The Israelites were told by God to build a tabernacle, a type of portable tent, containing a holy place and a most holy place surrounded by a courtyard and an altar. God met with his people here. The most holy place was entered by the high priest once a year and atonements were made for his sins and the sins of the people. Aaron and his sons were set apart for the office of priests. The most holy place held the ark of the covenant (two stone tablets) containing God's word and a mercy seat (Exodus 26:33-34).

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu in performing their priestly duties, substituted a different fire on the altar than God had commanded and God was not pleased. "There went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord" (Lev. 10:1-2).

The time to take the "promised land" had arrived. God had furnished food, dwelt among his people in the tabernacle and performed many "Wondrous Works" trying to instill trust and faith in the hearts of the Israelites. God promised the land of Canaan to Israel before they ever left Egypt but it took faith to claim the land.

Twelve spies were sent to spy out the land. After 40 days they returned bringing a cluster of grapes so big it took two men to carry it. It was indeed a land of milk and honey just as God had said. Joshua and Caleb were eager and excited to go forth and possess it saying: "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." The 10 spies that went with them said "We are not able" (Numbers 13:23-32).

"There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants. and we were in our own sight as GRASSHOPPERS, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers 18:33).

 

The people "wept that night" and "murmured" against Moses and Aaron: the whole congregation said unto them, that they wished they had died in the wilderness. They said" Let us make a captain and let us return into Egypt" (Numbers 14:1-4). Joshua and Caleb tried to encourage them saying-.

"Rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land,- for they are bread for us. their defense is departed from them and the LORD IS WITH US. Fear them not " (Numbers 14:9).

 

God told Moses "how long wilt this people provoke me?" How long will it be before they believe in me "for all the signs that I shewed among them." (Numbers 14:11) Moses prayed 40 days and nights for his people and God forgave them because of Moses' prayer. - "The Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word" (Numbers 14:19-20). Ever had a friend like that?

Many of the people of Israel were not allowed to go into the land of Canaan because of "unbelief" and only Joshua and Caleb of the 12 spies. The 10 spies who gave an evil report died of the plague (Numbers 14:36-37). The Israelites had been in bondage in Egypt 400 years (Acts 7:6) and perhaps were weakened by their years as slaves and unable to care for themselves, still slavish at heart.

"Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me. "

"And your children shall wander in the wilderness 40 years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness" (Numbers 14:29-33).

 

During the 40 years of wanderings the people once again found no water and murmured. Moses was told to take the rod and "speak ye unto the rock" but Moses disobeyed God, getting personal honor for himself and "smote the rock" instead of honoring God's word by obeying (Numbers 20:8-11).

"And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron because ye BELIEVE ME NOT, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel therefore ye shall not bring this congregation unto the land which I have given them" (Numbers 20:12).

Aaron died after being stripped of his priestly garments (Numbers 20:26-29). Moses continued to lead Israel but was not allowed to enter the "promised hind." During the wilderness wanderings, (Exodus 13 and Deut.) the people again complained and murmured and "spake against God." God sent fiery serpents among them to bite them and many died (Numbers 21:5-6). The people expressed sorrow and God gave them a chance to be saved. God told Moses to make a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole. Those that had faith in the promise of God looked upon it as God had instructed and were spared. This is the same trusting faith we must have in Christ's death on the cross as our atonement. Faith in God's promise to save us through Christ (Numbers 21:8).

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man belifted up:"

"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have ETERNAL LIFE" (John 3:14-15).

Moses led the people 40 years during the wanderings. The work of Moses was almost done and he besought the Lord to let him go over and see the promised land. God said "speak no more unto me of this matter" (Deuteronomy 3:26). Moses exhorts Israel to "be faithful" to God and his word and not to go after other gods. For thy God is a "consuming fire, even a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 4:24). He reminded them how God was merciful also to those who turn and are obedient; "He will not forsake thee" and "the Lord is God; there is none else beside him" (Deuteronomy 4:30-35). Moses climbed Mt. Nebo and was allowed to view the promised land and he died, and was buried by God, no man knows where. (Deuteronomy 34:1-6) Joshua was Israel's new leader. "Moses was a hundred and twenty years old and he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated."

"And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:7 & 10).

