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

God told the people, through Joshua, what he was going to do.

New Testament Fulfilment: Today’s promise is one of inheritance of the kingdom.

Today’s Application: We are promised a spiritual inheritance of a kingdom within (reflected in the godly character traits mentioned) now and an eternal kingdom with Jesus. Developing the godly nature within separates us from the world and makes us effective witnesses in it. Even though we have been saved, if we don’t develop this godly character our calling and election is unsure! This is radical! And the opposite of the ‘easy Christianity’ so popular today.

The first step in claiming the ‘Promised
Land.’

New Testament Fulfilment: A step of faith, trusting God’s promise and commands, (represented by the Ark that proceeded them) even in a seemingly impossible situation.

Today’s Application: God does not hand His promises to us ‘on a plate’. If everything in life and God was easily accomplished, our character would not be developed, nor our faith level strengthened through testing. We must take steps of faith, not simply wait for everything to happen without effort or commitment on our behalf.

Of what God had done for them.

New Testament Fulfilment: Our ‘memorial’ today is of the greatest event in the history of the world – the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary.

Today’s Application: It is through His sacrifice that we draw our strength and courage to continue in faith, in the faith! The cross remains central to the faith of all true believers. It is the ‘living memorial’ of our faith.

As the Ark left the river, the waters started flowing again.

New Testament Fulfilment: At the time of the death of Jesus, the Father again displayed His power in several physical forms. Most spiritually significant was the tearing of the Temple’s curtain, opening the way to return into His presence through Jesus.

Today’s Application: During this Age of Grace, it is easy to overlook, to no longer ‘fear’, the all-powerful, righteous and holy God. There is no way we can enter into His perfect presence except through the cleansing, purifying blood of Jesus.

Again to be circumcised, a process that had lapsed during the time in the desert.

New Testament Fulfilment: Circumcision was the physical sign of separation, of establishing a difference, between God’s people and the world. Today the difference is spiritual, for our behaviour is to reflect our ‘circumcision’ from the world.

Today’s Application: One of the great problems in the church today is that the behaviour of many Christians is, to the outsider, little different to those in the world. On the other hand, some others have become legalistic and religious, like the Pharisees. Rather, the faith we are to reflect, should be the vibrancy and compassion of Jesus.

The first step in the possession of the land God had promised.

New Testament Fulfilment: The reward for our faith is to enter the kingdom of God.

Today’s Application: We possess God’s kingdom, as we become obedient to His will in our life. This is first established through developing the general character of Jesus in our lives, as set out in the Bible, then by obeying the specific, personal will of God for us. So, becoming mature in Christ.

We summarise the 12 features already looked at and find out the principal message to us today from them.

Crossing the Jordan and conquering Jericho took a great deal of courage for the Israelites, particularly Joshua. For although victory had been promised, it was necessary to break the patterns of the past 40 years of desert life in order to achieve the goal that god had set before them.

So it is with us. It is often easier to stay in our old ways rather than take the risk of moving into new challenges and areas god has ordained for us.

May we not forget Joshua!

Israel - The Center of the World

Little did the descendants of Abraham, also known as the Hebrews, realize what was in store for them as they entered into the land of Canaan. Their relatively small territory was right in the heart of the ancient world and on the borders of three gigantic land masses, Asia, Africa and Europe. Every great kingdom around them, from the north, south, east and west, along with their conquering monarchs would be confronted with Israel and learn about their people, their laws and the holy Oracles of the One whose kingdom will never pass away.

Its not always apparent that the small country of Israel was actually right in the center of the ancient world and lying in a position of extreme importance. Israel was located between the Mediterranean to the west and the Syrian Arabian desert to the east. It actually formed a narrow bridge that connected the great powers of the Ancient Near East. To the south was Egypt and to the north was Syria, Anatolia and northwest Mesopotamia.

Source: http://www.bible-history.com