The Conquest of the Land God Required Obedience to Bring Them Into the Land

Lesson #3 First Baptist Church 262-334-9211 Sunday July 19, 2020 2300 South Main St. West Bend, WI

Walking in the Footsteps of the Bible

The Conquest of the Land God required obedience to bring them into the land

2 I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, the love of your bridal days, Your following after Me in the wilderness, through a land not sown. 3 Israel was holy to the LORD, The first of His harvest; All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them," Jeremiah 2:2-3

God’s Faithfulness to His Beloved Here are some specific ways God demonstrated His faithful love (“hesed”) to Israel: 1. God had grown His special people of Jacob into a nation in Egypt. 2. He effectively prompted their release (by causing them to pray and by His raising up Moses), protecting their first born from death. (Ex 1-12) 3. He personally guided them with His presence in the pillar of cloud/fire. (Ex 13) 4. He effectively protected Israel from Pharaoh and his army, executing them in the very same waters of Israel’s salvation. (Ex 13-14) 5. He provided water. (Ex 15/17) 6. He provided manna. (Ex 16) 7. He provided quail. (Ex 16) 8. He protected them from the Amalekites on the way to the Promised Land. (Ex 17) 9. He prompted Jethro to give Moses wise advice about leading effectively (Ex 18) 10. He displayed His terrifying power in thunder, lightning, trumpet sounding, smoking and quaking mountain. (19/) 11. He revealed His glory to a few specific people (Ex 24/33) 12. He provided His good Law and covenant, creating societal order, explaining what behavior pleased/angered Him, and provided clear instructions for reconciliation and worship as well as instituted memory-inducing festivals. (Ex. 20-40, Levit., Num.) 13. He forgave their wicked idolatrous behavior at Sinai. (Ex 32) 14. He relented from destroying Israel because of their murmurings (Num 11-12) 15. He delivered them safely to Kadesh Barnea where the spies surveyed the land. (Num 13) 16. He pardoned their sin of unfaithfulness & mutiny against Him at Kadesh. (Num 14) 17. Instead of wiping them out and starting over he sentenced the whole rebelling generation to wander in the wilderness, promising to bring those under 20 years into the land. (Num 14) 18. God relented from destroying all Israel during the rebellion of Korah. (Num 16) 19. God confirmed Aaron’s leadership, graciously to silence the rebels and avert His wrath. (N 17) 20. God graciously provided healing (a bronze serpent) from His wrath (fiery serpents). (Num 21) 21. God gave them victory over the Amorites, Bashan, Moab, Midian, etc. (Num 21-24) 22. God relented from destroying Israel because of their going after Baal at Peor (Num 25) 23. God explicitly recommunicated the Law and Mosaic Covenant (The Book of Deut.)

It is amazing grace that He didn’t wipe them out completely. He regularly went above and beyond keeping His promises to Israel. Israel certainly didn’t keep their promise to obey God (Ex. 24:3).

Taught by Pastor David Hinz * 262-224-2114* [email protected] God Tells the Story of Israel’s Repeated Treachery & His Grace "On the day when I chose Israel and swore to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God, 6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands. 7 "And I said to them, 'Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.'

8 But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.

Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10 So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. 11 And I gave them My statutes and informed them of My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live. 12 And also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

13 But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes, and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned.

Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them. 14 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, before whose sight I had brought them out. 15 And also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands, 16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols. 17 Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not cause their annihilation in the wilderness. 18 And I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, or keep their ordinances, or defile yourselves with their idols. 19 'I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances, and observe them. 20 'And sanctify My sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

21 But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths.

So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness. 22 But I withdrew My hand and acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

23 Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands,

24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes, and had profaned My sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers.

25 And I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live; 26 and I pronounced them unclean because of their gifts,

in that they caused all their first-born to pass through the fire so that I might make them desolate, in order that they might know that I am the LORD."'

Ezekiel 20:5-25

Round One: The Journey of the 12 Spies Pg. 3 (Consider the fact that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had lived in the land of Canaan over 400 years earlier, constructing altars throughout the land. Imagine Americans coming back to North America after 400 years of being out of the land, after other peoples had settled there and grown in popul.)

