are studying some of the same passages that are being preached on for the sermon series on Judges (Decide).  It reinforces how important our role is to teach our children so that they know the Lord and the work He has done in our lives.   This week, you may want to reinforce with them how to recognize idolatry in our modern lives.  At the end of class we played a game of "idol charades" as a way for the kids to help see that there is a lot of material things, activities and/or ideas that can easily become idols, displacing God.  I encourage you to try this game at home or discuss this list of  Modern Day Idols with your little ones.

Have a blessed week!

Brian

Teacher Preparation

Scriptural Background

Before you begin to prepare for your lesson this week, please prepare your heart and mind by reading Joshua 23:14–16; Judges 1–3; and Colossians 3:4–6 (paying particular attention to the fact that in verse 5, covetousness is identified as a form of idolatry).

Our last lesson described the event of the miraculous conquest of Jericho. Israel, after that victory, endured the consequences of one man’s disobedience when it was defeated at Ai, the next city God commanded it to conquer (Joshua 7). After dealing with the problem of this man’s sin, Israel conquered Ai; and the principle that God would bless obedience and withhold blessing from disobedience was firmly demonstrated. The rest of the book of Joshua is the history of that generation’s conquest of the land of Canaan, culminating in Joshua’s description in chapter 23:14 that all of God’s promises of blessing and guidance in the giving of the Promised Land were fulfilled.

Judges chapter 1 gives a summary of the last part of the land’s conquest and the failure of Israel to completely cast out the idolatrous inhabitants. Judges 2:1–3 records the Angel of the Lord warning Israel that this failure would have bitter consequences: “they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.” Joshua’s generation seemed to take the warn- ing to heart; Judges 2:7 says that the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and of the elders of that generation who outlived him. However, after that generation’s death, the people became idolatrous and did not know the Lord nor the work that He had done for Israel (Judges 2:10). Their idolatry took the form of worshiping the gods of the conquered people whom Israel had not cast out in the previous generation. These gods were the Baals, usually thought to be gods of fertility and prosperity (Judges 2:11).

Israel’s quick fall into idolatry may seem far removed from us. In our culture, there is little temptation to actually worship a Baal or to make an idol and bow down to it. The root of the Israelites’ idolatry, however, was that instead of trusting and serving the true God, and devoting themselves to His great purposes, they chose to worship gods whose claim to deity lay in their willingness to serve the desires of the people. In this, we are much like the Israelites, and we are warned by Paul in the book of Colossians to “put to death” selfish and impure desires (Colossians 3:5). In this exhortation, we see the common ground of our own sin with the idolatry of Israel: covetousness—selfish, sinful desire for what God has not given. And the Apostle Paul warns that “no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5). If we aren’t fighting this sin of covetousness—putting it to death—it’s evidence that we may not be a true believer.

The rest of Judges 2 describes the anger of the Lord against Israel’s idolatry and disobedience as He delivered them into the hands of the surrounding nations (Judges 2:14). But we also see the undeserved compassion that God exercised in raising up judges to deliver Israel from her enemies again and again (Judges 2:16). Judges 2:11–23 gives a broad, general description of the cycle that history records of Israel during the era of the judges. The recurring pattern included the Israelites turning to idolatry, angering the true God; God bringing consequences against them in the form of oppression by idolatrous nations; the Israelites crying out, “groaning” to God for deliverance from oppression; God showing compassion on them and providing a deliverer by way of a judge; and finally after regaining deliverance, Israel turning again to covetous idolatry, beginning the cycle anew. Clearly, this is not a highlight of Israel’s history. As the book of Judges closes, the Lord gives insight into the Israelites’ condition: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).

Historical/Apologetics Background

Note that the root of the Israelites’ disobedience was always their failure to trust that the true God was caring for their best interests. Idolatry—including our bent toward putting pleasure, worldly possessions, and comfort before God—is never a matter of obedience alone. Idolatry reveals a heart that does not have faith and trust in God and all His purposes. Idolatry will put our selfish desires above the one true God. As we read Israel’s history, although we see a stream of blessings for obedience and consequences for disobedience, the root issue is always faith. Would Israel trust that the true God is faithful to His promises and that His promises are the true prosperity of His people? Will we trust that the true God is faithful to His promises and that His promises are the true prosperity of His people? Whenever disobedience occurs, the answer to this question is no—whether we are talking of Israel or ourselves.

Luke 18:18–24—the account of the rich young ruler and Jesus—gives us a New Testament illustration of the struggle we often encounter between loyalty toward God and love for the world. Like the rich young ruler, we want the eternal life (and all the blessings) that God provides through Christ’s sacrifice, and yet we often have conflicting desires to hold onto the immediate blessings that we can obtain in this life. God does not demand of His followers that they avoid all worldly blessings, but He clearly commands them to value Christ and a life honoring Him to the extent that worldly blessings have no hold on our hearts. Our failure to be able to “let go” of worldly desires may keep us from Him (Mark 8:34–38). What our hearts trust and value will ultimately lead us to obey or disobey our Lord.

