How much do you remember?

• What is the central truth of Joshua?
• Can you recall the three main divisions of the book?
• Who was the woman who hid the spies in Jericho?
• How did they cross the Jordan River into Canaan?
• What was the memorial the Lord told them to make upon coming into the land?

What did you learn about God throughout the book of Joshua? What did you learn about people in general? What did God reveal to you about yourself? What big idea, main application are you walking away with from this book?

Reflection: Thouts for contemplation:

Deserts, silence, solitudes are not necessarily places but states of mind and heart. These deserts can be found in the midst of the city, and in the every day of our lives. We need only to look for them and realize our tremendous need for them. They will be small solitudes, little deserts, tiny pools of silence, but the experience they will bring, if we are disposed to enter them, may be as exultant and as holy as all the deserts of the world, even the one God himself entered. For it is God who makes solitude, deserts, and silences holy.

~Catherine De Hueck Doherty

Psalm 37. Today we pray for instruction in Wisdom. Slowly work through this Psalm, meditating on each verse/idea and sit silently with the Lord waiting to hear from Him as you work through the Psalm.

Mark well the principle which governed Israel’s occupation of the land. Not Joshua 11:23 and compare with Joshua 13:1. There is no contradiction here but they complement each other. The decisive blow had been struck and it only remained the they should go on through to the last detail. The same is true in our lives – the blow against Satan has been struck in the acceptance of Christ. All that He has is ours if we will possess all “blessings in Christ” but we must go on and possess them ourselves. The key passage in the section is Joshua 21:43-45.

Joshua 19

• Simeon’s Inheritance (verses 1-9)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Simeon
  • Why was Simeon put where he was? (look at verse 9)
• Zebulun’s Inheritance (verses 10-16)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Zebulun
• Issachar’s Inheritance (verses 17-23)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Issachar
• Asher’s Inheritance (verses 24-31)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Asher
• Naphtali’s Inheritance (verses 32-39)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Naphtali
• Dan’s Inheritance (verses 40-48)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Dan
    • They have two territories – find them both

Joshua 20 The Cities of Refuge

Here we have the six Cities of Refuge – three on the west of the Jordan and three on the east. They were a merciful provision to protect those who had committed “sins of ignorance,” mistakes and unintentional wrongs. Christ, HImself is our “City of Refuge.”

• The Cities of Refuge (verses 1-9)
  • Why were the cities of refuge chosen?
  • Find the general location of these cities on the map

Joshua 21

Let’s take notice of the three things God gave to Israel:

• The Lord gave to Israel all the land
• The Lord gave them rest
• The Lord gave all enemies into their hands

• Cities of the Levites (verses 1-8)
  • Who were the heads of the Levites?
  • Who were the Kohathites?
    • Who did they receive their lots from?
  • Who did the Gershon descendants receive their lots from?
  • Who did the Merari’s descendants receive their lots from?
• Cities of Aaron’s Descendants (verses 9-19)
  • What lots did he receive – and from which tribe?
• Cities of Kohath’s other Descendants (verses 20-26)
  • What lots did he receive – and from which tribe?
• Cities of Gershon’s Descendants (verses 27-33)
  • What lots did he receive – and from which tribe?
• Cities of Merari’s Descendants (verses 24-42)
  • What lots did he receive – and from which tribe?
  • How many cities did the Levites move into?
• Fulfillment of the Lord’s Promises (verses 43-45)
  • Write out verse 43
  • What did they get after they took possession of their lands?

What things did you see today that were new, interesting or helped you understand the Lord more? Is there anything the Lord spoke to you as you read through the division of the land?

Reflection: Reflect on the following quotation to stimulate and inform your practice of solitude:

Do you know live so that you are conscious of being an individual and therby that you are conscious of your eternal responsibility before God? Do you live in such a way that this consciousness is able to secure the time and quiet and liberty of action to penetrate every relation of your life? This does not demand that you withdraw from life, from an honorable calling, from a happy domestic life. On the contrary, it is precisely that consciousness which will sustain and clarify and illuminate what you are to do in the relations of life.

~Soren Kierkegaard

Psalms 35. Today we pray for victory. What is the one thing you want to see the victory in? Pray this verse over that, standing firm in the knowledge that God is victorious – He has already won the battle.

Joshua 16

• Josephs Inheritance (verses 1-4)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Ephraim & Manasseh
• Ephraim’s Inheritance (verses 5-10)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Ephraim
  • What does verse 10 tell us?

Joshua 17

• West Manasseh’s Inheritance (Verses 1-13)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of Manasseh
  • Describe what is happening in verses 12-13
• Joseph’s Additional Inheritance (verses 14-18)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory given to them (look in northern territory – near gad borders)

Joshua 18 The Dividing:

This was done by “casting of lots before the Lord.” Joshua 18:6-7. The Lord was to settle the tribes where He wanted them. Note also Joshua 14:2. Notice that Gad, Reuben and the half tribe of Manasseh settled on the east of Jordan (Genesis 48:19-22) – othe other nine and one-half on the west side.

