Central Theme: Why is it dangerous to jump to a rash conclusion about the behavior of others? How can we foster unity in the church? Why is it important to keep in mind the larger scope of our calling and not get caught up in distractions? These are some of the questions we will address this week.
Read in Class: Joshua 22:5-20. Ask the class to summarise this passage.
Study: What accusations do the West Jordan tribes level against the East Jordan tribes? To what extent were these accusations well-founded? For ideas, see Deuteronomy 12.
Apply: Read Luke 6:37, John 7:24, 1 Cor. 4:5. Why is it so easy to jump to wrong conclusions about the motives of others? How did Jesus and Paul teach us to avoid jumping to incorrect conclusions?
Share: Your friend says a group from her Seventh-day Adventist church has started its own home church. They teach the Bible just like the church does, but your friend says this is wrong, because we should only be worshiping at official Adventist churches. What do you tell your friend?
Study: Why do the Israelites choose Phinehas as the head of the delegation to the two-and-a-half tribes?
Apply: We all have negative experiences from the past that shape how we deal with similar incidents in the future. How can God’s grace help to ensure that the tragedies of our past do not determine the way we treat our neighbors in the present?
Share: Your friend points out that in the story in Daniel 3, even a pagan king had enough common sense to ask those accused if the accusation was true. Your friend asks you how Matthew 18:15-20 can help us to mediate fairly when disputes arise. What do you tell your friend?
Study: What can we learn from the answer of the eastern tribes?
Apply: How do you handle false accusations? Share some of the principles that guide your attitude. For inspiration, see Psalm 37:3-6, 34, 37.
Share: Your friend says it is better not to defend yourself against false accusations because defending yourself only gives the accusation merit. What do you tell your friend?
Study: How does this entire incident give us some insights into conflict resolution and ways of ensuring the unity of the church? (Compare with Psalm 133; John 17:20-23; 1 Pet. 3:8-9.)
Apply: Without betraying any confidences, can you share how Bible counsel has helped you to peacefully resolve conflicts in the past?
Share: Can you think of someone you have jumped to conclusions and misjudged in the past? If you have not already made things right with them, how can you make things right with them this week?
Central Theme: This week, we will examine principles of biblical interpretation related to typology. We will study how the Bible itself contains indicators of typology and how the life of Joshua foreshadows the ministry of the Messiah and points to symbolism fulfilled in the church and in the consummation of human history.
Apply: How was the conquest of Canaan a “type” of our conquest of the new earth, and our spiritual conquests?
Share: Your friend asks how we are supposed to know when the Bible is literal, figurative, or using types. How do we know if something is just a type or a real thing? What do you tell your friend?
Study: In the light of biblical typology, what is the significance of the multiple parallelisms between the lives of Moses and Joshua?
Apply: Read Acts 7:37. Who is Moses talking about? Joshua? Jesus? Both? Who was Jesus like Moses and Joshua, and what does that mean to us?
Share: Your friend says that she heard that Jesus came to be like us so we could be like Him. Your friend asks, How can we be like Jesus? What do you tell your friend?
Study: How does the New Testament confirm that Joshua, the new Moses, is himself a type of Jesus Christ?
Apply: What does it mean to be able to “rest” in what Christ has done for us? That is, how can we have assurance that Jesus has defeated Satan on our behalf?
Share: Your friend asks you if you have ever known anyone who really reminded you of Jesus. What do you tell your friend?
Study: What do these texts say about the ultimate fulfillment of the Joshua typology?
Apply: Joshua, the type, asked the Israelites: “ ‘How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?’ ” (Josh. 18:3, NKJV). How would Jesus, the antitype of Joshua, phrase that question today?
Share: Can you think of someone who would benefit from being in your Sabbath School class with you each Sabbath? Can you reach out and invite them this week?
Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Genesis 26:5 NKJV
As we study this week’s lesson about Giants of Faith, what do you remember most about people? The good or the bad? We are told,
Cultivate the habit of speaking well of others. Dwell upon the good qualities of those with whom you associate, and see as little as possible of their errors and failings. When tempted to complain of what someone has said or done, praise something in that person’s life or character. Cultivate thankfulness. Praise God for His wonderful love in giving Christ to die for us. It never pays to think of our grievances. God calls upon us to think of His mercy and His matchless love, that we may be inspired with praise.-Ellen White, Help in Daily Living, Page 34.