Arriving at Kadesh Barnea in the Wilderness of Paran (south of the Negev), Moses sent out 12 spies; one representative leader from each tribe to see what the land was like which God was giving them. Caleb and Joshua brought back a good report of the land but, because the other 10 spies brought back a bad report, the Israelites did not want to enter the Promised Land. As a result, God’s judgment against their distrust in Him was that the Israelites were to stay 40 years in the desert before entering the Promised Land - until every person over 20 died in the desert (aside from Caleb & Joshua) and the second generation who learned to trust God would enter (Numbers 13-14). The 40 years of wandering took place in 1446-1406 BC.

Who Are All of the “ites?”

ISRAELites - 12 tribes descendants of Israel/Jacob ISHMAELites - Abraham’s son (through Hagar) Ishmael’s descendants MIDIANites - Abraham’s son (through Keturah) Midian’s descendants MOABites - Abraham’s nephew Lot’s incest. son, Moab’s descendants AMMONites - Abraham’s nephew Lot’s incest. son, Ben-Ammi’s descend. EDOMites - Jacob’s twin brother, Esau’s descendants AMALEKites - Jacob’s twin brother, Esau’s son, Eliphaz’s son Amalek’s descendants CANAANites - Noah - Ham’s son, Canaan’s descendants AMORites - Noah - Ham - Canaan’s son, Amor’s descendants Philisitines - “Sea Peoples” who migrated from Crete/Aegean Sea Sin, Judgment & the Antidote—Faith! Throughout the wilderness wanderings of the Israel- ites, God was constantly teaching them things about Himself and about their own sinfulness. He brought them into the wilderness, to the same mountain where He revealed Himself to Moses, so that He could instruct them in what He required of them.

In Numbers 21, the people again got discouraged, and in their unbelief they murmured against Moses for bringing them into the wilderness. They had already forgotten that it was their own sin that caused them to be there, and they tried to blame Moses for it. As a judgment against the people for their sin, God sent poisonous serpents into the camp, and people began to die. This was to show the people that they were the ones in sin, and they came to Moses to confess that sin and ask for God’s mercy. When Moses prayed for the people, God instructed him to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole so the people could be healed (Numbers 21:5-7).

God was teaching the people something about faith. It is totally illogical to think that look- ing at a bronze image could heal anyone from snakebite, but that is exactly what God told them to do. It took an act of faith in God’s plan for anyone to be healed, and the serpent on the stick was a reminder of their sin which brought about their suffering. There is no con- nection between this serpent and the serpent which Satan spoke through in the Garden of Eden. This serpent was symbolic of the serpents God used to chastise the people for their unbelief.

Many centuries later, when the Israelites were in the Promised Land, the serpent became an object of worship (2 Kings 18:4). This shows how easy it is for His people to take the things of God and twist them into idolatry. We must never worship the tools or the people God chooses to use, but always bring the honor and glory to God alone.

In the New Testament there is a significant reference to this event (Num. 21). In John 3:14, when Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus, He indicated that this bronze serpent was a fore- shadowing of Him. The serpent, a symbol of sin and judgment, was lifted up from the earth and put on a tree, which was a symbol of a curse (Galatians 3:13). The serpent lifted up and cursed symbolized Jesus, who takes away sin from everyone who would look to Him in faith, just like the Israelites had to look to the upraised symbol in the wilderness. Paul reminds the Galatians that Jesus became a curse for us, although He was blameless and sinless—the spotless Lamb of God. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is the context of John 3:16! “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begot- ten Son, that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.” so loved - The Greek adverb “houtos” can refer to (1) the degree to which God loved the world, that is to such an extent or so much that He gave His own Son, or (2) simply to the manner in which something is done. Based on the structure of the lowing clause, it is likely that (3) John is emphasizing both the degree to which God loved the world as well as the manner in which He chose to express that love. This is in keeping with John’s style of using double entendre or double meaning. Thus, the focus of the Greek construction here is on the nature of God’s love, addressing its mode, intensity and extent (NET Bible Notes, p. 1944). God’s motivation to send Jesus, was pure love which cost His significantly. The Eastern Campaign: Getting In Position to Occupy the Land Israel’s grumbling against God was a continual sign of their lack of faith in God’s ability to provide for them and protect them. It was awfully ironic for God to sentence them to 40 years of wandering in the barren and hos- tile wilderness! Through those 40 years it became evident to them and surrounding nations that any god who could sustain a whole nation in the desert was the one and true God worthy of fearing/following!

