Sabbath School Lesson



The book of Joshua is about new possibilities. Moses, who had dominated 40 years of Israel’s history, belonged in the past. The Exodus from Egypt and the wanderings in the wilderness, tragically marked by rebellion and stubbornness, had ended. A new generation, willing to obey God, was ready to enter the Promised Land, not as an expectation to live up to but as a possibility to live into.

Let us study the way God opened up a new chapter in Israel’s life and how He can do the same in ours.



Memory Text: For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever (Joshua 4:23-24, ESV).

As human beings, we are prone to forget things that are not constantly in our sight. We forget to return phone calls, respond to emails, water the plants, send birthday wishes, and so forth. Forgetting about our spiritual needs, however, could have more severe consequences especially because we are dealing with what is, literally, our eternal destiny. 

Let’s study the crossing of the Jordan by the Hebrews and see what we can learn from their experiences.

BIBLE TEXTS
Read for This Week’s Study: Joshua 3, Num. 14:44, Luke 18:18-27, Joshua 4, John 14:26, Heb. 4:8-11

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS

Sunday, October 12
Crossing the Jordan

BIBLE TEXTS

Read Joshua 3:1-5 and Numbers 14:41-44. Why did God ask the Israelites to specially prepare for what was about to happen?

The ark and the preparations to cross the Jordan reminded Israel that they were not entering Canaan in their own manner and time.

Before God can fight for Israel in battle, they must show their allegiance to Him and trust in Him as their Commander.

How would you define miracles? Why does it seem that God is not performing similar miracles today?

Monday, October 13
The Living God of Wonders

BIBLE TEXTS

Read Joshua 3:5-17.

The crossing of the Jordan River is described in Joshua 3:5. Later, the Israelites meditated on these acts and, as a result, praised the Lord (Ps. 9:1) and proclaimed Him among the nations (Ps. 96:3). The plagues in Egypt (Exod. 3:20, Mic. 7:15), the crossing of the Red Sea, as well as God’s guidance in the wilderness (Ps. 78:12-16) were recounted as such wonders.

Read Luke 18:18-27. How does Jesus’ answer to His disciples encourage you to trust God with what seems impossible?

Tuesday, October 14
Remember

BIBLE TEXTS

Read Joshua 4.

The purpose of these stones is to become a “sign.” For example, the rainbow is a “sign” of the covenant (Gen. 9:12-13); the blood on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite houses is also called a “sign” (Exod. 12:13); and most significantly, the Sabbath is a “sign” of Creation and of God’s sanctifying presence (Exod. 31:13, 17; Ezek. 20:12).

The potential question of future generations is significant because it is formulated in a personal way: “What are these stones to you?” Each new generation must internalize and understand the meaning of these stones for themselves personally.

What are some of the memorials, personal memorials, from your own walk with the Lord that help you remember what He has done for you? 

Wednesday, October 15
Forgetfulness

BIBLE TEXTS

Read Joshua 4:20-24.

Even today, if we want to maintain our identity as a people with a peculiar calling and mission, we will have to create occasions for refreshing both our individual and corporate spiritual memory in order to keep in focus where we are coming from, who we are, and what we are here for.

What practical ways can you suggest in your class for preventing spiritual forgetfulness, both as individuals or as a church?

Thursday, October 16
Beyond the Jordan

BIBLE TEXTS

Both the crossing of the Red Sea and of the Jordan are markers of a new era in biblical history, and both carry symbolic significance (see Ps. 66:6, Ps. 114:1-7, and 2 Kings 2:6-15). 

Read Matthew 3:16-17 and Mark 1:9. How do these writers of the New Testament imply a symbolic, spiritual meaning of the Jordan River?

How does the Sabbath point not only to what we are supposed to remember but to what we can hope for in the future?

Please share any other comments you may have about the Sabbath School lessons in general.