AGENDA – THE WALL FELL DOWN FLAT

OPENING PRAYER - Heavenly Father, we thank you for this opportunity to read and study Your Word. Please guide our thoughts and open our hearts to understand the truths You want to reveal. In Jesus' name, Amen.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – The Wall Fell Down Flat
 SCENIC VIEW - God uses many unlikely people in the arc of salvation history. Rahab, a foreigner and a prostitute, might not seem like a good candidate for God to use. Yet her part in the story is so important that she is named in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
TRAIL CROSSING - The Bible tells the story of another crimson cord in Genesis 38:27-30, when Tamar's midwife uses a crimson thread to mark the birth order of Tamar's twin boys. Exodus 12:7-13 tells of another important red mark, the blood that marks the doors of the Israelites to spare them from the plague of the firstborn. 
•	What connections do you hear between these stories? 
o	The connections between these stories reveal a persistent thematic "scarlet thread" that weaves through the Bible, linking diverse individuals and events to a singular plan of redemption and protection.
•	What might be the meaning of a crimson (sometimes called scarlet) cord?
o	In biblical symbolism, a crimson or scarlet cord (also known as the "scarlet thread of redemption") represents a continuous message of mercy, protection, and salvation through sacrifice that runs from Genesis to Revelation.
TRAIL CROSSING - The miracle that God performs here as the people enter the promised land is a parallel to the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea when the people exited Egypt (Exodus 14:15-31). Go back and read that story. 
•	What are some of the similarities? 
o	Dry Ground: Both accounts explicitly state that the Israelites crossed on "dry ground" rather than mud or shallow water (Exodus 14:22; Joshua 3:17).
o	Water Halted: At the Red Sea, the waters became a "wall" on both sides (Exodus 14:22). At the Jordan, the waters flowing from upstream "stood and rose up in a heap," stopping the flow to the Dead Sea.
o	Leadership Legitimation: Just as the Red Sea miracle established Moses’ authority, the Jordan crossing "exalted" Joshua in the eyes of all Israel, confirming God was with him just as He was with Moses (Joshua 3:7, 4:14).
o	Impossible Timing: The Red Sea crossing occurred while Israel was trapped by Pharaoh's army. The Jordan crossing took place during harvest season when the river was at flood stage, making it naturally impassable.
o	Impact on Enemies: The Red Sea miracle destroyed Egypt's army, while the Jordan crossing caused the hearts of the Canaanite kings to "melt" with fear, preparing the way for conquest (Joshua 5:1).
•	What are the differences?
o	The Instrument of Power: At the Red Sea, Moses used his staff to part the waters. At the Jordan, the Ark of the Covenant, carried by priests, served as the focal point of God’s presence.
o	The Act of Faith: At the Red Sea, the water parted before the people entered (Exodus 14:21). At the Jordan, the priests had to physically step into the water before it stopped flowing (Joshua 3:15).
o	Purpose: The Red Sea crossing was a miracle of deliverance from slavery, while the Jordan crossing was a miracle of entrance into an inheritance.
POINT OF INTEREST - The walls of Jericho fall without any violence, merely by the sound of trumpets and the shouts of the people. Yet the Israelites kill those inside the city, saving only Rahab and her family. This legacy of violence, very present in the book of Joshua, is a difficult part of our tradition.
AUDIBLE READ THE SCRIPTURE ALOUD – The Death of Joshua
Scripture Citations 
JOSHUA 1:1-9 | 2:1-24 | 3:1, 5-17 | 6:1-25 | 11:16-23 | 23:1-16 | 24:1, 14-31
QUESTIONS FOR THE JOURNEY 
1.	Joshua contains a lot of violence and descriptions of "holy wars," reminding us that it is not only "other people" who engage in holy war; in our Bible we are implicated in holy war. 
•	How can we wrestle with this difficult part of our holy scriptures? 
1. View Through the Lens of Jesus - The most common approach for many Christians is to read the Old Testament through the life and teachings of Christ. 
o	Jesus as the Final Word: While Joshua used physical violence to drive out evil, Jesus defeated evil through sacrificial love and nonviolence on the cross.
o	A New Kind of Kingdom: Jesus explicitly rejected violence as a means to establish his kingdom (Matthew 26:51–56), transforming the "holy war" of Joshua into a spiritual mission of grace and peace for all nations. 