Before The Throne

Holy and just Lord, you are gracious and so merciful. As I study the idolatry of the Israelites, help me to examine my own heart. Where there is any hint of something or someone in my life that comes before you, reveal it. In your mercy forgive me. And by the power of your Holy Spirit, help me get my relationship with you right, for you are all that matters. Help me to pass on the truth of this lesson to the children in my class. It is so easy to be entrapped by the things of this world. Give them the strength and discernment to avoid the sin of idolatry. Continue to open their eyes as we study your Word. I pray that each one of them would come to know you as the one true God of their life.

Jericho and Archaeology by Dr. Bryant Wood

Hi Parents:

If you have 50 minutes to spare, this is an interesting You Tube Video that discusses some of the archaeological evidence unearthed in several digs throughout the 1900s, 1930s, 1950s and 1990s in the City of Jericho, that supports the biblical record of destruction of Jericho as read in Joshua 6:1-25.

Jericho and Archaeology by Dr. Bryant Wood

When you see some of the pictures of how massive the walls were, when unearthed, it puts into context how fortified the city was and what a miracle it was that the walls fell down!

Brian

Lesson #3: The Battle of Jericho

Hi Parents

Today the kids went through a study of the Battle of Jericho. Below is the Teacher Devotion. See the Parent's Corner Tab, which has all the links to the Homework and Lesson Themes.

There was one question that I brought up in class that might be a good follow-up discussion with your little ones this week.

Question: How do you feel about God's command to destroy everything (men, women, children, animals) in the City of Jericho, except Rahab and her family (Joshua 6:24-25)?

This question elicited some empathy/sadness from the children for the people of Jericho that were wiped out.  I discussed with the kids that God is a Holy God, and that he was using Israel as his rod of judgement against the people of Jericho and later the other nations that the Israelites destroyed and drove out of the land.  I told them that the peoples of the land did not worship God, and were doing very evil things, which included child/infant sacrifice.  God was judging the peoples of this land for the evil that was occurring in that land.    However, he did have mercy on Rahab and her family because they demonstrated a believing faith in Yahweh that saved them from His Judgement.  While this is a simple answer, its not necessarily a very satisfying one, and how we reconcile God's judgement versus his mercy/love!  Would love to know your thoughts on this, and how you may explain/discuss with your kids throughout this next week.  

Blessing to you all and I hope you have a great week!

Brian

Teacher Preparation

Scriptural Background

Before you begin to prepare for your lesson, please prepare your heart and mind by reading Joshua 5:13– 6:27 and Hebrews 11:30, noticing that the faith of Israel was instrumental in accomplishing God’s plan to defeat Jericho.

After God’s charge to Joshua to lead the nation into the Promised Land and after the episode of Rahab and the spies, the nation of Israel itself was still on the east- ern banks of the Jordan and had not yet crossed into the land that God had promised them. Chapters 3 and 4 of Joshua tell of the miraculous stopping of the Jordan River’s waters, allowing Israel to cross on dry ground, and of the memorial stones that Israel placed on the other side to commemorate God’s faithfulness. The bearing of the Ark of the Covenant before the nation (Joshua 3:11) declared that God was fulfilling His pur- pose to establish a nation for His own glory, which He had declared to Abraham nearly 500 years earlier.

The first obstacle before Israel was the city of Jericho. In Joshua 5:13–15, a Man identified as “the Commander of the Lord’s army” appeared to Joshua. This Man represents a Christophany—a pre-incar- nate appearance in history of the Lord Jesus. If that were not the case, Joshua would not have obeyed the Man when commanded to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. This was the Son of God Himself in human form, declaring that He would lead and fight for Israel. This was to be no ordinary battle!

The battle plan from the Lord must have seemed very strange to Joshua. Jericho responded to Israel’s approach by securely shutting up the city (Joshua 6:1), an indication that they expected a siege. God’s instruc- tions to Joshua were for the army of Israel to march around the city once each day for six days, following the Ark of the Covenant, with the priests blowing trum- pets, but making no other noise (Joshua 6:3–4). Then on the seventh day, the city would be circled seven times in the same manner, and finally, the Israelites would be instructed to shout—and God promised that at that time, the city would be miraculously destroyed, leaving a path for Israel to march directly in and take the city (Joshua 6:4–5). No other battles had been fought by Israel in this manner, and no others would be. God had a particular purpose to mark this victory, the first in the Promised Land, with a miraculous triumph that would follow a week of ceremony. God desired to conquer Jericho in a way that could not be attributed to Israel’s. military prowess. Israel would have had every reason, from a standpoint of military tactics and wisdom, to doubt whether God’s directions for the battle would be successful. On the other hand, the Israelites knew the faithfulness of God’s care for 40 years in the wilder- ness, knew from the previous generation of their great deliverance from Egypt, and knew that God gives the victory from their successful battles against the kings Sihon and Og (Deuteronomy 2:26–3:11). The Israelites were convinced that God’s promise was to be trusted, and they obeyed His seemingly strange commands for the battle of Jericho.

