READINGS FOR MARCH 6-12
Discussion questions for Joshua 1–12, focusing on leadership, faith, obedience, and God’s power:
Joshua 1: God’s Commission to Joshua
What does God’s command to Joshua to “be strong and courageous” (1:6-9) teach us about facing challenges?
How does meditating on and obeying God's Word (1:8) lead to success in our lives today?
Joshua 2: Rahab and the Spies
Why do you think Rahab chose to help the Israelite spies? What does this reveal about her faith?
How does Rahab’s story show that God welcomes all who trust in Him, regardless of their past?
Joshua 3–4: Crossing the Jordan
Why was it important for the Israelites to set up memorial stones after crossing the Jordan?
What are some ways we can remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in our lives?
Joshua 5: Spiritual Preparation
Why did God command the new generation to be circumcised before entering battle?
How does spiritual preparation affect our ability to face challenges?
Joshua 6: The Fall of Jericho
Why do you think God gave the Israelites such an unusual battle plan?
What can we learn about faith and obedience from Israel’s victory over Jericho?
Joshua 7–8: The Sin of Achan & Ai’s Defeat
What do Achan’s actions teach us about the consequences of hidden sin?
Why is obedience to God’s instructions crucial, even in small details?
Joshua 9: The Gibeonite Deception
Why did the Israelites fail to consult God before making a treaty with the Gibeonites?
How can we avoid making decisions based on appearances instead of seeking God’s guidance?
Joshua 10: The Sun Stands Still
What does Joshua’s bold prayer (10:12-14) teach us about trusting God for big miracles?
How does God’s intervention in battle show that He fights for His people?
Joshua 11–12: Conquering the Land
Why do you think Joshua was able to remain faithful despite facing so many battles?
How does this section encourage us to trust God when facing long-term struggles?
Personal Reflection
What is one way you have seen God’s faithfulness in your life, just as Israel did?
How can we apply Joshua’s leadership and obedience in our own spiritual journey?
MARCH 6
In Leviticus 19:2 we are told to "Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." Now this seems to be an impossible task. What human (other than Jesus) could be holy as God is holy? That's a rather tall order, wouldn't you say? Well, of course it is if we try to do it on our own. PG. 292 But in today's reading, we have this great promise in Leviticus 22. "I am the Lord who makes you holy..."
Wow! HE is the one to make us holy!
Pg. 293
God again lays out the punishments for disobedience. In Leviticus 26:27-35 some very specific consequences are spelled out. All these consequences happened when Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem and the people were taken into Babylonian captivity. The people were warned way ahead of time. One of the things listed in this passage is that God collected on his seventy years of violated Sabbaths (in which they were not honored).
And yet another offer is presented from the Father to His children if they follow His decrees and commands. Just read again all the blessings of obedience listed in Leviticus 26:3-13. It sounds almost like a description of the Millennial Kingdom or the Garden of Eden. If they had obeyed, they would have entered the land under millennial-type conditions. This time He promises them all of this and once again, he promises “I will walk among you.”
2 Corinthians 6:16-18
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
As in yesterday's reading, we are reminded again of avoiding anything indecent. That means staying away from those who might pull us away from God. And again, we are reminded that we are to be different and separate from the world around us. This is not to say that we must remove ourselves from the world, but we are to show ourselves to the world to be different - different in God's ways!
Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Have no fellowship with people and activities of a sinful nature. Not to say that we shouldn't witness to them, but do not join in their activities. Even now He promises us an abundant life with Him if we only listen and obey!
Under the punishments for disobedience, in each stage of punishment, God gives them a chance to repent. Then when they disobey, each stage of the punishment gets worse than the one before. Look at the progression:
1. Sudden terror, diseases, and seeds don't grow
2. Punishment seven times over - soil will not yield
3. Multiple afflictions seven times over, wild animals devour children and cattle
4. Suffer the effects of multiple afflictions - plague, sent into enemies' hands, food cut off
5. Punishment seven times over - they will eat their children, cities are in ruin, land is laid waste, people are scattered among the nations (2 Kings 6:28-29)
6. Anything left will live in constant fear even though no one is pursuing them
7. They will perish among the nations
Look at the progression from the first to the seventh. But God....
Leviticus 26:46
These are the decrees, laws, and the regulations that the Lord established on Mount Sinai...
All these were given to Moses during the trips up the mountain. It all began with only the "Big 10". God added more because of their disobedience. Many lessons for us to learn from this!