As Israel drew near to entering the Promised Land, they approached Edom who denied them entry into their territory (they were distant relatives (Jacob/Esau) whom God didn’t want Israel to displace). They trav- eled around Edom and Moab and came to the wicked Canaanite Amo- rites (leaving alone the Ammonites who were also distant relatives of Israel through Lot’s son. They defeated the Amorite kings Sihon and Og, taking possession of the land east of the Jordan. This caused the Moab- ite king Balak to join forces with Midian (both distant relatives of Isr.), but Israel prevailed, only to end up falling into sin with Midian soon after. Who Was Joshua? Joshua, the son of Nun, from the tribe of Ephraim, was Moses’ personal servant and spent a lot of time in the presence of God in Moses’ tent. Following the Exodus, Red Sea crossing and travel to Kadesh, at age 47, Joshua, Caleb (from the tribe of Ju- dah) and ten other tribal rep- resentatives entered the Promised Land to survey it. Both he and Caleb came back with positive faith- filled reports and thus were excluded from God’s wrath- ful judgment to prevent that whole faithless generation from entering into the land. Josh- ua thus endured 40 years in the wilderness and was commissioned by God (Deut. 31:23) and Moses (Deut. 34:9, being filled with the spirit of wisdom to take leadership of the Israelites. The Book of Joshua records how he led God's people into the promised land between 1405BC - 1390BC, which was during the last fifteen years of his life. The conquest of the Who Was Caleb? Promised Land took about seven years and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah, was 40 was strategically de- years old when he, Joshua (who was 7 years older) and 10 signed by God to divide other spies were sent by Moses into the Promised Land. and conquer the land by Because of the delay caused by the people’s unbelief, Caleb first starting with the was 85 years old when he finally entered the Promised Land. stronghold city of Jeri- cho. Much later, Caleb became one of the leaders of Israel after the death of Joshua. Joshua had a very close walk with God and Caleb, which in throughout his life was Hebrew means used by God as his lead- a dog, was bold, er and spokesperson. impetuous, cou- rageous, conse- Joshua’s name in He- crated to God, brew means: Jehovah is vigorous and salvation. faithful in old Joshua died at 110 years age driving out old in 1383 BC. the heathen from his inher- He was born in 1493 itance - Hebron BC, and the neigh- He was 32 years young- boring hill er than Moses (1525) country which and 7 years older than was promised to Caleb. him by Joshua.

Is the OT “Holy War” Warranted? Pg. 7

In this 21st Century American “civilized” day in age, the Biblical account of God’s command for Israel to conquer the land and completely annihilate the inhabitants gets much criticism. As we read through these passages, we need to remember that there was much more going on than just Israel taking over a land for themselves. In fact, it was God who repeatedly motivated them with warn- ings to not show grace to any of the inhabitants, but completely wipe them out - He knew Israel would want to go easy on that command).

Israel was God’s chosen people to not only showcase His grace and be the vehicle for the future Messiah, but was also intended to be used by Him as His earthly phys- ical instruments of executing His righteous wrath/justice for crimes done against Him.

We get a hint of this fact in Gen. 15:13-16 which is the account of God establishing His covenant with Abra- ham: NKJ 13 Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. 14 "And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions... 16 "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."

This passage seems to indicate that God’s per- fect timing to bring Israel into the land was paced by the four hundred years in Egypt in order to give the time for the sin of the Amo- rite to be fulfilled against Him to warrant His complete wrath. Apparently the Amorite (the descendants of Ham’s son Canaan’s son Amor) had already been scheduled for God’s destruction four hundred years earlier.

