Q: How many times did the Israelites march around Jericho?
BONUS: What did this teach the Israelites?
Consider a teen who’s grounded for sneaking out the window at night—the third time this week. Two minutes later he goes to his dad and says, “Dad, will you take me to the mall for new basketball shoes?” He’s sort of like Christians who knowingly do wrong and then can’t understand why God doesn’t answer their prayers. When an Israelite broke God’s command, God’s people suffered defeat in their next battle. God explained: “Israel has sinned . . . I will not be with you anymore” (Joshua 7:11–12). If you want God’s blessing, don’t make a habit of disobeying.
Sometimes keeping your word can be hard, and sometimes it’s just not fun. For instance, you promise to help Amanda with her algebra. Then another friend invites you to the mall. What do you do when keeping your word hurts? The Gibeonites fooled the leaders of Israel into making a treaty with them by pretending to live a long way away. Then the Israelites learned that the Gibeonites were neighbors. The Israelites were upset, but they kept their word. God wants you to be people of your word too. Christians represent a God who always keeps his word. It is important to be trustworthy.
Q: What Israelite tribe was given no land of its own?
BONUS: Where did members of this tribe live?
I asked a boy in my math class about our homework assignment. It spread all over school and within a couple of days people were saying I was kissing him. Now his girlfriend and her friends want to fight me and my friends. I’m scared and upset. Now what am I supposed to do?
Ashley
Dear Ashley,
Most people don’t think gossip and rumors are that big of a deal. But they’re wrong, as your letter points out. It’s not a new problem either. Joshua 22 tells of a rumor which nearly caused a war. A story was getting around that some of Israel’s tribes who lived across the Jordan River had built an altar for worship, which was forbidden. The other tribes were afraid they would be punished for what the tribes across the river had done.
Fortunately, a group of people were sent across the Jordan River to confront the tribes over there. They discovered that the altar was a remembrance and was not to be used in worship. If the main section of Israel had not gone and talked to the others, there would have been a war because a rumor had been spread around.
It doesn’t sound all that much different from what you’re describing. Try to get the word out that all you did was ask that guy about a homework assignment. And try to spread it around that gossip and rumors can be very harmful.
Jordan
Years ago a good-looking guy or girl was a “dreamboat.” In the sixties he or she was “groovy.” The words change year by year, but whatever you call an attractive person now, don’t get carried away by mere looks. God warned his people not to intermarry with the neighboring Canaanites. They might have looked like “dreamboats,” but they weren’t committed to God and would draw God’s people away from him. There’s nothing wrong with good looks or with being attracted to good-looking guys or girls. Just make sure that the person you like loves the Lord and will help instead of hinder your Christian life.
Your parents make you go to church? Even if you don’t want to? Well, that’s their right as long as you live in their home. Not that they think dragging you to church makes you a Christian any more than sitting in a school classroom makes you an A student. Going to church just gives you the chance to learn about God. But you have to decide to make a personal commitment. Joshua knew this very well. When he was old and about to die, he challenged all the Israelites: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). That’s a challenge every person faces. Including you.
Joshua
The Winner!
Joshua is a book about victory and defeat. God’s people must invade a heavily populated land. After ten years, the promised land is theirs and is divided among Israel’s twelve tribes.