MARCH 7
As the people prepare to go into the land of Canaan, God through Moses, renews His covenant with His people. There are multiple blessings if they obey and multiple curses if they do not. This may seem repetitious to us in reading about these blessings and curses, but God thought it was important enough to repeat Himself.
Look again at Leviticus 26:14-42 from yesterday's reading. Notice the progression of the punishment for their disobedience. Each stage of punishment gets worse than the one before ranging from diseases to hunger so intense that the people resort to eating their children. Finally, their punishment reaches a crescendo when the people no longer have peace. They will suffer physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. They live with an anxious mind and are in constant suspense, fearful of even a "windblown leaf". (Leviticus 26:36). The biblical and historical record documents that this is exactly what happens to the nations of Israel and Judah. Because of our national disobedience to God, what is the future for the United States?
Pg. 299
One of the curses of oppression found in Deuteronomy 28 was confusion of mind. This is so prevalent in the religious establishment and in our churches today. There is confusion. But there shouldn't be. Truth never changes. People's perception of the truth is dependent on whether or not they are listening to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The curses listed in today's reading are literal curses but if we really think about it, they are spiritual as well.
"The Lord will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder..." Reminiscent of the dust bowl of the 1930s in the US? A product of the “Roaring 20s”? There was a famine in the land. This was literal. Is there a spiritual famine today - a famine of hearing the Word - of hearing the truth?
As we read about the curses of captivity in Deuteronomy 28, it seems as if things can't get much worse than this. It is a description of a totally godless people.
The people are reminded to be cautious in turning to the right or to the left following false gods and serving them. Good advice for all of us today as well. There will always be something on each side for us to follow after instead of keeping our focus on Him. The ways of the world are very seductive.
In Deuteronomy 27 Moses tells the people to "write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up." What great advice for the people then. Are the commands of God being taught clearly to us today?
Deuteronomy 27:15
Cursed is the man who carves an image or casts an idol - a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of the craftsman's hands - and sets it up in secret."
Makes one think about the tradition that some people have of burying the statue of St. Joseph in the yard of a house for sale, and then praying for St. Joseph to intervene in the sale of the house. Don't think that is pleasing to God for a number of reasons.
Pg. 301
Have you ever really thought about the verse, “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.”?
The old testament people could not do this because only through Jesus can it be easy. God never asks us to do anything that is beyond our capabilities. He does set a very high standard though doesn’t He? Sometimes we may think it is insurmountable but He promises us that it isn’t. Why?
“…the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”
How do we get the Word in our mouth and in our heart? Would that be possible if we only spend a few minutes each week listening to a sermon? Or if we only spend a few minutes each week in prayer? Or if we only spend a few minutes each week in any kind of daily devotional? Or if we only spend a few minutes each week reading His Word? Or if we do nothing at all? Don’t think so!
And then Moses reminds the people of all that God has done for them. He reminds them that God sets before them "life and prosperity, death and destruction". (Deuteronomy 30:15). Pay attention to this one - He promises them prosperity -not just life itself - but life abundant! All the promises made to Israel are also promises made to those who believe in Jesus.
Notice all the times the word "if" is used. The use of the word "if" indicates the people are given a choice.
MARCH 8
Numerous points to ponder and current applications in today's reading.
Pg. 304
In Deuteronomy 31 God tells Moses that His people will soon turn away from him and break the covenant. In verse 17 God says, "I will forsake them...I will hide my face from them." God is telling Moses that He will remove His hand of protection and allow them to suffer the consequences of their disobedience.
Deuteronomy 31:26 Take this book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, so that it may be there for a witness against you.
God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments on stone. Moses wrote all the other commandments, laws, decrees, etc at the dictation of God. The Ten Commandments were placed inside the Ark of the Covenant. Exodus 25:16 And you shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.
But God instructed Moses to place what he (Moses) wrote beside the Ark of the Covenant. The Ten Commandments are to be preserved forever. moral laws are subheadings under the Big Ten. All those other commandments, laws, decrees, etc were placed beside the Ark of the Covenant. Those laws changed because of Jesus.
Pg. 305
The Song of Moses gave us "food for thought". God told Moses that this song will
testify against the Israelites when they sin. It is a judgment against Israel and also a judgment against us as individual believers and us as a church and a nation.
Here is a great verse to ponder."Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants."
God is telling us that even though He chastises us, it will be good for us because it gives us an opportunity to change.
