Life Lessons from Joshua. Chapter 2

2. Life Lessons from Joshua. Chapter 2

3. We are going to look at 10 Life Lessons from Joshua Chapter 2.

4. We will gather these 10 lessons by comparing & contrasting the two occasions when Moses and Joshua each sent spies into Canaan.

5. The account of Moses sending spies is found in Numbers 13 & 14

6. The account of Joshua sending spies is found in Joshua 2-3

7. For the sake of time we will not be able to read the entire two sections…

8. We will simply make the observations and include the bits that we can.

9. These men used very differentstrategiesand leadership approaches during their effort to spy out the land…

10. One effort was terribly disgracefuland the other was incredibly successful.

11. What we want to do is determine if there are any Life Lessons to be learned from these two events.

12. Our format will be relatively simple…

13. Identify Describe Apply

14. 1. Somethings are best kept secret.

15. Then Joshua secretly sentout two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.”  Joshua 2:1

16. Then the two spies came down from the hill country, crossed the Jordan River, and reported to Joshua all that had happened to them. Joshua 2:23

17. Joshua decided to send the spies into Canaan & Jericho quietly, without the public knowledge of the community of Israel.

18. These men came back and reported privately to Joshua.

19. By contrast, it appears that the spies that Moses sent were sent out & returned publicly and reported their findings to the whole community.

20. After exploring the land for forty days, the men returnedto Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen…Numbers 13:25-26

21. Our Lesson: There are many things in life that not everyone needs to know or needs to know at the sametime.

22. Our Lesson: A wise leader knows when things shouldbe kept between co-leaders, Elders & Deacons and not the whole church etc.

23. Our Lesson: A wise parent knows when conversations and decisions should be between Mom & Dad and kept from the kids.

24. Application: We must be wisewith how much information we allow the wholebody to know and when is best for them to know it.

25. 2. Be specific & strategic.

26. Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River,especially around Jericho.” Joshua 2:1

27. Joshua told the spies that he only really wanted them to scout out beyond the Jordan River and specifically the city of Jericho.

28. He understood that the promised land would not be won in a week or even a year. He knew that it would be a long conquest, moving from city to city.

29. By contrast, Moses appeared to send the spies to check out an extremely broad and wide area.

30. Go north through the Negev into the hill country….So they went up and explored the land from the wilderness of Zin as far as Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. Going north, they passed through the Negev and arrived at Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai Numbers 13:17 & 21

31. Our Lesson: Whether settinggoals for our family, our personal lives or our ministries, we have to be specific& strategic.

32. Our Lesson: We have to be carefulnot to bite off more than we can chew. Or take on more than we canhandle.

33. Our Lesson: We are not going to accomplish major tasks overnight. Likewise, being too broad makes the task easily overwhelming.

34. Our Lesson: Joshua knew that Jericho was the gateway to Canaan, and if he conquered that city he would be well on his way.

35. Application: As best possible, we need to move from one battle/goal to the next and tackle them from most important to least important.

36. 3. Don’t have too many cooks in the kitchen.

37. Joshua only selected 2 men to scout out Jericho. Whereas Moses selected 12 men.

38. Joshua appeared to learn something from that experience.

39. Granted, God did instruct Moses to select one from every tribe. However there is something to be learned here.

40. Our Lesson: When you are looking to get the opinions of 10 or 12 or 15 people… you will get 10-12-15 opinions.

41. Our Lesson: Major decisions for the organization, the family, the body…can easily get stalled, sidetrackedand even hijacked if too many people have a say.

42. Application: In a ministry role, delegate decisions to specific leaders. Don’t always take a poll.

43. Application: Delegate a smallgroup of 2-3 people, a subcommittee, to work on specific things and empower them to make decisions...everyone doesn’t have to weigh in on everything.

44. *It is interesting that the spies knew they were empowered enough by Joshua to promise Rahab safety…without Joshua's direct permission.

45. 4. Don’t delay if you don’t have to.

46. The men who went into Jericho appear to have only been gone 4 days… 1 day in the city and 3 hiding out in the mountains...

47. “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three daysfrom the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.” Joshua 2:16

48. By contrast, Moses sent the men to spy for 40 days.

49. After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned. Numbers 13:25

50. It is never said that God instructed either man on how long the men should scout the land.