We Believe: Chapter 10
The students will learn:
God's people conquered Canaan.
God's people settled in Canaan.
Samson was the most famous judge.
Ruth lived a life of self-sacrifice.
Faith Words
Nazarite - a person consecrated to God
Facts
The theme of the Book of Deuteronomy is that God's people must love God and be obedient to him when they enter into and live in the promised land.
These words of Moses, "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul," became an important prayer which is known as the Shema.
Moses saw the promised land from a mountain top but did not live to enter it.
In Chapters 1-6 of the Book of Joshua, we find one very famous event in the conquest of Canaan - the fall of Jericho.
Jericho was a well known city in the center of Canaan.
The Israelites did not attack the city.
The Israelites followed God's instructions and carried out an unusual plan outside the city walls.
God told Joshua to march around the city with the ark of the covenant instead of attacking the city.
They marched for six days.
On the seventh day they marched around the city seven times.
When the priests blew their horns the walls of Jericho fell down.
The Israelites conquered this city because they followed the plan of God.
The biblical writer used this story to show that the Israelites believed that God was with them in every part of their lives.
The Israelites divided up the land between the tribes.
The land was parceled out to each tribe by casting lots.
The people believed that the outcome of the lots was an expression of God's will.
In the Book of Joshua the biblical writer used the casting of lots to show us that God alone was responsible for the distribution of land.
The story of the settlement in Canaan can be found in the Book of Judges.
The biblical writer of the Book of Judges called attention to a pattern:
The Israelites repeatedly turned away from God.
God allowed them to be conquered by other tribes.
They cried out to God for help.
God sent Judges to help them:
Sent by God to help the Israelites find their way back to God.
Usually a military leader.
The judge defeated the enemy and ruled the land as God directed.
Peace returned when the Israelites returned to God.
God chose Deborah to remind the Israelites to keep the covenant.
Deborah went with Barak and the army to meet the army of the Canaanites at Mount Tabor.
God sent a great thunderstorm that caused their chariots to get stuck in the mud, and they were defeated.
Samson:
This judge was the only one whose birth was foretold in a very extraordinary way.
He was blessed by God with great strength.
He was a Nazarite, and was required to keep special promises, or vows.
The Philistine wanted to capture Samson because he used his strength to get revenge.
They paid Delilah to find out the secret of Samson's great strength.
She had men cut off his hair while he slept, then he was arrested.
He was imprisoned, but one day the Philistines brought him out to mock him during a religious festival.
Samson was chained to two pillars, but he prayed to God to return his strength.
He pulled the pillars down, the temple collapsed and killed everyone inside.
The story of Samson symbolized the Israelite nation of his time.
The story of Ruth teaches us that even in difficult times people can faithfully live out the covenant and be good, loyal, and kind.
They can follow God's will for them.
Like Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz, we are called to be part of God's plan by living lives of faithfulness and kindness.