Read Joshua 3

I love that the Lord sees Joshua so individually when He says that He is going to show the people that He is with Joshua as He was with Moses. How comforting in the midst of this huge task of leading hundreds of thousands of people.

• Grab a piece of paper and write out the sequence of events as they would have happened for the common person following the ark.

• Why do you think the Lord did not stop the waters as they approached?

• Suppose you are a priest, how are you feeling heading into the water’s edge as the river is rushing?

• Why do you think they obeyed the Lord?

• Today, in front of you, what is raging past you in your life? What does it look like to trust the Lord with those raging waters? What practical steps could you take to walk in that trust & faith?

Read Joshua 2

I remember reading this as we went through the book of James in our last devotional. Just amazed at Rahab’s response.

• How had the Lord gone before the spies to prepare Rahab to receive them?

• Why do you think they chose a prostitute’s house to enter? We don’t know for sure that they knew in advance, but certainly at some point they knew because it is recorded here.

• We read in Matthew 1:5 that Rahab is one of 5 women listed in the genealogy of Jesus. What does this say about God’s character that she is so highly esteemed?

Grace

We’ve covered so much ground in the past 7 weeks. Like we have been running along after the Israelites and watching their growing.

Spend some time this morning sitting and catching your breath! Just be with your Father who delights in you.

Read Joshua 1

• In this chapter as well as twice in Deuteronomy 31, God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. What do you think were some possible things Joshua was fearing?

• Can you imagine following Moses as the next leader – talk about some insecure feelings! How does God pave the way for this transition in ways that would be meaningful to Joshua?

• How have you seen God reach into the areas where you have fear and insecurity?

• What are some fears and insecurities you would like to hand to Him today?

Take this morning to listen to the story of Joshua as told by our friends from the BibleProject.

• Did anything in particular strike you in the transfer of leadership between Moses to Joshua?

Read Deuteronomy 32:1-9 & Deuteronomy 34

• What are the characteristics of the Lord that you read about here?

• What do you think it means that “the Lord’s portion is His people,” “His inheritance?”

When I think of the words portion & inheritance I think of the death of my grandmother. She loved me and left me something of hers that was special to her. When the Lord says that His people are His portion, it makes me feel beloved and valuable. All the more knowing that we are called His inheritance. Moses had explained this earlier to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 4:20.

• How does God demonstrate to Moses that He cares for Him and sees his pain of not crossing into the Promised Land?

Spend some time reflecting and perhaps journaling how it makes you feel to know that you are so prized by the Father.

Read Deuteronomy 31

Moses tells Joshua twice to be “strong and courageous” and tells him three to four times to not be afraid or terrified! That might terrify me!

• How does Moses act as a strong father to Joshua through this process?

• What fears do you think the people might have watching this transfer of leadership right before such a huge task for them (entering in and taking the Promised Land)?

• How does He show care for them in the song He has Moses write?

All of these strong words from the Lord and from Moses about the unfaithfulness of the people is said (it seems) in the hearing of Joshua. He would be their leader and they would be unfaithful.

• Think of a time when you have led someone well, only to have them turn away from how you instructed them. How did you feel?