I love how God speaks of Abraham after he died. Yes, Abraham made some terrible and costly blunders, like taking Hagar as his wife instead of just trusting God’s promise. Abraham also lied in Egypt instead of just trusting God’s promise of protection. Yet after Abraham ‘s story is over, all God remembers are the good things. Yes, Paul mentions Hagar in Galatians, but he does not go on about how terrible Abraham was. He does not even mention Abraham’s name in that context. He merely refers to the situation. But when speaking directly about Abraham, here is what Scripture has to say:
Because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.”Genesis 26:5 NKJV
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8 NKJV
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. Hebrews 11:17-19 NKJV
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was [j]accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:21-23 NKJV
Truly when God forgives He remembers our sins no more. Hebrews 8:12. Even with Sarah, in Hebrews 8:11, God mentions her faith and never mentions that the whole Hagar incident was her idea. The way God talks about Abraham and Sarah, you would get the idea that they never did anything wrong. How beautiful is God’s forgiveness, and the way He only remembers the good and never recalls the bad.
I have a good friend since childhood, but even though we have been good friends for life, I was not always nice when we were kids. Years ago at a church youth social I had to correct a child for being mean to another child. This reminded me of a time I was mean to my friend when we were kids. I called her that evening and told her how bad I felt about that now. She assured me she had no memory of that incidident and all she could recall about me were good things, like what a wonderful friend I have been for years. When I hung up the phone I marvelled at her graciousness.
May we be as gracious with others as my friend was with me. May we be as gracious with others as God was with Abraham in Scripture, and as He is now with all of us.
Central Theme: This lesson takes a deeper look into the personal examples of two giants of faith in the book of Joshua: Caleb and Joshua. What is it that made them stand out in their generation and play a key role in the life of God’s people during one of the most crucial periods of Israel’s history?
Study: What do these passages tell us about Caleb?
Apply: Read Numbers 14:6-10, 21-25. What do you learn from Caleb about standing for what is right even when threatened with death?
Share: Your friend on the church board tells you he always votes with the majority because he wants to be easy to get along with and not ruffle any feathers. What do you tell your friend?
Study: What does this story tell you about the power of example? How is Caleb’s attitude being reproduced in the younger generation?
Apply: Passing on the torch of faith to the next generation is crucial to the fulfillment of the mission God has entrusted to us. Think about the challenges of passing on faith to the next generation, on the one hand, and about the opportunities for young people to assume more responsibility in the work of God, on the other. What can we do to facilitate and train youth to assume godly leadership? How crucial is our example in this process?
Share: Your friend asks you who some of the people are who have influenced you the most in life, and how their influence helped you. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class:Joshua 19:49-51. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.
Study: What are the implications of the fact that the great leader of Israel, who apportioned the land, received his inheritance last?
Apply: What lessons can you draw for yourself regarding Joshua’s attitude? How might you apply it to yourself now?
Share: Your friend asks, What examples of great faith and leadership have you seen in your church community. What do you tell your friend?
Study: How does focusing on Jesus’ life and the faith of others around us change us?
Apply: Read Romans 12:1-2. How can we make sure we are not being influenced by the world?
Share: Can you think of someone who said or did something that later influenced you to make the right choice? Can you reach out to that person and affirm them this week?
Immediately, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now, when evening came, He was alone there. Matthew 14:22-23 NKJV
When I was in my early teens, I found being seen alone in public awkward. I was afraid it made me look unpopular. However, when I was 14, my family took a vacation to Washington, DC. One of the places we visited was the Arlington National Cemetery. While looking around, I somehow got separated from my family. For some reason, I felt no need to panic. I continued to look around, reading the monuments and contemplating the meaning of life, country, and other sobering issues one might ponder in a national cemetery. Soon enough, I met up with my family again.
I am not sure how long I was on my own. It seemed like a while. By the time I had reunited with my family, I had made a self-discovery. I realized I had gotten more out of the visit to the cemetery while I was alone. It allowed me to spend time in thoughtful contemplation and self-reflection. I changed my attitude about alone time. Instead of feeling awkward, I began to embrace alone time.