2. Understand Ancient Near Eastern Context - Scholars note that the language used in Joshua was common to military reports of that era. 
o	Hyperbolic Rhetoric: Ancient kings often claimed "total annihilation" of enemies to signal a decisive victory, even if the populations remained.
o	Stylized Language: Phrases like "destroying everything that breathes" may have been standard military idiom rather than a literal command for genocide. 
3. See it as "Corporate Capital Punishment" - The conquest is often presented not as a random act of ethnic cleansing, but as divine judgment. 
o	Judgment on Wickedness: The text describes the Canaanites as practicing extreme idolatry, social injustice, and child sacrifice.
o	Patience and Purpose: God reportedly waited over 400 years for their "iniquity" to reach its full measure (Genesis 15:16) before using Israel as His instrument of justice. 
4. Spiritualize the Battle - Historically, many traditions have interpreted these wars allegorically rather than literally. 
o	Internal Struggle: Thinkers like Origen viewed the Canaanite nations as symbols of internal sins or spiritual vices that the believer must "ruthlessly" eliminate from their own life through the power of the Holy Spirit.
o	Spiritual Warfare: In this view, the battles are a shadow of the modern believer's "war" not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). 
5. Acknowledge the Discomfort - Some scholars argue that being troubled by these texts is a healthy sign of a conscience transformed by the Gospel. 
o	"Holy Wrestling": Like Jacob wrestling with God, believers can engage with these difficult passages by acknowledging the "messiness" of human history and the Bible's refusal to ignore the reality of human violence.
o	Repentance and Peace: Wrestling with these texts can lead to a deeper commitment to the "Prince of Peace" and a rejection of using God's name to justify modern violence
•	What might the presence of these stories say to us about our history? 
1. A Cautionary Tale of Religion and Power - Historically, the "conquest" narrative has been co-opted by various empires to rationalize colonialism, land theft, and the displacement of indigenous peoples. 
o	The Danger of "Divine Mandate": These texts remind us how easily human ambitions can be cloaked in religious language.
o	A Call for Scrutiny: By seeing how these stories have been used to justify historical genocides, modern readers are challenged to scrutinize any contemporary attempts to use scripture to endorse nationalism or violence. 
2. A Reflection on Human Nature and Violence - The raw descriptions in Joshua force us to confront the reality that violence is a recurring thread in human history, often driven by fear and the desire for land. 
o	Unsettling Our Present: These stories make us think about where violence occurs in our own society today, how we might encourage or ignore it, and what actions of our own might "horrify future generations".
o	The Dead End of Power Politics: Some scholars interpret the violence in Joshua as showing that "power politics" is ultimately a dead end, highlighting the impossibility of building a perfect kingdom through state-sponsored force. 
3. Documentation of a "Failed Experiment" - Some modern perspectives suggest the story is less a manual for war and more a record of a failed attempt to embody God's laws within a territorial kingdom. 
o	Internal Critique: The text itself contains ironic stories, like those of Rahab and the Gibeonites, that implicitly criticize the harsh commands of "total destruction" by showing that mercy and inclusion were possible and even praised.
o	Transition of Faith: The evolution from the physical battles of Joshua to the nonviolent sacrificial love of Jesus marks a critical shift in how believers are meant to engage with the world. 
4. A Record of Identity Formation - For ancient Israel, these stories served as a form of "cultural memory," helping a vulnerable people construct an identity and resist assimilation under the pressure of ancient imperial threats like Assyria. 
o	Historical Context: While archaeological evidence for a "total conquest" is debated or limited, the stories reflect the intense struggles of an ancient community trying to make sense of their survival in a violent world.
o	Human Complexity: The Bible does not hide the "messiness" of its characters or their actions, presenting a history of imperfect people that forces us to seek God's ways beyond simple, easy answers.
•	What might we learn from them? 
1. The Weight and Seriousness of Sin - The harsh judgment on Canaanite cities serves as a "weighty shock" regarding the seriousness of sin. 
o	A Mirror of God's Holiness: The narratives illustrate that God is not a "moral relativist" and that sin is deeply offensive to His holy nature.
o	Universal Accountability: The text shows that judgment is impartial; when the Israelite Achan sinned, he faced the same judgment as the Canaanites, teaching that God is no "respecter of persons".
o	A Warning of Future Judgment: For many readers, the temporal judgment in Joshua is a "preview" or shadow of a final, cosmic judgment to come, emphasizing the urgent need for divine mercy. 