Thus, when coming into the land, Israel was to completely wipe them (along with other offending nations in the land) completely. We have a very clear picture from the book of Joshua that each of these nations were heavily involved in very pagan false god practices in their worship which was a direct offense against Him worthy of His just and righteous wrath. Trans-Jordan Battles & a View from Mt. Nebo

NKJ Deuteronomy 34:1-12 1 Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, 2 all Naphtali and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, 3 the South, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying,`I will give it to your descendants.' I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth Peor; but no one knows his grave to this day. 7 Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. So the days of weeping and mourning for Moses ended. 9 Now Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; so the children of Israel heed- ed him, and did as the LORD had command- ed Moses. 10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,11 in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his serv- ants, and in all his land, 12 and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. 1405 BC Spies in Jericho - the Gateway to Israel Pg. 9 As Joshua stood on the east bank of the Jordan in anticipation of the conquest of Canaan, he had clear military objectives in mind. Canaan was occupied by two predominant ethnic threats: to the south and in the hill country were cities controlled by the Amorites (which also included the Jebusites) and to the north lay fortified concentrations of Canaanite settlements. He chose the military principle of dividing and conquering, penetrating Canaan in the center (just north of the Dead Sea).

However Jericho was the strategic eastern “gateway city” that led to the hill country. It was heavily fortified and defended for the very purpose of preventing enemy penetrating into the interior of Canaan. The city was rela- tively small (ten acres) but built on successive layers of previous settlements, making its walls tall and im- pregnable. It was essential for Joshua to take this city, not just because it was on the route he wished to take, but because if he left it standing, it would continue to harbor a pocket of Canaan- ite resistance which would be a source of annoyance and danger to Israel’s rear flanks.

Joshua sent out two spies ahead into Jericho to gather intelligence. God caused them to be protected by an unlikely person, a harlot named Rahab. Word of God’s dealings with His protected people, Israel had preceded them. She wished to side with them knowing of God’s reputation and actions. (Josh. 2/6) Two spies Joshua sent into the promised land both brought back good report to Joshua. Even to say: "The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us." (No names are given to the two spies Joshua used. Unlike the twelve spies sent by Moses whose names and tribe they came from were listed.)

The actions of the two spies and Rahab effected the family tree of Jesus. Rahab came the mother of Boaz the kinsman redeemer of Ruth, who was the great-great grandmother of King David; the line which Jesus came from. Joshua and the Israelites were encamped at Shittim, where the spies were sent out from. Shittim lies approximately 10 miles (16km) east of the River Jordan, and approximately 15 miles (24km) east of Jericho. After the return of the spies, Joshua had the people set out from Shittim and encamp next to the Jordan River where they remained for three whole days (Josh 3:1). This massive encampment (2 million Israelites) no doubt sent news bulletins all over Canaan as it was clear what their intentions were - to cross into Canaan. Yet the river was at flood stage. How many scouts were stationed in the hills on the west banks monitoring the ominous presence of Israel - who just defeated the whole TransJordan Amorite presence! Once the feet of the priest hit the banks of the Jordan and the waters dried up, the scouts must have booked it back to their cities! That certainly explains Rahab’s reaction to the Hebrew spies! No doubt people from miles around would have fled to the city of Jericho for protection. The imminent battle of Jericho loomed over the region like a storm cloud.

Though small in stature, Jericho possessed extremely heavy fortifications, and could have easily survived a siege of perhaps up to a year or so. Local village residents fared a much better chance of survival by fleeing to the protection of the walls of Jericho. The battle of Jericho would have influ- enced the entire region's political and social structure.

As the spies stealthily crept into ancient Jeri- cho, they entered the house of a prostitute named Ra- hab (2:1). Jericho apparently possessed keen intelligence spies for they knew of the Hebrew spies’ presence and interaction with Rahab. The Crossing of the Jordan Pg. 11

The miracle of God who stopped the Jordan River which was in the flood stage so His people the Israelites could cross over to the promised land on dry ground was intended to remind Israel that He was the same one who had already taken them across the Red Sea on dry land, deliver- ing them from their lethal enemy, the Egyptians. It was to remind them of His power to protect them from the enemies they were about to en- counter and that He was sovereignly and inten- tionally leading them. When times got tough they could look back to the 12 stone memorial for motivation and com- fort.

The crossing of the Jor- dan also was intended by God to increase the es- teem of Joshua as their new leader, having taken the place of Moses. It was significant that as Moses led Israel through the Red Sea, Joshua was doing a parallel miracle leading them into the Promised Land. He was their new prophet of God whom they must listen as He brought God’s words to them.