Israel’s faith at Jericho is mentioned in Hebrews 11 along with many others who demonstrated their faith in God—among them Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Rahab. These saints of God had faith that led them to look beyond immediate circumstances and trust that God’s ways would lead to blessing beyond any earthly situation. In all of those examples, faith led to obedi- ent action (see Hebrews 11:7–31). Israel obeyed God’s instructions for the battle, trusting His goodness and faithfulness to His promises. After the seventh circle around the city on the seventh day, Israel shouted, the walls of Jericho fell, and the Israelites went straight into the city and destroyed their enemies—God’s enemies.

Just as the spies had promised, Rahab and her family were spared (Joshua 6:25) as reward for her help in protecting the spies before the battle (Joshua 2). Joshua 6:25 tells us that “she dwells in Israel to this day,” showing that Rahab became one of God’s people. It also shows us that the book of Joshua wasn’t written very long after the events of the book occurred, since Rahab was still living.

Historical/Apologetics Background

For much of the twentieth century, archaeologists declared that the biblical account of Jericho could not have happened as the Bible said it did. More recent discoveries, however, have not only led to an archaeo- logical revision of the date of Jericho’s destruction that accords with Joshua’s time in history but have also shown that the ruins that have been uncovered were destroyed in a way that is perfectly consistent with the Bible’s description of the event. What was once con- sidered a “problem” of the Bible’s inconsistency with archaeological research has turned out, upon further discovery and study, to be an example of archaeo- logical evidence displaying the trustworthiness of the Bible’s accuracy. Of course, God’s Word can be trusted completely, with or without such scientific “vindication.”

Before the Throne

Almighty Lord, I am awed by your power and faithfulness as I study this lesson. You are able. Help me Lord to live a life of faith like Rahab and Joshua and to pass that desire on to the children in my class. May each encounter I have with my students help them to fall in love with you and your Word more and more. Praise the name of the Lord! You are more than able.

Lesson #2: God Uses Rahab

Dear Parents: If you wanted a "cliff notes" review of the lesson taught today, read on below, which is straight from the teacher guide.  A few questions you may want to ask your kids this week are:

• Why would Rahab be considered an unlikely hero? (Her sinful background...To explain prostitution, I told the class that she was a woman that had many husbands; She was not a Jew, yet she still helped the spies; She came from a city that worshiped false gods and idols)

• What did Rahab have that set her apart from other people in Jericho? (She had faith; She had heard about the God of Israel and the Exodus accounts, and believed in the God of Israel.)

• Ultimately, whose family did Rahab end up being a part of? (Jesus' family)

See these links for the Lesson #2 Homework and Lesson #2 Theme Poster.

Have a great week!

Brian

Teacher Preparation

Read Joshua 2; Matthew 1:1-16; emphasis on verse 5; Hebrews 11:31; and Acts 4:13–21.

The Israelites under Joshua’s leadership were again on the move. God had promised Abraham, then Isaac, then Jacob that He would deliver the Promised Land to them. The generation of Moses’s day—because of their lack of faith, disobedience, and idolatry—was denied entry into this Promised Land. Moses and the entire generation (except for Joshua and Caleb) then died. Joshua was now the leader of the younger generation, and God had demanded his complete obedience to Him and His Word in order to be a part of the fulfillment of His purpose (Joshua 1:6–9). As already demonstrated, the way to success would be far from easy. There were many nations to conquer, yet God would provide the means—the strength and courage needed for success—provided the Israelites remained obedient.

Now Joshua, as the new leader of the people, was sending two of his men on a spying mission too view the land, especially Jericho (Joshua 2:1). The two spies entered Jericho and found lodging with Rahab, the prostitute. Although this may seem odd at first glance, upon further consideration, Rahab’s home on the wall could offer a safer and inconspicuous haven for the men. However, in God’s divine providence, the men were found out. When Rahab realized who they were, she was introduced firsthand to the God of Israel she had heard of and feared (Joshua 2:10–11). In the face of this providential visit by two of God’s people, Rahab demonstrated her faith and offered protection to the spies (Joshua 2:3–6, 2:15–16). Her faith saved her family from destruction (Joshua 6:17). And her faith, by God’s amazing grace, put her in the Messianic line (Matthew 1:5).

