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Sabbath School Lessons by Dr. Robert LaMay

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The Lord is with Us

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January 18, 2009

Lesson: Joshua 3:1-13

Key Verse: Joshua 3:7

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Introduction

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The Word of God asks us this question: “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” (James 2:14). James is speaking about that faith which is in active obedience to the Word of God. He writes of Abraham, that he believed God, “and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God” (2:23). James raises the question of faith and works concerning Rahab, was she not also “justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?” James, therefore concludes, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

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James illustrates the failure to see our faith as that which includes works, as one who is a hearer and not a doer, deceiving himself, or looks in a mirror and soon forgets what kind of man he is (James 1:22-24). When one looks into the mirror of grace and law, of mercy and truth, he or she begins to understand that marvelous gift of faith that works in their lives to love God and one another.

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We acknowledge by faith through grace that God in Christ Jesus “laid down his life for us,” and, therefore, by faith through love, “we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16). Further, this faith and works manifests itself in obedience to the law of God: “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).

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Sanctify Yourself –Joshua 3:1-6

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Obedience will nurture the faith of God’s people. The promise has been given. The people of God move closer to the Jordan. They are looking across this river to the land that God had given them. They were now to possess this land. However, they rested until the officers of Joshua began to circulate through the host of people. Their faith brought them to Jordan. They waited for the next command. There are times when we are brought to a certain point in our lives without knowing the outcome or the next step. We like to plan our trips very carefully, which route to take, where to rest, and when we will reach our destination. Not always so with God. Faith rests upon the sovereign will of God that is not revealed to us. We must wait upon him. We come to today, and in this day we must rest the tomorrow in his care.

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Twelve large cities, with their possessions, including their flocks, waiting to take ownership of a fruitful land, must have been an awesome sight to behold. Joshua sent offices out to each tribe, spreading the word that the time was near. The commandment that spread through the people was this: “When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.”

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There was also the need for the people to prepare for the trip to Canaan. Joshua told the people: “Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” The people were to prepare, to sanctify themselves for the trip across the Jordan. Everything was to be in readiness, the family, the flocks, and the beasts of burden, prepared, by faith, for the conquest of the Promised Land.

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This was an act of faith. This was the meaning of being sanctified, to prepare for a journey by faith, without knowledge of how the crossing and possession was to take place. We too walk by faith. We sanctify ourselves by faith in the word of God for today, not being anxious for tomorrow, for there are wonders that God has for us in Christ. By faith we follow him, hearing his word, and obeying his commands.

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Discussion: Why did Joshua tell the people to sanctify themselves?

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Hear His Words – Joshua 3:7-13

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The Lord speaks to Joshua promising to magnify him “in the sight of all Israel,” in order that the people may know that as he was with Moses, so would he be with Joshua. Joshua would command the priests to bear the Ark of the Covenant, stopping at the brink of the water of Jordan.” Joshua comes before the children of Israel that they may hear the words of the Lord their God. His words declare the power of God, not only in the crossing of the Jordan, but also in the occupation of the land of Canaan. As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the Ark of the Lord touch the waters of the river, there a path will be made from one side to another. Following that the promise will come true that Israel will drive out the Canaanites and other nations of the land. This will be done because 1. The living God is among His people, 2. The Lord will not fail in driving out the enemies, and, 3. The Lord of the Ark is “the Lord of all the earth.” God displays his power on earth that he may be known by righteous and wicked alike. The gospel of our Lord must always proclaim God as the only Savior, the One who does not fail to redeem his people, the One who is also the King and Sovereign of all nations.

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The people of God and the inhabitants of Canaan will witness the power of their Creator and Lord. Seas and rivers are under his domain, as well as the nations. The earth will tremble and mountains will dissolve before the Lord God of Israel. “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord” (Ps. 138:4-5).

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Discussion: What three things are promised that victory will come to Israel?

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Obey the Lord – Joshua 3:14-17

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The people of God packed their tents, and began their move to pass over the Jordan, the “priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before the people.” That was no ordinary move. It was one commanded by the Lord. And the command is for the twelve tribes of Israel, of hundreds of thousands of people, to move from one side of the river to another; Joshua, the commander, with leaders chosen from each tribe, managing adults and children and their possessions across the Jordan. They were the children of the Lord God Almighty. And once again they move in obedience to his word. How easily we forget the kept promises of the Lord, and the blessing received as we obey his word. We are, in a true spiritual sense, no different from these people. We live by faith and are blessed in obedience. Our first step is to obey the word of God, to make that marvelous gift of faith active in our every day life.

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So the priests, the mediators chosen of God to represent him that the people may know his presence, bore the ark and came to the edge of the Jordan. It was the time of the Harvest and the Jordan was overflowing its banks, and the feet of priests easily stood in its water. The waters stopped its flowing, and a wall of water was formed on either side, and all the people crossed the Jordan, heading directly for Jericho.

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A glorious sight to behold, one mixed with fearful apprehension. Peter looked to Jesus and began to walk upon the water toward his Savior. Peter’s faith wavered and, was it not for the hand of his Master, could have drowned. The Lord gave his people his peace, his presence. And they, one by one, family by family, tribe by tribe, moved along dry land with the walls of water on each side of them. Our Lord does not ask us to walk by faith without his very own presence along side of us. By his authority the waters remained steady until all passed through.

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Discussion: What encouragement do we have from our Lord to live by faith in obedience to his word?

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2009 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.
 
 

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