Aug.20, 2023: Family Worship Service: Old Testament (5-1) Joshua and Caleb : "Which voice do you follow?”　

We talked about how Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt last time. Today, we continue with the story of the events before they reached their destination, Canaan. The distance from Egypt to Canaan is about 300 kilometers in a straight line, and it would take about a month to reach Canaan, even if they traveled 10 kilometers a day. But it took the Israelites 40 years to get there.

Starting from Exodus, we have Deuteronomy, Numbers, and Joshua, so it is a long story. Since we are focusing on biblical characters, it would take quite a while to study them chronologically, so I think we can wait until you are older. We will learn the story of Caleb and Joshua. So let's work together on a storyboard.

Moses gathered representatives from the 12 tribes and had them stay in Canaan for 40 days to find out what it was like.

It was a wonderful land. There were rivers, greenery, fruit, honey, etc. It was like heaven.

However, it was already inhabited by a strong ethnic group.

 The city of Jericho was surrounded by a strong wall.

Twelve spies returned and reported to Moses and the Israelites.

The ten reported that Canaan was a wonderful land, but there were giants so we would not be able to fight them.

But Josiah and Caleb said, "God has promised us this land, and we will win."

However, the people agreed with the ten men's story and began to suggest that we return to Egypt.

Then God got angry at the lack of faith of the Israelites and threatened them with thunder.

Moses bowed down to the ground and prayed to God to forgive them. And God answered his prayer, but the Israelites had to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

He declared, "Only the descendants of the people of Israel and Caleb, Joshua could enter the land of Canaan."

Why did the Israelites have to live in the wilderness for 40 years?

I know it was a difficult environment, but I think the number one reason was that they didn't believe in God's promise to the end. When Moses was at Mt. Sinai (Horeb), they had already broken the first and second of the Ten Commandments by making a golden cow down there.

The first was, "Thou shalt have no other gods besides Me." And the second was, "Thou shalt make for thyself no idols." Wasn't it?

My question is, why didn't Moses' brothers Aaron and Miryam, who were also present at that time, stop the people from doing such a thing?

That would be impossible. Even if one or two leaders said it was wrong, they were dealing with the majority. I think they threatened to force Aron to do it. Besides, they didn't agree with Caleb and Joshua in today's story, did you? Even in this day and age, majority rule is considered the right thing to do, right?

Do you know what ethnic group Joshua and Caleb were descended from?

Joshua was a descendant of Joseph, the tribe of Ephraim, right? What about Caleb?

I think Caleb was of the tribe of Judah.

Yes, he was. Why were these two viewed differently from the other ten people, even though they went to the same Canaan?

In the picture story, Joshua and Caleb are young and strong. The others look old and weak. I guess it was a difference in physical strength. Hahaha.

Sophia, don't judge by appearances!

LOL!

It seems Moses was convinced from the beginning that Joshua would succeed him. He was a young man when he left Egypt, but I think he was always with Moses and learned well what he was doing. And it's strange, but Jesus Christ and Joshua have the same name. Joshua is the Hebrew word, and when you translate it into Greek, it becomes Yeshua ("Jesus" in English), which means "Yahweh (the only God) is salvation.” I am sure that Joshua had leadership qualities, but I think your father thinks that God chose Joshua to be the leader of the new Israel, just as God chose Moses.

That's right. So God did not choose His successor by blood. By the way, what do you think is the most important thing for the leader of Israel?

I think it is to believe and carry out God's promises without doubt, no matter what kind of trials we face.

That's right. Let's end today's service by singing a praise song together. Could I ask Mom to give a prayer of celebration?