2. The Relationship Between God and Power - Joshua’s battles highlight that God is the true "Lord of the earth" and the ultimate source of victory. 
o	The Battle Belongs to the Lord: Success often came through unconventional or "illogical" strategies (like Jericho), teaching that spiritual victory depends on trust and obedience rather than human military might.
o	No Mandate for Modern War: Because these wars required specific, direct revelation from God to a prophet-leader (Joshua), they cannot be used to justify modern religious wars or national aggression. 
3. Faith as an Active Choice - The stories of individuals like Rahab and groups like the Gibeonites demonstrate that mercy was always available. 
o	Faith Over Heritage: Rahab, a Gentile, was spared through her confession of faith, showing that "solidarity with Yahweh" mattered more than ethnic background.
o	Obedience as Strength: Israel's struggles often stemmed from "incomplete obedience" or compromise, teaching that partial surrender leads to persistent spiritual battles. 
4. Spiritual Warfare for Today - In a New Testament context, the physical battles of Joshua are often reinterpreted as patterns for spiritual struggle. 
o	Internal Conquest: Some traditions view these texts as a call to ruthlessly "uproot" sin within one's own heart rather than fighting human enemies.
o	Jesus as the Greater Joshua: Joshua (whose name means "The Lord is Salvation") foreshadows Jesus, who won the ultimate victory over evil not by taking life, but by giving His own on the cross. 
5. Remembering God's Faithfulness - The act of setting up memorial stones after crossing the Jordan teaches the importance of intentional remembrance. Recollecting past miracles provides the courage needed to face current "Jordan-sized" problems and future uncertainties.
2.	At the end of each of the conflicts in Joshua, the biblical text says, "And the land had rest from war." 
•	How do wars impact the people as well as the natural world and the land?
Wars have a profound and often permanent impacts on both human populations and the natural world, frequently creating a "vicious cycle" where environmental degradation fuels future instability.
Impact on People
o	Direct and Indirect Mortality: Beyond direct casualties from explosive weapons, indirect deaths often occur more frequently due to the collapse of civilian infrastructure and essential services.
o	Health and Disease: War zones in 2025, such as Gaza and Sudan, have seen surges in communicable diseases like cholera, measles, and respiratory infections due to destroyed water and sanitation systems. In Gaza, over 300,000 cases of respiratory infections and diarrhea were reported in just three months of conflict.
o	Mass Displacement: By late 2024 and into 2025, nearly 123 million people were forcibly displaced globally. These populations often face extreme malnutrition and lack of medical care in overcrowded informal settlements.
o	Psychological Trauma: One in five people in active or recent war zones suffers from mental health disorders like PTSD, anxiety, or depression, with trauma often being passed down through generations. 
Impact on the Natural World
o	Biodiversity Collapse: Conflict is a primary driver of wildlife decline; populations of large animals can crash by up to 90% during a single year of warfare. For instance, Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park lost 95% of its biodiversity during its civil war.
o	Habitat Destruction: Military activities like digging trenches, using heavy machinery, and intentional "scorched earth" tactics destroy forests, wetlands, and grasslands. In Ukraine, the 2023 destruction of the Kakhovka Dam flooded over 600 square kilometers, an ecological disaster termed "ecocide".
o	Climate Change: Global militaries are responsible for an estimated 5.5% to 6% of all greenhouse gas emissions. The first 15 months of conflict in Gaza produced emissions exceeding those of 100 individual countries. 
Impact on the Land
o	Long-term Contamination: Soils are poisoned by heavy metals (lead, arsenic), depleted uranium, and explosive residues that can persist for decades. In 2025, one-third of Ukraine's fertile "black soil" (chernozem) may be unusable due to contamination.
o	Unexploded Remnants: Landmines and unexploded ordnance restrict access to agricultural land in at least 58 countries, killing or maiming approximately 1,000 people every month.
o	Deforestation: Conflict often leads to rapid forest loss as displaced people rely on wood for fuel or criminal groups take advantage of weakened governance to conduct illegal logging. Rwanda lost over 100 square kilometers of forest during its civil war due to refugee settlements.

•	What might the presence of these verses tell us about humanity's impact on and responsibility for the land? 