Pg. 306
Deuteronomy 32:15-22 has a verse hidden away, "...gods that recently appeared..."
We thought about many "gods" or idols that have recently appeared in our culture today...sports, leisure activities, rock stars, movie stars, politicians, electronic devices, etc. We can "fill in the blank" with anything that pulls us away from an abiding relationship with HIM.
There are some definite modern day applications to the next few verses.
Deuteronomy 32:23-27,
"wasting famine, consuming pestilence, deadly plague" - sounds like addictions, Aids, STDs, etc.
"in their homes terror will reign" - home invasions?
perish- "infants and gray haired men." - abortions and euthanasia?
"a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them." - bad political and economic decisions, arming our enemies?
"Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom and from the fields of Gomorrah" -homosexuality, transgenderism, sexual perversion?
Pg. 306
Deuteronomy 32:18 You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Ever wonder who the Rock is? Paul tells us.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Pg. 307
Here's a great little verse giving us assurance that our salvation is secure!
Deuteronomy 32:39 "See now that I myself am He! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.
Oh, and here's another one...
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Assurance of salvation? Any doubts???
Pg. 308
There is a warning in Deuteronomy 32:34-38 but in Deuteronomy 32:47a God reminds them about the words of the law. "They are not just idle words for you - they are your life." How very true!
In all of our spiritual battles, this promise should empower and encourage
us. “The Lord himself goes before you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
If people feel as if God has deserted them, guess who moved?
Discouragement is one of the Devil’s Deadly Ds. If we give in to discouragement it inevitably leads to doubt. Satan will whisper in our ears the same thing He whispered to Eve, “Did God really say….”
God warns Moses that the people will be unfaithful. He calls it spiritual prostitution. When we are unfaithful to God, with some gain for us, that is spiritual prostitution. When we engage in sinful activities or profit in some way from sinful activities we are committing spiritual prostitution.
The Song of Moses is mentioned again in Revelation 15. John saw those who had been victorious over the beast and his image. They were singing the Song of Moses.
Revelation 15:3-4 This is like the new last verse of the Song of Moses, And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty, just and true are Your ways, O King of saints. Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You only are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your righteousnesses were made known.
Compare this song in Revelation to the one in Deuteronomy. Quite a contrast!
MARCH 9
Pg. 308
In Deuteronomy 32:48-52 God reminds Moses that he broke faith with Him at the waters of Meribah Kadesh. Because Moses did not uphold God's holiness among the Israelites he will not be allowed to enter into the land.
There are two different places called "Meribah" in the exodus route: The first is at Rephidim before they got to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God in Arabia. It is here that God instructed Moses to strike the rock to bring forth water. (page 119) The second Meribah is at Kadesh Barnea where Moses sinned in striking the rock and taking glory for himself (page 180). The word meribah means strife or contention. We are reminded of this incident in several other places in Scripture, such as..
Psalm 106:32-33 They angered him at the waters of Meribah, and it went ill with Moses on their account, for they made his spirit bitter, and he spoke rashly with his lips.
Pg. 309
Compare Moses' blessings of the tribes with Jacob's blessings of the tribes (see pages 93-94 or Genesis 49). We noticed that when blessing the tribe of Levi, Moses relates that the Levites cared more for the keeping of the Word and the covenant than they did for their families. This illustrates the devotion of the Levites toward God and their duties.
God gives a great blessing to the tribe of Levi.
“Bless all his skills, O Lord, and be pleased with the work of his hands.”
Isn’t this a blessing that every Believer should want? No matter what our skills are; manual labor, missionary work, office work, teaching, ministering, nursing, housework, heads of corporations, etc. shouldn’t we want all our skills to be blessed?
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
The people are reminded again that God will drive out their enemies, so that they can live in safety in a land full of grain and new wine.
Pg. 310
Deuteronomy 33:29 Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you and you will trample down their high places.
Most often in Scripture when high places are mentioned, it refers to pagan altars. In subsequent readings, we will find that God instructs His people repeatedly to destroy the high places and every remnant of anything pagan. Some of the more modern versions of the Bible replace the phrase "high places" with other words, watering down the meaning. Can we make connections with "high places" in our lives today?
Pg. 311
Scripture says that when Moses died “his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone.” Sounds as if he was still healthy and strong. It's just that his time was up. His eyes must have been pretty strong to be able to see all that land from the top of Mount Nebo! Moses was able to “see” from the tip of the Dead Sea (Zoar) to way north of the Sea of Galilee (Dan and Naphtali). We may call that remote viewing today.
