Small Group Plan
Final Thoughts: God is able to sanctify and grow Israel through some really hard things during the conquest. He didn’t magically transport the other nations out of the land when He brought Israel in, He made Israel drive them out first. Reflect on how God’s promises to us often lay on the other side of difficult things He asks of us. Ex: The peace from conflict and hurt is on the other side of forgiveness and mercy. Fellowship with Jesus is found on the other side of giving up our personal lives and desires and following Him. Salvation is found on the other side of trusting our own efforts and placing our faith in Jesus’s cross alone. Etc…
- Quiet your group and have them imagine what it would be like to be “in the shoes of the Israelites” during the campaign of Joshua. Introduce the fact that the Israelites were about to face many challenges even though the Lord was with them and had provided Joshua to lead them.
- Tell them you’re about to watch an overview of Joshua and to take note of any challenges the Israelites would have faced as they entered the land of Canaan.
- Watch the video with your group. *NOTE about the video. Bible Project takes the Lord’s commands to annihilate the Canaanite’s as hyperbole and not a literal forthright command. I do not believe this is accurate. I will explain more on this issue in the next 2 weeks. For your small groups…if it is brought up, the bottom line is that what God asked the Israelites to do to those nations would have been brutal and very hard to do for some of them to carry out. Hence, they did not carry out the Lord’s command to kill all the Canaanites.
- BRIEFLY: Ask the kids to share any challenges the notices during the overview: Specifically lead the kids to think about the following three areas of challenges the Israelites would have faced. You do not need to go through ALL of these. Just be aware of the MANY challenges facing the Israelites and let these guide your conversation with them.
Physical Challenges
* Fortified cities — Jericho and other walled strongholds.
* Difficult terrain — mountains, valleys, rivers, wilderness.
* Powerful armies — experienced Canaanite soldiers and chariots.
* Long military campaigns — extended fighting and travel.
* Supply needs — food, water, shelter, and equipment.
Emotional Challenges
* Fear — facing stronger and better-established enemies.
* Discouragement — setbacks and defeats, such as at Ai.
* Grief and loss — casualties from warfare.
* Uncertainty — entering an unfamiliar land and future.
* Pressure on leadership — trusting Joshua after Moses’ death.
Spiritual Challenges
* Trusting God’s promises — believing God would actually give them the land.
* Obedience — following God’s commands even when unusual or difficult.
* Idolatry — temptation to adopt Canaanite gods and worship practices.
* Compromise — making alliances or failing to carry out God’s commands fully.
* Faith after failure — responding correctly to sin and judgment, as with Achan in Joshua 7.
Final Thoughts: God is able to sanctify and grow Israel through some really hard things during the conquest. He didn’t magically transport the other nations out of the land when He brought Israel in, He made Israel drive them out first. Reflect on how God’s promises to us often lay on the other side of difficult things He asks of us. Ex: The peace from conflict and hurt is on the other side of forgiveness and mercy. Fellowship with Jesus is found on the other side of giving up our personal lives and desires and following Him. Salvation is found on the other side of trusting our own efforts and placing our faith in Jesus’s cross alone. Etc…