• Land Distribution at Shiloh (verses 1-10)
  • Where was the tent of meeting set up?
  • What is happening in verse 4?
  • What were the men told to do in verse 8?
• Benjamin’s Inheritance (verses 11-20)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of the Benjamite’s
• Benjamin’s Cities (verses 21-28)
  • We get to read the cities of where Benjamin was at.
  • This is their territory

What did God speak to you today about? What are you going to do with the thing(s) He has spoken to you?

Reflection: Here are some New Testament Scriptures to read today in regards to Solitude: Matthew 14:12-13; Matthew 14:23; Luke 5:16; Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 1:32-39; Mark 6:30-32; Luke 6:12-13; John 6:15; James 3:1-12

Psalms 34 we will pray about how the Lord delivers the righteous. Pray this over your life, your family and your friends.

Joshua 13 The Division of the Land

This was no simple task. God went into detail here in chapter 13 about what inheritance each tribe received.

• Unconquered Lands (verses 1-14)
  • What did the Lord speak to Joshua in verse 1?
  • Who is going to drive the people out?
  • What is Joshua’s job?
  • Who already received their inheritance?
    • Where did this happen?
  • Who did not receive an inheritance?
    • Why not?
• Rueben’s Inheritance (verses 15-23)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
    • Find the territory of the Reunites
• Gad’s Inheritance (verses 24-28)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of the Gadites
• East Manasseh’s Inheritance
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of the half tribe of Manasseh

Joshua 14

• Israel’s Inheritance in Canaan (verse 1-5)
  • How did they receive their inheritance?
  • Write out verse 5
• Caleb’s Inheritance (Verses 6-15)
  • Write out verse 8
  • What was promised to Caleb?
  • How old was Caleb?
    • What does He attest that to?
  • How was Caleb going to move forward into the new land?
  • What Territory did Caleb get?
    • Look for his territory in the land given to Judah

Joshua 15

• Judah’s Inheritance (verses 1-12)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of the descendants of Judah
• Caleb and Othniel (verses 13-19)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of the Caleb tribes
  • What took place with Caleb’s daughter?
• Judah’s Cities (verses 20-63)
  • Look for a map of the land of Canaan during the time of Joshua.
  • Find the territory of the clans of Judah
  • What happens in verse 63?

Reflection: Here are some Old Testament scriptures to look at regarding the importance of solitude – a time of being alone with God in the midst of community with each other. Psalm 23; Ecclesiastes 5:1-2; Isaiah 30:15; Zephaniah 3:17

Psalms 33 has us praising the creator today. Take time to sit in solitude, possibly outside just in awe of what our Creator has accomplished for our enjoyment.

Joshua 11

• Conquest of the Northern Cities (verses 1-15)
  • Why did all these kings and their armies go out together?
  • Write out verse 6
  • What did Joshua do?
  • Write out verse 15
• Summary of Conquests (Verses 16-23)
  • What are we told happened according to verses 16-20?
    • Write out verse 20
  • Write out verse 23

Joshua 12

• Territory East of the Jordan (verses 1-24)
  • Verses 1-6 is a reminder of the territories conquered while Moses was still alive. Is there anything new in there you see?
  • How many kings did Joshua conquer?

What are you learning about the way God does things? What are you learning about how people are? What have you been learning about yourself? What has the Lord shown you today that you are to do?

Reflection: Practice this discipline of solitude with others – a close friend or friends, family members, a spiritual mentor, or a small group – by establishing times and places for at least two or three interludes of silence together, for whatever duration on which you collectively agree. Identify a purpose for these silences together, such as:

• Acknowledging that each of you is an individual before God in order to form a genuine community of persons.
• Emphasizing that simple presence is as important as dialogue together.
• Eliminating the distractions of conversational buzz by becoming genuinely aware of each other
• Opening up your self to wordless forms of communication such as eye contact and touch
• Listening together to the divine Whisper for guidance on some issue of common concern.

Be creative about times and places – they can be as varied as holding hands in a circle in a softly lit room, walking a trail on a beautiful day, eating a meal together, praying or meditating in intercession or worship, listening to devotional music, riding in a vehicle on a long trip, attending a silent retreat.

Psalm 32 – the Joy of Forgiveness. Today in our time of solitude we can be reflecting over how we have been forgiven and praying for the things in our lives right now that we need to attend to – the places where we are falling short.

Joshua 6 The First Cities

The Lord would do the conquering if Israel would do exactly what God commanded. They did and God did. Rahab was saved.

• The Fall of Jericho (verses 1-21)
  • Write out verse 2
  • What did God tell Joshua to do to conquer Jericho?
  • Write out verse 5
    • what do you think the people thought when they heard their directions?
  • Little side note:
    • according to verse 10 it tells us that their voices are not to be heard while marching around the city. This is where the importance of context comes in. Read things well.
    • We read that the people were told that Joshua spoke to the people, and the people would advise when the wall collapsed. But in verse 3 we are told that God said to march around the city with all the men of war.
    • I always wondered how you would keep women and kids quiet on that big of a march, how were voices not heard. But it was trained men of war that were walking around the town because this was a battle, not a leisurely walk around Jericho.
      • This is also why it is important not to take Vegitales too seriously when you think about bible stories ;)
  • Who was saved from destruction?
  • Write out verse 18
• The Sparing of Rahab and Her Family (verses 22-27)
  • What was Rahab known for? This is key to when we start looking into the New Testament.
  • Where did Rahab move to after Jericho was destroyed?