Pretty impressive! But even more impressive than that is the following:
"...no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face..."
Now that's impressive!
MARCH 10
While Joshua and the Israelites were conquering Canaan, the world was experiencing power struggles, cultural growth, and the rise and fall of civilizations. Major powers like Egypt, the Hittites, and Babylon dominated the Middle East, while the Shang Dynasty thrived in China, and early civilizations in Europe and the Americas were developing. Egypt was a dominant power, ruled by the New Kingdom pharaohs. Egypt had control over Canaanite city-states and engaged in conflicts with the Hittites. Around Joshua’s time, the Hittites were fighting for dominance in the region. The Assyrians were growing in power but had not yet reached their later dominance. The Shang Dynasty ruled China, known for its advanced bronze work and early writing system.
The key themes in the first few chapters of the book of Joshua are:
God’s faithfulness & Israel’s obedience lead to success.
The importance of covenant faithfulness (seen in Rahab’s salvation and Achan’s punishment).
God fights for His people, performing miracles like parting the Jordan, collapsing Jericho’s walls, and stopping the sun.
Today's reading contains another reminder. God gives the Israelites this promise before they enter into the land. He tells them, "I will give you every place where you set your foot..." In other words, in the cultural procedure of the day, whenever a person took ownership of a piece of land, that person would walk the land and claim the land. The problem is that the Israelites did not walk the entire land that God promised them. Look in Joshua 1 for the boundaries of the land. It is much larger than the land of Israel today, but much smaller than the original promise to Abraham.
The people are told to "meditate on the law day and night". This is a good reason to meditate on Scripture. There is a great promise that follows - so that you will be "prosperous and successful".
Pg. 313
Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. Now, was he supposed to do this - or just go in and take the land? The spies stayed at the house of a prostitute. She may not have been a prostitute as we think of it today, the word can also mean innkeeper. Did the spies go into Rahab’s house because there were many people coming and going there and they wouldn’t be noticed? How did they know to pick her house? Rahab was instrumental in protecting the men and in effect helped the Israelites take Jericho.
Rahab said “…for your Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” She as well as many others in Jericho had seen or heard about the pillar of fire and the cloud that guided the Israelites. Because of the miracles that were done, the people of the land were in fear of the Israelites. This is one way that God drove the inhabitants out of the land so that the Israelites could take possession.
In Joshua 3, we are told that the focus of the Israelites is no longer on following the cloud and the pillar of fire. They are now to follow the Ark of the Covenant. When they celebrated the Passover, they ate some of the produce of the land. The day after that, the manna stopped.
The story of Rahab is so significant. It is such a beautiful illustration that God can use ordinary people, even prostitutes to do extraordinary things! Just one example of God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Rahab was the mother of Boaz who was an ancestor of King David who was an ancestor of both Mary and Joseph, and an ancestor of Jesus (see the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke’s gospel accounts).
Pg. 314
Joshua 1:16..."Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go."...
Great verse for us to live by! These words were spoken to Joshua by the people. However, they followed up this statement with the following; "Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you." Wait a minute...they didn't fully obey Moses! And they won't fully obey Joshua either.
Pg. 315
Fascinating that most remember the parting of the Red Sea yet seldom remember the parting of the Jordan River – and at flood stage even! Notice that the priests touched the water's edge without hesitation and look what happened. Talk about stepping out on faith.
How goes it with us as Believers? Are we obedient to where God is leading us? Do we step out in faith as we go where He leads?
Pg. 316
After they crossed over the Jordan River they set up stones as a monument, a memorial or remembrance of the great miracle of the crossing of the Jordan. What are some of our "memorial stones" today? Maybe some of our “memorial stones” should be our observance of all of God’s Holy Days. And maybe we should make ourselves visual reminders of God’s provisions for us.
Isn't it interesting that Moses did not honor the covenant of circumcision during the forty years of wandering?
Pg. 317
Another great story in today's reading is the appearance of the Divine Commander found in Joshua 5:13-15. Note the similarities to what happened with Moses and the burning bush. Joshua was allowed to see face to face...God the Son.