At the time, I had never heard the word “introvert, much less considered myself one. My friends are surprised today when I tell them I am an introvert, since they know I love people so much. I have to say to them that introverts love people. Much of my time in solitude allows me to reflect on relationships and how to be a better friend. I love to spend my alone time reading and gathering ideas to share with my friends when we’re together again. Solitude allows me to prepare to be a better friend to those I serve. Often, it is while I am enjoying my alone time that I write my weekly articles for Sabbath School Net, so even though I am alone, I am still being sociable.
Jesus made time alone with His Father. It prepared Him to serve His disciples and the multitudes. I strive to emulate Jesus’ example of striking the right balance between solitude and the crowd. Sometimes I will wake up in the morning with a hundred things to do. I will start reading my Bible and praying, when suddenly I get this urge to put my Bible down and get busy. After all, I have a friend in the hospital whom I must see. They need me, so how dare I sit here praying and reading my Bible? Thankfully, I have learned not to feel guilty for studying my Bible and praying when there are so many people to see and work to be done. I have learned that I am no good around people until I have been alone with Jesus.
Being alone is not antisocial; when you spend time alone with Jesus, you find ways to share His love with others more effectively. It’s nice to be alone sometimes, so I can learn how to be more effective socially.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.
Central Theme: Nothing is more urgent or necessary than our time of worship with God.
Read in Class:Joshua 5:1-10. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: Why did the Lord command Joshua to circumcise the second generation of Israelites at this particular time of the conquest?
Apply: Think about the times you have neglected time with God because of more “important” matters. Why is this so easy to do, and how can we fight against it?
Share: Your friend asks why it was important for Joshua to have Israel celebrate Passover in the midst of the conquest of Canaan. What do you tell your friend?
Study: What was Joshua’s motivation for building an altar to the Lord?
Apply: What are some spiritual practices we can engage in now that can serve the same functions as building an altar did in ancient times?
Share: Your friend asks what altars or monuments the church has built today? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Joshua 8:32-35. Ask the class to identify the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is the meaning of the act described in these verses, and what should it say to us today?
Apply: How easy do you find it, in the rush and hubbub of life, to forget the Lord and seek to do things in your own strength and power? Why is this so easy to do, especially when things are going well for you?
Share: Your friend asks why it was so crucial for Israel to have a written copy of the covenant. What do you tell your friend? What do you tell your friend? For a hint, see: Deuteronomy 6:6-14.
Read in Class: Joshua 18:1-2. Ask the class to give the main idea of this passage.
Study: What was the activity for which Joshua interrupted the process of allotting the land?
Apply: Read Hebrews 10:19-23. What can we as Christians, who do not have an earthly sanctuary enshrining the physical presence of God among us, learn from Joshua?
Share: Can you think of someone who needs encouragement to make time for worship in their daily schedule? Could you call and pray with them this week, or even offer to study the Sabbath School lesson with them over the phone if you’re not able to meet in person?
The story of Achan in this week’s Sabbath School lesson teaches us about the dangers of cherishing sin in our hearts. Fortunately, we have a Savior who is always quick to forgive, time and again, and even cleanse us, time and again. Whenever I see someone mopping a floor and a child tracks dirt on the clean floor, I hear them say, “I just cleaned this floor!” And when I hear that, I am so glad my Savior quickly forgives and cleanses my heart time and time again, without sighing and saying, “But I just cleaned this heart!” Still, while we have a forgiving Savior who can clean our repentant hearts time and time again, we must be careful that we do not become comfortable in our sins. There is a fatal danger in cherishing our sins.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:47-50 NLT
Notice that in this parable, the bad fish are not cleaned at the end of the world. They are either already good or already bad. There is no changing our characters at the second coming. Thus, it is never safe in any period of our lives to cherish sin.
He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11 NKJV
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 NKJV
I will let you examine the entire chapter for yourself and decide for yourself, but as I read this chapter, I find that Paul is talking about our physical bodies, not our moral characters, which are being changed at the second coming. Paul gives us much encouragement that our moral characters can be changed by grace here in this life, well before the second coming.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. Titus 2:11-12 NKJV
How comforting to know that God’s grace enables us to live a righteous and godly life in the here and now, instead of having to bring all the destruction upon ourselves and others, as Achan did while he clung to sin.