Joshua 7 The Sin of Achan

One sin affected the whole camp.

• Defeat of Ai (verses 1-15)
  • What did Achan do according to verse 1?
  • What does it say about the Israelites as a whole?
  • Describe what you are learning about in verse 5
  • Summarize Joshua’s prayer
  • What was the Lord’s response to Joshua’s prayer?
  • What does God tell them in verse 13 that they need to do? And what will happen if they don’t?
  • How is the Lord going to show them who did it?
• The Judgment of Achan (verses 16-26)
  • How quickly did Joshua respond to the Lord’s direction?
  • Who was selected as the guilty party?
  • Write out verse 19
  • What was Achan’s response?
  • What was the result of this sin?
  • What was the Lord’s response in the end?

Chapter 8 The Conquest of the Land

After sin had been confessed and dealt with, God gave Joshua and Israel victories at Ai – and through the central, southern, and northern campaigns. We will read about this from chapter 8-12 with chapter 12 giving a summary of all the kings and cities that fell at the hands of Israel.

• The Conquest of Ai (verse 1-29)
  • What is the first thing Joshua is told in verse 1?
  • Summarize verses 3-7
  • Write out verse 8
  • Summarize what this battle looked like.
  • Describe what is happening in verses 18-20
  • What happens after Israel wins the battle?
• Renewed Commitment to the Law (verses 30-35)
  • Write out verse 30
  • Describe what Joshua did in the rest of this chapter

What things did you learn about God today? Did you learn anything new about people in general? About yourself? What things can you take away from today that will help you to be obedient to Christ?

Reflection: To counteract the pull of demands and pressures in your life, take advantage of the “little solitude’s” in your daily routines for reorienting your perspective. Consider using these times of inward quietness for: rest and refreshment; a checkpoint for evaluating whether you are making conscious choices about how you spend your day or drifting with the current of external forces; an interlude of communion with God; listening for the divine Whisper of guidance for your day.

Psalm 30 Joy in the Morning. Today, in your time of solitude, reflect on the things that the Lord has brought you from. Let a heart of gratitude flow towards all that He has already brought you through and be preparing for what He is going to continue to do. Be intentional today in this time of reflection in having a heart of gratitude. Prepare your heart for the beginning of this holiday season we are now entering in.

Joshua 3: Jordan Crossed

This was a critical moment for Israel. They were at the same place as their parents – forty years earlier. Now they were to move – led by the priests and Levites. God would work miracles if they would follow. We will learn that it is one thing to be brought out of the “Egypt” of sin but another thing to trust and obey the total Word of God.

• Crossing the Jordan (1-17)
  • Write out verse 3
  • What was the rule in regards to the ark and the people.
  • Write out verse 5
  • Who was to carry the ark of the covenant?
  • What were they commanded to do?
  • Write out verse 13
  • What happened when the priests got to the Jordan?
  • Write out verse 17

Joshua 4: Memorials Raised

They must not forget what God had done. THere was to be a memorial in the river Jordan. And a memorial at Gill. Each memorial was made up of twelve stones. These memorials reminded them of the power of GOd in holding back the water and the faithfulness of GOd in bringing them into the land. Can you name a memorial which we observe speaking of our salvation?

• The Memorial Stones (verses 1-24)
  • How many people crossed the Jordan?
  • Write out verses 2-3
  • How big were the stones? (read verse 5)
  • Why were they to put the stones as a memorial?
  • Write out verse 9
  • How long did the priests stand in the Jordan?
  • Write out verse 14
  • in verse 16 what was the ark called?
  • Write out verse 20
  • Write out verse 24

Joshua 5: The Seal of the Covenant

Circumcision was the seal of the covenant between God and Israel. The children born during the forty years’ wandering had to bear the mark of Israel – which spoke of moral and spiritual separateness

• Circumcision of the Israelites (verse 1-9)
  • What is happening in verse 1?
  • Write out verse 2
  • Why did all the men of war age die when they were in the wilderness?
  • How long did the Israelites stay in camp?
  • Write out verse 9
• Food from the Land (verses 10-12)
  • What time of year was this?
  • Write out verse 11
  • When did the manna cease?
• Commander of the Lord’s Army (Verse 13-15)
  • Who was Joshua talking to?
  • Write out verse 15

What have you learned today about God? Did the Lord reveal anything to you about yourself? Did He open your eyes to something about people in general? What thing can you walk away with today to help you in obedience to Christ?

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced solitude as an opening door into a deeper encounter with the Presence of God?

Todays Psalm is 29: The Voice of the Lord. Today is a day of reverence to the Holy Name of the Lord. This is a beautiful Psalm to read right before some time of solitude. Just sit in awe of who Christ is and what He has done – not just on the cross, but in creation and in loving you personally. Let Him wash you with His word. Hear what He has to say to you today.