Major Concept:
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
(Romans 15:4)

Sub-concepts:
1. The people of Canaan were driven out of the land because of their wickedness.

God said: "I myself will drive them out before the Israelites."
(Joshua 13:6)

"You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them."
(Leviticus 20:23)

"...and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy. Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your sons away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord's anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you."
(Deuteronomy 7:2-4)

"Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled."
(Leviticus 18:24)

2. God's instructions are plain, but must be taught.

"Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel."
(Joshua 24:12)

"After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel."
(Judges 2:10)

Application

God has not changed. His instructions are few, but plain.

"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
(Luke 22:37-39)

Simple, but not easy!

1. Love God
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
(Matthew 7:21)

2. Love neighbor
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven."
(Matthew 5:44)

Memory Verse

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
(Romans 15:4)

Additional Verses and Pages

Luke 6:34-36
Ephesians 4:20-5:7

Activities

Lesson 2: Unfinished Job (Judges 1)

Manual