I love how the NLT puts it as we continue reading Titus 2,
He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.Titus 2:14 NLT
Jesus did not pay the price for our sins so that we could continue in sin.
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. Romans 6:1-7 NLT
We do not want this proverb to be about us.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.Proverbs 26:11 NLT
Instead, we know that while Jesus did not die for us to continue in sin, He did die so that we can do what is right.
He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. 1 Peter 2:24 NLT
In the Adventist church I have noticed we seem to go from one extreme to the other. Let’s not go to extremes but remember that God’s power to keep us from sinning never removes His power to forgive a truly repentant heart, and His power to forgive never cancels His power to help us overcome in the here and now.
The story of Achan teaches us while forgiveness is freely offered, clinging to sin will always prove fatal. Achan was found clinging to his trophies when He should have been clinging to God and His grace. As the old hymn says, “When at last my trophies I lay down, I will cling to the old rugged cross.” When Christ returns let us not be found clinging to our sins and trophies, but instead to the old rugged cross.
Central Theme: While we are on the border of the Promised Land, our faithfulness is tested, and we can be victorious only through surrender to Jesus Christ.
Read in Class:Joshua 7. Ask the class to summarize this chapter.
Study: What were the two major causes of Israel’s defeat by the inhabitants of Ai?
Apply: What are ways whole communities can suffer, and have suffered, from the bad acts of individuals within the community? What examples can you think of, and how was the community impacted?
Share: Your friend says that she has heard that there is no such thing as “private sin.” Your friend asks you if you agree with that statement. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class:Joshua 7:16-21. Ask the class to share a thought on this passage.
Study: What does the entire procedure tell us about both God and Achan? What is Joshua asking Achan to do? What is the significance of such a request? How do we understand his confession?
Apply: How does the realization that God knows all that you do, even your hidden things, impact how you live? How should it affect how you live?
Share: Your friend asks how we can overcome covetousness in such a materialistic society? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class:Joshua 8:1-8. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.
Study: What does this story tell us about how God can change our worst failures into opportunities?
Apply: How important is it that our church members obey all the statutes and judgments in our lives in witness to those outside the church?
Share: Your friend asks, when Jesus was baptized, was He just giving us a good example, or was He also repenting on behalf of the human race He was now representing, even though He had never sinned? In other words, was He giving us an example of corporate repentance? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Daniel 2:24. Ask the class to share the main idea of this passage.
Study: While Achan’s sin brought disaster upon the whole nation, what effect did Daniel’s prayer and faithfulness have on his contemporaries, even the evil ones?
Apply: Read Matthew 5:13-16. As Christians, how should our lives, even our private lives, be influencing the world around us?
Share: Your friend asks what the saying means, “We are our own worst enemy.” In light of this week’s lesson, what do you tell your friend?
Study: What are these verses saying about God’s moral character? How does the role of God as the Judge of the universe help us understand the question of divine war?
Apply: How is a God who will not endlessly tolerate sin, oppression, the suffering of the innocent, and the exploitation of the oppressed part and parcel of the gospel?
Share: Your friend says that many of us find comfort in the fact that God knows our hearts. But if God knows our hearts, doesn’t He also know the selfish intentions of our hearts as well as the good intentions? If He knows when we are doing our best, doesn’t He also know when we are not doing our best? What do you tell your friend?
Study: What do these texts reveal about the purpose of the conquest and the extent of the destruction?
Apply: What elements in your own character and habits must be uprooted and annihilated?
Share: Your friend says that many today preach about the love and forgiveness of God, but not about his wrath. Should we also preach about the wrath of God? What do you tell your friend?
Study: How does the law of warfare and the procedure against an idolatrous town in Israel, expressed in Deuteronomy, help us understand the limitations of total destruction in the war that the Israelites were engaged in?
Apply: What are the spiritual implications of the Canaanites’ defiance of God for our context today? That is, what are the consequences of our free choices for us personally?
Share: Your friend asks how she can be peaceful towards people who are hostile towards her. What do you tell your friend?
Study: How do these passages describe the future God desires for His people?
