Tag: Lazarus

Week 15

April 9 – 15, 2011¹

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

Themes and stories: Moses blessed all the tribes. Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo. God pointed out the promised land, but reminded Moses he was not permitted to cross over to it. Moses died and was buried in a valley in the land of Moab. He was 120 years old. No one knows the exact burial site.

[10] And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, [11] none like him for all the signs and the wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, [12] and for all the mighty power and all the great and terrible deeds which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel. Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (RSV)

Joshua. After Moses’ death, God spoke to Joshua. God told him to cross the Jordan River. God promised that no one would ever be able to defeat Joshua’s armies. Joshua prepared the Israelites to cross into the promised land. First, they sent out two spies to view the land they were about to conquer. The spies entered the house of Rahab, the prostitute. The king found out about the spies, and sent men to inquire as to what Rahab knew. Rahab lied and told the King’s men that the spies had departed. After the king’s men left, Rahab hid the spies on her roof overnight. She told them she had helped them, because she knew the power of the Israelites’ God. She asked them to spare her family when they returned with their army. They agreed, and told her to tie a crimson cord in her window, as a sign to leave her home undisturbed. She helped the spies escape with a rope through her window. Rahab lived in a house on the outer side of the city wall, and she resided within the wall itself.

Back at the Israelites’ camp, Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves. He told the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant in front of the people. Each of the tribes was to select a man to help carry the Ark. The twelve men carried the Ark into the Jordan river. As they went forward, the water piled upstream, so that there was a dry path across the river. All of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. Joshua 3:17. They took 12 stones from the middle of the riverbed, and used them to build a monument on the side of the river to honor God. The Israelite’s enemies panicked when they heard about this miraculous crossing of the Jordan River.

Many of the young Israelite men, who were born after the exodus, had not been circumcised. God told Joshua to stop and circumcise them all, before they proceeded forward. They celebrated Passover in that spot. On the day after Passover, they ate produce from the land. The manna ceased that day too.

As Joshua prepared to lead the Israelites into battle against Jericho, he was met by an angel. God told Joshua to have his army go forward and to march around Jericho once every day for the next six days. On the seventh day, the Israelites were to march around Jericho 7 times. At the seventh time, the trumpets sounded and the people shouted. And the walls of Jericho came tumbling down. The Israelites rushed in and captured the city. Everyone except Rahab, and her family was killed. “[T]hey utterly destroyed all in the city, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and asses, with the edge of the sword.” Joshua 6:21 (RSV)

Achan disobeyed God’s directions, and keep some of the loot from Jericho. Because of this sin, the Israelites lost their next battle against the city of Ai. God told Joshua that someone had keep property pillaged from Jericho. Joshua investigated. Achan confessed. Achan, his children and livestock were all killed by the Israelites as punishment.

Joshua’s army defeated the people from Ai. Joshua took a break and read all of Moses’ law to the Israelites.

The people from Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them. Although the Gibeonites lived on land Joshua was to capture, they told Joshua they lived far away. They wore old tattered clothes and had old, dusty supplies to prove their story. After making the treaty, Joshua learned of their dishonesty. Joshua honored the treaty, but made these people their servants. A deal is a deal.

Some of the Israelites’ other enemies attacked Gibeon. Joshua intervened and killed the aggressors. Joshua asked for the Sun to stand still, so the Israelites would have enough daylight to finish the attack before their enemies could flee. The Sun and Moon stood still, extending the day, and permitting Joshua’s army to rout their enemies. Joshua’s army continued to fight and defeat their other enemies as well.

Discussion points:

1. The inhabitants of Gibeon tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them. Why did Joshua honor the treaty once he learned it was a trick?
2. During the battle with the Amorites, God made the Sun and the Moon stand still. What was the point of this occurrence; and are we to take this story literally? (i.e. did the Sun and Moon actually stop moving, or is this just a figure of speech?)

Psalms: Psalm 78:65 – 84:12

Proverbs: Proverbs 12:25 – 13:6

Themes and stories: Jesus told the people to repent. Jesus cured a woman with a spirit, who had been crippled for 18 years. The religious leaders were upset that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath—which they considered a serious matter. Jesus taught more about the kingdom of God. Jesus healed another man on the Sabbath. This time the Pharisees were afraid to challenge Jesus.

Jesus told the parable of the man whose honored guests made excuses for not attending his feast. He had his servants bring in random people from off the street to enjoy his feast. Luke 14:15-24. In like manner, many people will refuse God’s offer to enter his kingdom. But God’s offer of salvation is open to all.

Jesus tells his followers that if they follow him, they may expect to suffer for their dedication to him.

Jesus told more parables:

• The lost sheep. The shepherd leaves his flock to save one lamb.
• The lost coin. The owner is happy to recover the one that was lost.



• The prodigal son. The father was happy at the return of the son who he thought was lost.
• The shrewd manager. Whoever the master can trust with a little, can be trusted with more.
• The rich man and the beggar. It was better for the poor man, who went to heaven, than the rich man, who ended up in Hades. It was too late for the rich man to warn his brothers.
  Jesus healed ten men with leprosy. Only one of them took the time to thank Jesus.

Jesus told the Pharisees about the coming kingdom of God. He warned them it may happen any time. Be prepared.

Discussion points: The rich man who went to Hades wanted to warn his brothers about this place of torment. Why was his request denied?

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, April 16, 2011 are now online — ”Things Are Not Always What They Seem”. One of our discussion points this week is the treaty Joshua made with the inhabitants of Gibeon. They tricked Joshua into making a treaty with them, which essentially violated God’s instructions to destroy all the inhabitants of the lands the Israelites were to inhabit. Why didn’t Joshua consider the treaty void, after he learned of their deception? Discussion verses: Joshua 9:3-21; Joshua 10:12-14; and Luke 16:19-31

A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.