Series: Grow Strong
Sermon: Growing Why?
Speaker: Japhet De Oliveira
Writer: Japhet De Oliveira
Refresh: Begin today in prayer. Ask God for understanding through the Holy Spirit.
Read: Joshua 7-8 in the English Standard Version (ESV). Note 1–3 insights or questions.
Reflect: Ever been totally taken by surprise? Last year Boulder Adventist Church held its first Wiser Generation Christmas Banquet for those aged 55 and older in our church and local community. Part of the evening festivities involved game of “Guess Who Came to Dinner,” where we shared 10 facts about a particular individual and guests had to guess which person it was. One person we described had enough winnings from blackjack in Las Vegas to help him through university! That certainly caught everyone’s attention. Searching the room, the group eventually discovered that this person was Bob—now 90 and with a permanent sparkle in his eye. We were all in stitches from laughter and surprise.
Joshua Chapters 7 and 8 are supposed to surprise you. We just read an incredible story about how Jericho was taken without any help from Israel and with the help of the most unlikely person—Rahab, a Canaanite. She was a Canaanite who seemed to capture the decadence and decaying image of the Canaanite people with her career as a prostitute. But this woman does not behave like a Canaanite. She behaves like an Israelite. Compare her with Achan, an Israelite. He belonged to the family line that produced King David, but he behaved more like a Canaanite than an Israelite. Surprised? The Bible is full of stories of people joining Israel all the time. A Canaanite would always be welcome if they were willing to follow God. And simply being an Israelite, being a member of the group, did not mean that you were automatically following God. The surprise is in the twists and turns of life and the choices people make.
Unlike Jericho, in the battle against Ai, God uses the plans of Joshua. He gives him permission to conquer on his own terms. Having dealt with Achan and his family, Joshua has millions of people to lead and they are weary and cautious. I sat in court recently and watched the bailiffs remove a prisoner from her husband and family. Our actions have consequences for everyone, which the tragedy of Achan certainly demonstrates. This is one of the most painful exercises of life: the longer we live, the longer we are able to see the results of our actions and the actions of others on our lives and the lives of others.
Recalibrate: What is one of the hardest lessons life has taught you over time?
Respond: Pray for the ability to learn more from your past.
Research: How do you marry the actions of Joshua with the picture of Jesus today?
Live Wonder (ages 0–3): Jesus is full of incredible surprises. He is always trying to teach us something new about ourselves. What is something new that we learned about ourselves in the last month? Thank Jesus for that new surprise.
Live Adventure (ages 4–11): Think about someone at school or a neighbor on your street or a family member that you could make a card for. Surprise them by writing a note about why they are important to this world and how glad you are that God made them.
Live Purpose (ages 12–16): A good surprise is one that brings hope and joy to your life. Who in your life could you bring hope and joy to? Was it easy to have hope and joy when you were younger? What brings hope and joy in your life today? Ask your elders, your youth leader, or your pastor how Jesus can surprise you again.