MARCH 11
Pg. 317-318
Today's reading contains much foreshadowing of future events. There are several connections to the fall of Jericho in the book of Joshua and the fall of evil on earth as recorded in the book of Revelation. As recorded in Joshua 6, there are seven priests who carry seven trumpets in front of the ark. On the seventh day, they march seven times around the city of Jericho. The people were to remain quiet until told to shout. On the seventh day on the seventh time around the city the people shouted as the seven priests blew the trumpets. Then the walls of the city fell. As recorded in Revelation 8 there is silence in heaven for about half an hour. There were seven angels. One of the angels sent to the earth thunder, lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
The battle of Jericho is a foreshadowing of the beginning of the coming Millennium, the multiple "sevens" in Jericho and the multiple "sevens" in Revelation's seven seals. Even the point of the destruction of Jericho is a symbol of the destruction of evil on earth prior to the Millennium. The walls of Jericho fell. The Israelites went into the city, killed every living thing, and burned the remnants of the city, except for those who were protected (Rahab and her family) by going into Rahab's house - her place of safety. They were brought out alive to live with the Israelites. The prophecies about the beginning of the Millennium are very similar.
God's people will enter into their "places of safety" (Isaiah 26:20-21). Most of every other living thing on earth will be killed. The face of the earth will be burned and only God's people will survive. They will come out and "leap like calves in the ashes" (Malachi 4:2-3) and will live together as God's people during the Millennium. Other connections can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Rahab and her family were saved because of the scarlet (red) rope. Believers are saved because of the blood of Jesus.
Joshua 4:13 records that there were 40,000 fighting men who crossed the Jordan. When the people were marching around the city they were to keep a distance of 2,000 cubits away from the Ark of the Covenant. Using the sacred measurements, that would be more than 1,000 yards, more like 1,388 yards (or about ¾ of a mile) both in front of the ark and behind the ark. (see the notes for March 1 for clarification on the different measurements). They encircled the city keeping that distance from the ark. They marched before the presence of the Lord. (Remember, Joshua had earlier encountered the Commander of the army of the Lord in Joshua 5:13-15)
When the Israelites took Jericho they were told to keep away from the devoted (or accursed) things within the city. These would be things that the people devoted to false gods. Yet Achan acts unfaithfully and takes some of the devoted things. His one act of disobedience brought about God’s anger against all Israel. A lesson for us today…when we sin, others almost always get hurt. Sin has consequences.
Pg. 319
In Joshua 7, Joshua prays a prayer similar to one that Moses prayed. At the time Joshua prayed, it seems as if he was unaware of the sin of Achan so he may have been confused about why God allowed the routing of the Israelites by the men of Ai.
God reminds them that they will not be able to stand against their enemies unless they destroy the sin within their own camp. Notice also that when God reveals the guilty party (Achan), He does it publicly. Most likely the urim and thummim were used to ascertain the one responsible.
Pg. 320-321
Joshua 8 records the battle to attack the city of Ai using an ambush called in today's military terms, "double envelopment". This same tactic was used in such battles as the Revolutionary War battle of Cowpens.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cowpens
Joshua pronounces curses on Jericho. The results of that prophecy happened during Ahab’s reign. IKing 16:34 In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
After Ai was taken Joshua copied on stones the law of Moses (the Ten Commandments?), built an altar and read the total Book of the Law, every word to the whole assembly, including women, children, and aliens. This is great encouragement to read the entire Bible on a regular basis. Just as all of us are doing this year.
MARCH 12
Pg. 322
We are reminded once again from the readings for today that the Israelites had to fight for the land as a result of not obeying God in the beginning. Had they been obedient, they could have gone straight into the land with no fighting at all. God had already told them He would drive the inhabitants from the land. For example, had they been obedient earlier, they could have gone into Jericho without crumbling down the walls.
Another example of the consequences of disobedience is that they suffered as a result of making a treaty with the Gibeonites. God told them not to make a treaty with the people living in the land.
Pg. 323
Exodus 34:12-15 Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you. Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. "Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices.
Their problem was that they did not inquire of the Lord as to what to do. Big mistake! The people of Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a covenant with them claiming that they were from a distant country. Isn’t that just like Satan? He played on Joshua’s mercy. Even after Joshua realized that he had been tricked, he still wanted to hold on to the oath he had made with men rather than to please and obey God. Not a good thing!
How often do we as Believers worry about what others think, and not so much about what God thinks? Shouldn't it be the other way around???
Also, as an application for today - how often do we as Believers make "treaties" with the ways of the world, give in to the "traditions of men" and compromise the truth? The ways of the world can be just as much a snare to us today.
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