The presence of the verses "And the land had rest from war" in Joshua suggests that humanity's relationship with the land is one of sacred stewardship rather than absolute ownership. These passages highlight several key responsibilities and impacts: 
o	Land as a Divine Trust: The narrative emphasizes that the land belongs to God, and humans are merely "tenant farmers" or caretakers. The "rest" granted to the land is a gift from God, signifying that peace is not achieved by human might alone but is a result of divine favor and obedience to His covenant.
o	Responsibility for Restoration: Just as the Israelites were to manage the land, they "did not toil for," modern stewardship involves maintaining and improving the land rather than depleting it. The presence of "rest" suggests that a primary human responsibility is to prevent the land from returning to a "wilderness state" or becoming polluted.
o	The Ethical Impact of Conflict: The repeated notation of the land finding rest after war implies that conflict is a state of deep "unrest" for the natural world. Humanity has a responsibility to end warfare not just for civilian safety, but to allow the land itself to "recover" and fulfill its purpose of provision.
o	Sustaining Peace Through Obedience: The text warns that the "rest" is fragile and contingent on humanity's moral and spiritual conduct. If the people became "soft" or turned away from their responsibilities, they faced the risk of the land "casting them out" or losing its productivity.
o	Ecological Rest (Sabbath Principles): The "rest from war" mirrors the broader biblical requirement for the land to observe its own Sabbaths. This highlights a specific human responsibility to allow ecosystems periods of non-interference to restore vital nutrients and balan
3.	In his final speech to the people, Joshua tells them that they can serve either God or foreign gods, and they must "choose this day whom you will serve." 
•	What do you think about his description of following God as a choice about whom you will serve? 
Joshua's description of following God as a choice of whom to serve highlights several theological and practical principles regarding free will, commitment, and the nature of devotion.
Core Principles of the Choice
o	Active and Intentional Decision: Joshua emphasizes that serving God is not passive, but an active choice made with conviction. Faithfulness does not happen by accident; it requires a deliberate decision even when others choose differently.
o	Impossibility of Neutrality: Joshua presents a binary choice, suggesting that spiritual neutrality is not an option. He asserts that if one is not serving the Lord, they are inevitably serving something else—whether ancestral traditions, local cultural "gods," or personal desires.
o	Freedom of Will: The call to "choose" recognizes the reality of religious freedom. The Israelites were not coerced; God desires sincere, voluntary allegiance of the heart rather than forced service.
o	Urgency of the Present: The phrase "choose this day" underscores the immediacy of the decision. It suggests that following God is a daily commitment rather than a one-time event. 
Practical and Communal Impact
o	Leadership and Family Legacy: Joshua’s declaration, "as for me and my house," demonstrates that personal choices have a ripple effect on family and community. It highlights the responsibility of leaders to set a spiritual example for their households.
o	Rational Foundation: Joshua bases his call on a recitation of facts regarding God's past faithfulness, suggesting that choosing to serve Him is a rational response to His redemptive acts.
o	The Problem of Human Nature: Joshua warns the people that they "cannot serve the Lord" in their own strength. This highlights the paradox that while choice is required, true faithfulness requires divine grace and a transformed heart. 
•	What are some of the other "gods" that you might be tempted to serve in today's world? 
In today's world, the "foreign gods" from Joshua's time have been replaced by contemporary pursuits, desires, and objects that people often elevate to a primary position in their lives, effectively taking God's rightful place. An idol is anything that absorbs our heart and imagination more than God and which we rely on for fulfillment or security that only God can provide. 
Some of the "gods" one might be tempted to serve today include:
o	Money and Material Possessions: The relentless pursuit of wealth, consumerism, and financial security can become an idol when one places their hope and trust in riches rather than God.
o	Self-Worship and Individualism: Prioritizing personal desires, comfort, appearance, achievements, and self-will above all else is a prominent modern idol. This includes obsessing over physical appearance or measuring self-worth through personal success and abilities.
o	Fame and Social Status: The desire for approval, recognition, followers, and social standing can take precedence over pleasing God. This often manifests in the admiration of celebrities, athletes, and social media influencers, elevating them to a god-like status.
o	Technology and Entertainment: Constant connectivity, smartphones, social media, streaming services, and video games can consume an excessive amount of time and emotional energy, becoming a distraction from spiritual priorities.
o	Career and Ambition: Professional goals are valuable, but when work and personal success become the supreme pursuit and source of identity, they displace God's rightful place.
o	Relationships and Family: While loving others is virtuous, even good gifts like family and friends can become idols if they are prioritized above one's relationship with God.
o	Power and Knowledge: The pursuit of control over others, a commanding position, or accumulating knowledge for the sake of feeling superior can also become forms of idolatry, stemming from the desire to "be like God".
o	Ideologies and Politics: Loyalty to political parties, social causes, or specific worldviews can sometimes become a pseudo-savior, replacing reliance on God's guidance and provision.