The question we might ask is how would this woman, this harlot, know about the God of Israel? She was well aware—as apparently all in Jericho were— that Israel was a nation whose God had delivered His people in a dramatic, miraculous fashion from Egypt. This God had also provided victory for His people over the most notorious kings on the other side of the Jordan, including King Og of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:4). This was no small feat, and Rahab had come to worship this God of Israel.

Rahab was willing to stake her life and her family members’ lives on the ability of God to defeat her own people and yet deliver her! She misled the pursuers who were sent by the King of Jericho to apprehend the spies, and she concealed the spies until she helped them escape back to Israel (Joshua 2:2–6, 2:15–16). Rahab acted upon her belief that the God of Israel would carry out His promises to give the land to His people, and by doing so, she showed an utter depen- dence upon Him. This faith was remarkable enough to be held up to all future believers as an example of faith (Hebrews 11:31)!

The fact that God would bring to saving faith and use a Gentile woman to fulfill His purpose foreshadowed His intention to break “down the middle wall of separation” (Ephesians 2:14) between Jew and Gentile in Christ, and to make Gentiles “fellow heirs, of the same body” with Jews in Christ (Ephesians 3:6). This grand scheme of Christ’s salvation of sinners from every nation was in the background when God used Rahab to help deliver Israel’s spies in return for the protection of her and her family from the ultimate fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:25).

Historical/Apologetics Background

Many raise the question as to whether God blessed Rahab’s lie to the king’s men when they came for the Israelite spies. If so, when is it OK to lie? Or, is it ever right to lie? No. Lying is sin against a holy, perfect God (Proverbs 12:22). However, God frequently uses the sinful acts of both the righteous and unrighteous to execute His purposes. God wanted to show His amazing grace and sovereignty in this situation. Rahab was a deliberate sinner, and in likelihood an idolater, given that she lived an immoral life in a city of an idolatrous nation. Her knowledge of the true God was no doubt incomplete, being based upon what was discussed among her people, not upon a principled or careful instruction from Scripture. It was from this incomplete knowledge of God that she chose to lie on behalf of the spies. And in God’s mercy, He overlooked the sin, acknowledged her faith, and redeemed the situation.

To focus on the lie instead of the reward that our holy, sovereign, merciful God granted her does not give God the glory due His name. One lesson to be learned from Rahab is not about Rahab at all but about God— how He did not judge her nor reward her according to her sin but saved her by grace through the faith He gave to her as a precious gift (Ephesians 2:8), just as He does for all of His people.

Rahab’s imperfect actions of faith and courage resulted not only in her salvation from destruction but also in a place in history as an ancestor of Jesus, a place in God’s providential plan that resulted in Jesus’s birth and saving mission (Matthew 1:5). If we wonder why God would use a woman like Rahab to fulfill His purposes, perhaps we have not fully faced the effect our own sin has against a holy God. Only then can we recognize the greatness of God’s mercy in offering forgiveness to us through Jesus’s death and Resurrection.

Before The Throne

Dear Heavenly Father, you dwell enthroned in heaven above and on earth beneath. How marvelous is your Word, Lord. You have revealed your sovereignty and your mercy in the passages we are studying this week. Please help me understand your truths and at the same time present them in a way my students will understand. May the beauty of this account of Rahab—a harlot who believed—give hope, courage, and strength to my students. Holy Spirit, move among us in such a way that we all become excited about the ways an almighty God can use us to accomplish His perfect plan.

New Blog Site for 3rd Grade Class

Hello Parents:

Here is the blog site that has been created for the 3rd Grade CM Class.  We will be posting regularly to keep you all informed about what is being taught this school year.  The Blog also has a "Parent's Corner" Tab and a "Teaching Schedule" tab, where you can find all the homework, theme posters, key ideas, and key scriptures that were discussed with your little ones each week.  The Teacher Curriculum Tab also has links on all the teaching material.  If any of you would like access, please let me (Brian) know, and I will send you a link for access.

As our kids are getting older, the scriptures in Deuteronomy 6:6-7, become more and more relevant to us in each passing day.  Moses is not only telling the people of Israel to declare their wholehearted allegiance to Yahweh, but to live it and teach it and pass it down to the next generation, and to do it continually.  It really is no different for the Christian parent today.  We live in a society that competes for our allegiance daily, and especially to imprint its values and ideas into the hearts and minds of our children. Our hope is that this blog will be a resource to you as you work through this material with your kids throughout the school year, and teach your little ones the great truths found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Blessings, Brian & Thomas (3rd Grade CM Teachers)