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BACKGROUND
SEA
SEA, THE
RIVER
RIVER
RED SEA
RED SEA, PASSAGE OF
EXODUS
RED SEA
I. The Bitter Lakes region
II. The Gulfs of Suez and Aqabah
JORDAN
I. Archaeological sites
II. Topographical features
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
FULL BACKGROUND HERE (For serious students)
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE STORY ITSELF AND ITS APPLICATION
TO TODAY’S CHURCH (1st 6 of 12) |
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Similarly to the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, the entry of the Jews into their promised inheritance under the new leadership of Joshua also has parallels and lessons for today’s Church.
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| 1. THE PROMISE: |
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 The promise of the inheritance given to Moses was confirmed in detail to Joshua.
Joshua 1:1-5
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 New Testament Fulfilment: Today’s ‘Kingdom’ for the Church is not a physical one, although you would sometimes wonder with the emphasis there has been over the years, and still is, on church buildings and the acquisition of assets. It is so easy to slip back into an Old Covenant mindset! Rather, God’s kingdom is to be built in the hearts and minds of people.
Luke 17:20-21
Today’s Application: This is a difficult concept for us in our humanity to accept, for we perceive success as being reflected in physical assets. As the world conspicuously displays its wealth, so the church through the ages has tended to do the same thing, most obviously through grandiose buildings, but in other ways too. Yet the real battlefield is for the hearts and minds of people. A victory reflected in our behavior, not in assets acquired.
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| 2. COURAGE AND OBEDIENCE: |
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 The Israelites were instructed to follow God’s instructions! Courageously!
Joshua 1:6-9
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 New Testament Fulfilment: Nothing has changed!
Hebrews 3:6, Hebrews 5:8-9
Today’s Application: It takes courage and character to stand up for what is right and be obedient to God’s ways, rather than be swayed by what society in general thinks and does.
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| 3. PREPARE YOURSELVES: |
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 The people needed to take supplies with them for the initial journey.
Joshua 1:10-11
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 New Testament Fulfilment: We must be prepared to take up our inheritance.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Today’s Application: We can only mature as Christians by absorbing God’s Word and putting it into action. If we don’t know it, we can’t live it! Even if we know it but don’t live it, we will still miss out on our inheritance.
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| 4. COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE: |
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 The people were 100% behind Joshua.
Joshua 1:16-18
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 New Testament Fulfilment: 100% commitment is still required today to attain the full rewards of the kingdom.
Matthew 19:28-30
Today’s Application: Those prepared to sacrifice the most for Jesus are the ones who will reap the greatest rewards. It is not about passing glory now, but heavenly glory that will last for eternity!
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| 5. SPIED OUT THE LAND: |
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 The invasion was properly planned.
Joshua 2:1, 24
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 New Testament Fulfilment: Planning and strategy are still required in order to do the job effectively. It needs to be done in God however.
Romans 15:23-9, Acts 16:6-10
Today’s Application: Good planning is still important but we must always be flexible enough to let God change our plans. We must seek His will first, as planning can easily become a very ‘human based’ activity.
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| 6. WAITING AND PREPARATION: |
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 The people had to wait, receive their instructions and prepare themselves.
Joshua 3:1-5
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 New Testament Fulfilment: We still have to wait for God’s timing, preparing ourselves for His work for us.
Acts 1:4-5
Today’s Application: Waiting is not something we generally like doing. We want results yesterday! Yet God sees things from a different perspective. For He lives in eternity! We need to prepare ourselves and wait upon His timing.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK: A REVELATION OF....... DIVIDING THE WATERS (Part 7)</i> FROM MOSES TO JOSHUA |
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 Similarly to the story of the crossing of the Red Sea, the entry of the Jews into their promised inheritance under the new leadership of Joshua also has parallels and lessons for today’s Church.
We look at the final 6 of these.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 Isn't it amazing how we can learn so much that is applicable to us today from the Old Testament. We do need to be careful though to understand that the application today is in the spiritual rather than the physical.
BABYLONIA The city of Babylon was the capital of the ancient land of Babylonia in southern Mesopotamia. It was situated on the Euphrates River about 50 miles south of modern Baghdad, just north of what is now the modern Iraqi town of al-Hillah.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
870. The foolish one looks inwards, the wise outwards, but the godly, upwards.
David Tait
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Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Till Death do us Part!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/tddup.php
Pets Rule!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php
The World's Greatest Groans: http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php
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