4.	The Collect for Peace in The Book of Common Prayer says, "O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom..." 
•	How might serving God, instead of the gods of this world, bring you deeper freedom? 
This phrase from the Collect for Peace in the Book of Common Prayer presents a spiritual paradox: the idea that true liberty is found through submission to God rather than absolute autonomy. 
The Meaning of "Perfect Freedom" - In Christian theology, "perfect freedom" is not the ability to do whatever one wants, but the liberation to become who one was created to be:
o	Liberation from "Small" Gods: Service to God is described as freedom because it rescues the individual from enslavement to destructive "gods"—such as sin, addiction, pride, or the relentless need for social approval.
o	Alignment with Purpose: Similar to a train being "free" only when it is on the tracks for which it was designed, human beings are seen as reaching their highest potential and "flourishing" when aligned with God's will.
o	A Shift from Fear to Love: The prayer suggests that serving God removes the fear of worldly adversaries. Unlike serving a worldly tyrant or a "jealous" modern idol, serving God is a voluntary response to His love, transforming "duty" into a joyous and life-giving relationship. 
Connection to Joshua's Speech - This prayer mirrors the urgency of Joshua 24:15. While Joshua asks the people to "choose" their master, the Collect defines the result of that choice: 
o	The Choice: Joshua establishes that you will serve someone—either God or the "gods" of the culture.
o	The Outcome: The Collect promises that choosing God does not result in a new form of bondage, but in a "perfect freedom" that the world cannot provide. 
By framing service as freedom, the prayer asserts that knowing and serving God is the only way to escape the "gross and degrading form of slavery" that comes from serving only oneself.
NEXT STEPS 
• Two of the most important theological documents in our lives are our calendars and our checkbooks; they tell us where we spend our time and where we spend our money. Set aside time this week to look at your checkbook and your calendar. 
•	What do they say about who you are serving? 
•	Are you spending your time and money on the things you value most? 
•	In what ways could you change your allocation of time and money to more accurately reflect your priorities? 
• Joshua is not the only one to speak about serving God; Jesus will underscore the importance of serving God with both his words and his life. Read Matthew 20:20-28 and Luke 16:13. 
o	How do Jesus' words compare to Joshua's?
In both Matthew 20:20-28 and Luke 16:13, Jesus reinforces the necessity of choosing whom to serve while fundamentally redefining what it means to be a "servant" of God.
1. Greatness Through Service (Matthew 20:20–28)
o	When the mother of James and John asked for positions of honor for her sons, Jesus used the moment to contrast worldly power with Kingdom service: 
•	Redefining Leadership: Unlike worldly rulers who "lord it over" others, Jesus declares that "whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant".
•	His Own Example: Jesus identifies himself as the ultimate model, stating he "came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many".
•	Sacrifice as Service: True service to God is demonstrated through self-giving love and the willingness to sacrifice personal ambition for the benefit of others. 
2. Undivided Loyalty (Luke 16:13)
o	Jesus underscores the exclusivity of serving God, mirroring Joshua's "choose this day" ultimatum: 
•	No Dual Allegiance: Jesus explicitly states, "No one can serve two masters". He highlights that one cannot divide their heart between God and another "master," specifically naming Money (or Mammon).
•	Love vs. Hatred: He warns that attempting to serve two masters will inevitably lead to loving one and hating the other or being devoted to one and despising the other.
•	Integrity of Devotion: This teaching demands total devotion and integrity. It forces a choice: will life be driven by material gain or by God's purposes? 

Synthesis: Joshua and Jesus
While Joshua focused on the choice between the Lord and foreign idols, Jesus broadens this to include internal masters like greed and personal ambition. Both emphasize that service is not a passive state but a deliberate, ongoing commitment that defines one's identity and future.
CLOSING PRAYER - Lord, thank you for this time of study and for Your Word. As we leave, please help us to carry the truths we've learned into our daily lives and to live out Your teachings. May we continue to grow in faith and reflect Your love to others. Amen.