Joshua 3:17 And while all Is- rael were passing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. The Conquest of Jericho

Jericho, (Hebrew: City of the Palms) is one of the old- est inhabited cities found in Israel. Archaeologists have done extensive digs here and have found that around 1400 BC the city was destroyed by fire and the city walls were crumbled outward by what looks to be the work of a significant earthquake. When coupling the archaeological evidence with the Biblical account, it is refreshing, yet again, to find the account of Scrip- ture being completely congruous with the reality that the Bible is a historical, logical and factually valid and reliable document. This event, in fact, did occur in 1405 BC following the forty year wilderness wandering which started with the exodus in 1446 BC. Following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan, which was an inauguration event for Joshua’s leadership, it is significant the way God had Joshua lead the people in the conquest of Jericho. The unconventional, even laugha- ble tactics of walking around a city parading the ark of the covenant once a day, with continual blowing of rams horns no doubt made for a daily spectacle on Jericho’s walls. Have you ever considered what the Israelites thought or felt like on days one through six? Can you imagine the anticipation or even concern on day seven after the six circle around the city? It was truly an exercise of faith and a demonstration of God’s power, timing, and methods. The fact that the walls fell outward assisted Israel in walking straight up the natural ramp that God created for their victory. This previously impenetrable city was now laid open with a “welcome mat” of rubble! The Route of the Conquest (C, S, N) Pg. 13

God orchestrated the events of major empires rising and falling in tune with Israel’s entry into the land. During the period of the conquest (1406-1399 BC) there was a vacuum of major powers in Canaan, which allowed Israel free rein in achieving the occupation God called them to. The growing Hittite empire was friendly with Egypt during this period. The Mitanni Empire provided a buffer with the Assyrians to the east. The Southern Campaign

The Northern Campaign The Extent of the Conquest Pg. 15 43 So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. 44 The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. 45 Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. (Joshua 21:43-45) Learn the Land

4 “Seas” 1. Mediterranean Sea 2. Waters of Merom 3. Sea of Galilee 4. Dead Sea

10 Mountains Mt. Hermon 1. Mt. Hermon 2. Mt. Carmel 3. Mt. Tabor 4. Mt. Moreh Upper Golan 5. Mt. Gilboa 6. Mt. Ebal Waters of 7. Mt. Gerizim Merom 8. Mt. of Olives Upper Galilee 9. Mt. Moriah 10. Mt. Nebo Lower Golan

Lower Galilee 8 Rivers 1. Jordan River 2. Yarmuk River Nazareth ridge Kishon River 3. Jabbok River Mt. Carmel Mt. Tabor 4. Arnon River 5. Zered Brook

6. Kishon River Mt. Moreh Sea of Galileeof Sea 7. Yarkon River Yarmuk River 8. Kidron Brook

7 Valleys Mt. Gilboa 1. Megiddo Valley Gilead 2. Aijalon Valley 3. Sorek Valley 4. Elah Valley Sea Mediterranean

5. Lachish Valley Hills of 6. Guvrin Valley River Jordan 7. Jordan Valley Yarkon River Mt. Ebal Mt. Gerizim 13 Regions Jabbok River

1. Negev Desert 2. Philistine Plain 3. Shephelah 4. Hill Country of Judea (AMMON)

5. Judean Wilderness Plateau

6. Benjamin Plateau Benjamin Jordan Valley Jordan 7. Hills of Ephraim Mt. of Gilead 8. Nazareth Ridge 9. Upper/Lower Galilee Mt. Moriah Mt. Nebo 10. Upper/Lower Golan 11. Gilead Kidron Brook 12. Moab 13. Edom

Arnon River

Sea Dead 25 Cities 1. Kadesh Bar- nea Moab 2. Beersheba 3. Hebron 16. Magdala 4. Bethlehem 17. Capernaum Zered Brook 5. Jerusalem 18. Chorazin 6. Bethany 19. Bethsaida Negev Desert 7. Jericho 20. Caesarea Philippi 8. Bethel 21. Caesarea 9. Shiloh 22. Joppa 10. Shechem/Sychar 23. Gaza 11. Megiddo 24. Emmaus Edom 12. Nazareth 25. Sodom/Gomorrah

13. Endor 14. Nain 15. Cana