Moses was dead, the 40 years of wanderings were behind them, and the new generation was ready to go in and possess the land of Canaan. Their fathers had failed to take the land, perhaps the 40 years of wanderings had taught them a lesson. God promised Joshua, "every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." As I was with Moses, "so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee; nor forsake thee" (Joshua 1:5 & 9). Canaan was the former home of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and God was fulfilling his promise to them.

Joshua sent two spies to the city of Jericho to look over the city before the Israelites assaulted it. They came upon a woman's house (a harlot) named Rahab who hid them. When the kings men came searching for them Rahab sent them searching another way (Joshua 2:1-6). Rahab told the two spies, "we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you" (Joshua 2:9-10). As soon as we heard these things, "our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath" (Joshua 2:11). The spies promised to spare Rahab's family and she let the spies down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall (Joshua 2:12-15).

It came time for Israel to take Jericho. Joshua spake to the priests telling them to take up the ark of the covenant and pass over the Jordan river. The priests stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan until "all the people were passed cleanover Jordan" (Joshua 3:17). The Lord told Joshua the people were to march around the city of Jericho once each day for 6 days. "Seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city 7 times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets" - the people were to shout with a great shout (Joshua 6:3-4). The people obeyed and the "walls fell down flat" (Joshua 6:20).

The next city to conquer was Ai. Joshua sent up to take the city of Ai and they were beaten back and the "hearts of the people melted and became as water" (Joshua 7:5). God told Joshua "Israel had sinned" and taken of the "accursed thing from among you" (Joshua 7:11-12). Israel was told to find the guilty person and bum him and "all that he hath." (Joshua 7:15) Achan confessed to Joshua saying "when I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonian garment," and the gold and silver I "coveted them." He took them and hid them in his tent. Achan was taken and "all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire." (Joshua 7:21-25). God had told Israel not to take of the spoils, and Achan disobeyed God.

The men of Gibeon sought Joshua's help against the Amorite kings and Joshua helped them. The Lord promised to help Joshua saying "I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. The Lord helped them by "raining hailstones from heaven" (Joshua 10:8-1 1) "So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day" (Joshua 10:13).

"There was no day like that before it or after it that the Lord harkened unto the VOICE OF MAN: for the Lord fought for Israel " (Joshua 10:14).

Joshua obeyed God, "as the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses " (Joshua ll.-15). Joshua divided the land of Canaan unto the children of Israel, "and the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein" (Joshua 21:43). "There failed not ought of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Israel; All came to pass" (Joshua 21:45).

God enumerated all he did for Israel (Joshua 24) and tells Israel to be faithful saying "I have given you a land for which ye did not labor and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them" now therefore "fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth" (Joshua 24:13-14). Joshua challenges by saying "Choose you this day whom ye will serve" but "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). Israel served the Lord ...

"All the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the WORKS of the Lord, that he had done for Israel" (Joshua 24:31).

 

1. Name the two sons of Aaron who were priests of God and were destroyed by fire from heaven for disobeying God by substituting STRANGE FIRE on the altar._______________and _____________(Leviticus 10:1-2)

2.Twelve spies were sent to spy out the promised land, only 2 spies had faith that the Israelites could conquer the land. Ten spies gave an evil report saying "we were in our______________ _____________as grasshoppers" (Numbers 13:33).

3. God was angry with Israel for their lack of faith in Him and said, "How long before they believe me for all the _____________ which I shewed among them" (Numbers 14:11).

4. Moses prayed _____________days and nights for Israel and the Lord pardoned their sins of unbelief because of Moses' prayer (Numbers 14:19-20 and Deuteronomy 9:17-20).

5. The Israelites were made to wander _________ years in the wilderness for unbelief and only their children entered the promised land and Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:29-33).

6. Who replaced Moses after his death as Israel's new leader?_______________(Joshua 1:1-6).

7. Name the woman who was saved when she placed a scarlet thread in her window after hiding the 2 spies of Israel in the conquering of Jericho?______________ (Joshua 2:1-18)

8. The Israelites were told to march around the city of Jericho once a day for 6 days, true or false? ___________ (Joshua 6:3-4).

9. God made the "SUN __________ __________" and the moon stayed as God helped Israel to win the battle over the Amorites (Joshua 10:8-13).

10. God fought for Israel as they battled the ungodly Amorites by raining __________ from heaven (Joshua 10:11).

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

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