Leviticus to Joshua

This lesson explores the gracious role of the tabernacle in God's relationship with Israel. Though Israelites, like all people, are sinners who deserve divine judgment, God has, in the Tabernacle, given them a means of drawing near to Him without being consumed by Holy Fire. The ritual language of the commands in Leviticus is not pagan manipulation, but, rather, the symbolic preaching of the theology of salvation. It also foreshadows God's ultimate solution for man's sin in Jesus Christ.

This lesson gives a tour of the Tabernacle built by Moses. It reviews the parts of the Tabernacle: the Courtyard, Holy Place, and Holy of Holies. It considers the furniture in each place, and the key meaning of the symbolic worship that takes place in association with them. It also looks at the daily and yearly itinerary for the most important rituals, and how Jesus fulfills the promises that the Tabernacle and its rituals preach.

This lesson introduces the book of Numbers by focusing on the central shaping event—Israel's refusal to enter the Promised Land when the time comes to cross the Jordan. When the Spies come back from the Promised Land, 10 bring an account of fear, and two an account of faith. The people refuse to obey God and enter the land. Even though they are eventually forgiven through Moses' intercession, as a consequence, they must travel around the wilderness until the first generation who refused to believe dies off and the second generation is put to the same test.

This lesson reviews how the Book of Numbers reveals God's guidance of Israel, and us today, through either His directive will or His permissive will. The choice is ours. God's directive will is God's best. It is found through faith and obedience. God's permissive will is a compromised life devoid of God's best because of our lack of trust and obedience. This is revealed through the allegorical pictures drawn from the Exodus, Israel's choices in the wilderness, and God's provision in the bronze serpent.

This lesson explores the character of Moses in the Book of Numbers, answering the question, "What makes Moses different than so many others of his generation. The answer is that Moses is the humblest of men, surrendering the whole of himself to God's control and lead. Whatever failings he manifests as a mere man, His meekness in obedience makes him a great asset in the Kingdom of God.

This lesson introduces the Book of Deuteronomy by focusing on one of its most important themes as developed in chapter 6. There is one holy creator and faith in that creator must be passed onto future generations. Faith that passes is built on the Revelation of God’s word, the very life of man. It is carried by parents who take up their full responsibility in the task of passing faith on. It is passed through intimate and healthy relationship and it is passed most securely when the message is a practiced reality in the life of the parent.

This lesson surveys several of Moses' final sermons to Israel in Deuteronomy. It considers the importance of love and obedience as inseparable expressions of faith. The word of God will lead them on the path of life, but the Covenant He has made with them has both blessings and curses. There is only one true God and they must love and obey Him and teach their children to do the same. They should beware of complacency. Just as God judged the Canaanites, He will judge Israel if they imitate them. They should receive grace with a tinge of fear.

This lesson continues its survey of Moses' sermons in Deuteronomy. It covers Moses' calls for an aggressive response to apostasy and his detailing of the full nature of apostasy. It covers the values of tithing, the commands for righteous kingship, and the great hope of ongoing Moses-like prophetic guidance.

This lesson introduces the Book of and the character of Joshua, Moses’ rightful successor. It gives an overview of the central themes of faith in obedience as the only true mechanisms for inheriting the spiritual blessings that have been promised to us by God. The lesson uses the Book of Joshua to draw contrasts with the Book of Numbers and comparisons with the Book of Ephesians. God has already provided everything we need to walk in divine blessing, but it is up to us to take possession of it through step by step obedience to God in life.

This lesson considers illustrations of faith in action in the Book of Joshua. Joshua shows the Perpetuation of Faith by replacing Moses. Rahab provides a Picture of Faith saving her whole family through her covenant with the spies. We have the Proving of Faith in the miraculous crossing of the Jordan river, and the Pillar of Faith set up to commemorate that miracle. We find the Prerequisite of Faith as Israel prepares to march on Jericho and the Prescription of Faith in the commands of the Captain of Hosts concerning the Jericho march, leading to Jericho’s collapse.

This lesson considers some of the ups and downs in Israel’s journey of Faith in the Promised Land. Though the book of Joshua is characterized by triumph in the Lord, the instances of Achan’s sin, the defeat at Ai, the trouble with the Gibeonites, and Israel’s failure to drive out the last vestiges of Canaanite influences puts a damper on their ultimate victory in the Lord. This speaks volumes about the Christian life, when believers fails to rely on God’s daily guidance and fail to drive out all the sin from their hearts and lives.