Apply: Think about all the ways we can, by seeking to emulate Jesus, be agents of peace. What about your own life right now? In what ways, in whatever conflict you might be facing, could you be an agent of peace instead of conflict?
Share: Read 2 Kings 6:16-23. Is there a friend you can pray for God to open their eyes, so they can see the goodness of God and the purpose He has for their lives?
Recently I was studying with a man who believed Jesus was a really good person, even a savior who died for us, but he did not believe Jesus was God. I shared with him the importance of knowing Jesus was actually God. I asked him, “If your wife was trapped inside a burning building, which would convince her more that you love her? Sending a fireman in to rescue her or going in yourself to rescue her?” He replied, “Going in myself.”
God the Son shows His love for us by dying Himself to rescue us.
In Daniel 10, Daniel is in a fierce spiritual battle when, finally,
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. Daniel 10:13 NKJV
In Daniel’s time of need did God send someone else to rescue Daniel, or did He demonstrate His love by rescuing Daniel Himself?
It’s easy for some to conclude, on surface reading, that Michael is just another angel. But as we look deeper, we see that Michael is actually the Son of God, who became incarnate as “Jesus,” coming to our rescue.
Archangel is a compound of two Greek words: “arche” which means beginning or commencement, and “aggelos” which means angel or messenger. The word arche is also closely related to the word “archo,” which means “to be first” or to “reign (rule) over.” Thus the “Archangel” is the One who began (created) the angels and reigns over them. That would be none other than Christ.
Bible scholars are in general agreement that an “archangel” is over the created angels. But not all agree that the Archangel is the Creator Himself.
Let’s look at a similar passage in which Christ is called the “beginning” of the creation of God:
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.” (Rev 3:14)
In this text “arche” is translated as “beginning.” Is it not reasonable to conclude that since to all the other churches, the One speaking is Christ Himself, this is clearly another description of Christ. Thus, it appears that in biblical usage, the “arch-creation” or “beginning of creation” means the Creator Himself.
Thus from the word usage, we could conclude that the “archangel” is also the Creator of the angels and not one of the created angels.
The name Michael means “One like God” or “There is no one else like God.” If Michael were only a created angel, then Lucifer’s aspiration to be “like God” could not be blasphemous and a reason for his expulsion from heaven. (See Isaiah 14:14.)
In Revelation 19:10 John starts to worship an angel and the angel tells him not to. Obviously this was a created angel who realized there was no way he, a created being could be equal with God. However, in Joshua 5, Joshua meets an Angel who accepts his worship, demonstrating that this was not a created angel, but the Angel who led Israel in the wilderness, referred to in Exodus 23:20-21:
Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
Notice that the implication that this Angel can forgive transgression. Who but God Himself can forgive transgression? The Jews knew this and accused Christ of blasphemy when He forgave sin. (See Matthew 9:2-6)
So how do we know in the Bible that Michael is the Son of God, now known as Jesus?
Daniel called Michael a chief prince. Who is our chief prince?
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given….. And His name will be called…. Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NKJV
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. Jude 1:9
When Jesus comes, who raises the dead?
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 1 Thessalonians 4:161
It is the Lord Himself who has the voice of the archangel. The same voice that Jesus said would raise the dead.
Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. John 5:25
There are not two different persons who raise the dead. No created angel can raise the dead. Only Christ can do that.
While Michael rescued Daniel during his time of need, who will rescue us during our time of trouble?
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake…..” Daniel 12:1-2
Michael, the Son of God Himself will come to our rescue! How assuring to know that God loves us too much to let someone else save and rescue us! He rescues us Himself! Yes God also send angels both terrestrial and celestial to help us in our time of needs, but He also loves us so much that He will finally come rescue all His people Himself!
Daniel 10 gives me comfort that, in my time of need, when I feel I am being overcome by Satan, I can cry out God, “Please send Michael!” And Michael, the Only one “like Unto God,” Yes God Himself will rescue me!
Are you in the middle of a spiritual warfare now, and feel like you are losing the battle? Don’t wait. Call for Michael, the Son of God Himself, now!
You may study this week’s Sabbath School Lesson here.
In this text “a shout” and “the voice of an archangel” are an example of synonymous parallelism where both phrases mean the same thing, with one reinforcing the other.
In Light of The Cross 