DIVINE DISCOVERIES: JOSHUA’S MANDATE

Week 1: Seeking YahWeh

During this study, we will be doing a ‘deep dive’ into a scriptural passage. It is strongly encouraged that you study the passage and entire chapter ahead of the study. Also be prepared with your research tools, for example Google or your study Bible, as you will need to reference it during the study. Spend time answering and discussing each question with the intention to gain sufficient understanding to help your own private Bible study as you further explore these topics.

Study Chapters: Exodus 19-20, 24, 33

Pilot text

Exodus 20: 18-21 18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” 20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
Exodus 24:12-15 12 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” 13 So Moses arose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up to the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Indeed, Aaron and Hur are with you. If any man has a difficulty, let him go to them.” 15 Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.
Exodus 33:11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

Discussion Points

1. Consider Exodus chapters 19 and 20. What do we see about the emerging relationship between God and the people of Israel?
2. What was the role of Moses in the relationship between God and His people?
3. Whose choice was it for the relationship to be this way?
4. Reading through the rest of the material and in the context of this relationship, how was Joshua different from the rest of the people?
5. What are some key highlights of Joshua’s faith walk as shown in the pilot text would you say are pivotal to his life’s story?

Closing thoughts: Joshua is often best known as a man of war, or a man of faith. But one aspect of him that is perhaps not as well known is that he was also a man of God. We see the foundation of Joshua’s success in his walk as both a follower and a leader from our study. While it is not clear whether Joshua accompanied Moses to the very top of the mountain to meet with God we do know that Joshua was separated, along with Moses, for the purpose of communion with God. We also see that Joshua made a habit of spending time alone God. What does this then mean for us? Simply put, our victories in the open are often won from a place of secret fellowship with God.

Application Questions (use scriptures to support your position):

1. ‘In order to truly find God, we must have a mountain experience where we are physically separated from others in fasting and prayer.’ Agree / disagree with reasons.
2. As Christians in the marketplace, it is important that we let everyone around us at work know when we are in a period of fasting and/or prayer, as this demonstrates that we are people of faith. Agree / disagree with reasons.