We shall continue with
the study of the Book of Joshua this week.
(1) God knew exactly who committed the crime. Why would He tell Joshua to perform a tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, man by man process?
(2) What should Achan do before he was finally drawn?
(3) If you were Joshua, when Achan was drawn, what would you have said?
(4) What did Joshua say?
(5) Why did Joshua begin with saying, “give glory to God and give Him the praise?” Why would Joshua tell someone who sinned so horribly and was about to face the punishment of death to give God glory and praise?
(6) Read Achan’s confession. Did he give glory to God? Was his confession a sign of repentance?
(7) The Israelites had gone through 40 years in the wilderness which meant that they would have rarely seen any Babylonian robe, let alone own one. Together with 5 – 6 lbs. of silver and 1¼ lbs. of gold, it was certainly a huge temptation. How might Achan justify what he did at the time of his action?
(8) Given the seriousness of Achan’s sin, was the punishment of the whole family still a little harsh? Try to recount all the consequences of his sin.
(9) What is the main message to you today?
(1) What did the Lord remind Joshua of in 8:1?
(2) Now, in the attack of Ai for the second time, the Lord allowed them to carry off their plunder. Why did God change His rule all of a sudden?
(3) How did this change of rule reveal God’s intention in His original (earlier) command? What can you learn from this?
(4) How many people did the city of Ai have? (8:25)
(5) How many people did Joshua use last time (7:4)? How many did he mobilize this time? How might you define “faith” in this context?
(6) We know that we should not lie or do anything deceptive, but in the battle of Ai, Joshua led the Israelites to flee as if they were being driven back so as to allow the other 5,000 men to ambush their enemy. Together with the story of Corrie ten Boom who hid the Jews from the Nazis, how might you understand Jesus’ words in Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”?
(7) What was the main lesson learnt by the Israelites that day?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
This passage should be read in conjunction with Deuteronomy 27, especially vv. 1-8.
(1) What might be the main difference between hearing the words of Moses at the time of Deuteronomy and the hearing of the words from Joshua now standing at Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim (one to the north and the other to the south of Shechem)?
(2) What was the significance of building an altar to the Lord and presenting burnt offerings and fellowship offerings at this time?
(3) How important was it that the stones had to be uncut, without tools being used on them (i.e. what was its spiritual implication)?
(4) The emphasis of the writer on the hearers and participants includes “all” Israel, aliens, citizens, elders, officials, judges women and children. How important was it that “all” had been included in this ceremony?
(5) How were the blessings and curses made even more real, being pronounced at a time like this?
(6) How may you emulate the Israelites in “copying” the word of God upon your heart and that of your family (or your church)?
(7) As much as we now live under grace, what might be the “blessings” and “curses” you receive because of your obedience and disobedience to the Lord in your life?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
(1) If you have access to maps of the Bible, take a look at how vast a region was covered by the people who gathered to make war against Israel as described by vv. 1-2. It was no more a war between two nations, but many against one. This appears to be the pattern faced by Israel even up to the present days. What might have changed over the years in this respect? What might have remained constant?
(2) How did the people of Gibeon react differently from these people in vv. 1-2? What might be the core reason for their decision? Could they not have joined the others? Were they cowards and weaklings? (See 10:2)
(3) Why could the Israelites not make a treaty with the Gibeonites if they were neighbors? (See Deut. 20:10-18)
(4) It is true that the Israelites (obviously including Joshua) “did not inquire of the Lord” (v. 14). If they did, what might the Lord say to them? (In the entire story, the Lord never rebuked Joshua or the Israelites for their action.)
(5) The OT Scholar, Richard Hess remarks that, “the Gibeonite confession of faith in the Israelite God lies at the center of the structure.” Do you agree with his remark and why?
(6) How may their willingness to be Israel’s servants (v. 9) speak to the above?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
(1) Was it right for the whole assembly to grumble against their leaders?
(2) What was the reason given by the leaders of Israel to spare the lives of the Gibeonites? Do you think it was right for them to do so in spite of the apparent violation of God’s instruction to wipe out all the Canaanites (Deut. 20:16-18)?
(3) It appears the leaders saw the breaking of an oath before the Lord to be far more serious than the violation of God’s instruction in Deuteronomy. If I say that this incident demonstrated that the leaders truly understood the spirit of the Law (or the heart of God), would you agree? Why or why not?
(4) What was the curse imposed on them by Joshua?
(5) Were they mere woodcutters and water carriers? Was it really a curse?
(6) In what way was Joshua a type of Christ as described in v. 26?
(7) How are we, NT Christians, like the Gibeonites?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
(1) Did the Gibeonites expect that their peace treaty with Israel would invite attack by their powerful neighbors?
(2) Did the Gibeonites show any regret for their action? Why or why not?
(3) The target of these neighboring kings was originally Israel (9:1-2). Why did they change their target and attack the Gibeonites? What were they trying to achieve?
(4) Why did they not follow the footsteps of the Gibeonites?
(5) What message did God give to Joshua? Why was it necessary?
(6) What surprise move did Joshua make? Was it normally a prudent military strategy? Why did it work?
(7) Why did God choose to intervene with hailstones? After all, were the people of Israel not already winning the battle?
(8) What prompted Joshua to ask for the sun to stand still? What did it achieve? How big was this miracle?
(9) Why did God answer Joshua’s prayer? Can we pray for something similar? Why or why not? (Matt. 17:20)
(10) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?
(1) Can you list from this passage words spoken by Joshua that were words spoken to him by God in the first place? This appears to be the first time that Joshua repeated to his people these words which were originally meant for him. If this was the case, what can we say of Joshua’s journey of faith?
(2) V. 21 is an interesting verse. Why would the author say, “no one uttered a word against the Israelites”? How might this verse speak to your own situation today?
(3) Why did Joshua ask the army commanders to put their feet on the necks of the kings? Did these commanders expect such a great victory against this powerful bloc of enemies?
(4) What had this battle and the way it was won meant to the Israelites?
(5) What had this battle meant to the Gibeonites who had made a difficult decision to be servants to the Israelites?
(6) What had this battle meant to Joshua at this (still) beginning stage of his campaign?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how might you apply it to your life?