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? What might the presence of these stories say to us about our history? What might we learn from them?
Facing the Violence of "Holy War"
The presence of violence in Joshua serves as a mirror rather than a blueprint.
Wrestling with the Text: Scholars often suggest reading these accounts through the lens of hyperbole—common in ancient Near Eastern military rhetoric—while acknowledging the theological struggle of a God who directs conquest.
Historical Implication: These stories remind us that the desire to claim "divine sanction" for violence is a recurring human shadow. It prevents us from viewing "holy war" as something only others do.
The Lesson: We learn the danger of nationalism and the ease with which we can mistake our own tribal ambitions for God’s will. It calls us to a "hermeneutic of suspicion" toward any claim that God demands the destruction of the "other." 
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? What might the presence of these verses tell us about humanity's impact on and responsibility for the land? 
The Land’s Rest and Ecological Impact
The phrase "the land had rest" suggests that conflict is an unnatural, exhausting state for the earth itself.
Impact of War: War causes environmental degradation, resource depletion, and the displacement of both people and wildlife. The text implies that the soil carries the weight of human bloodshed.
Responsibility: These verses highlight stewardship. They suggest that the land is a character in the covenant; humanity’s failure to live in peace directly impacts the health and "rest" of the natural world. Our responsibility is to be "gardeners" rather than "conquerors."
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? What are some of the other "gods" that you might be tempted to serve in today's world? 
The Choice of Service
Joshua’s "choose this day" speech frames faith not as a feeling, but as an allegiance. 
Faith as Service: In this context, "serving" God means aligning one's life with a specific ethical framework (justice, mercy, humility).
Modern "Gods": Today, we are often tempted by the "gods" of consumerism, political tribalism, careerism, and digital validation. These are demanding deities that require our constant time, anxiety, and resources but offer little peace in return.
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?
Service as "Perfect Freedom"
The paradox of the Collect for Peace—that serving God is "perfect freedom"—redefines what it means to be free.
Freedom From vs. Freedom For: Modern freedom is often "freedom from restraint" (doing whatever we want). Biblical freedom is "freedom for excellence" (becoming who we were meant to be).
The Shift: By serving a God of love, we are liberated from the tyranny of the ego and the exhausting need to prove our worth to the "gods of this world." Freedom is found in belonging to a source that does not change based on our performance.
NEXT STEPS 
1.	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. 
The Theology of the Calendar and Checkbook
Looking at your spending and scheduling is an exercise in honesty.
The Checkbook: Money is "stored energy." Where you send your money is where you are sending your life’s effort. If your bank statement shows a heavy leaning toward convenience or status rather than community or charity, it reveals which "gods" are currently receiving your sacrifice.
The Calendar: Time is the only non-renewable resource. How we fill our days reveals our true priorities. A calendar devoid of rest or service suggests a theology of "self-reliance" or "perpetual busyness," rather than a trust in God’s provision.
2.	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. How do Jesus' words compare to Joshua's?
Joshua vs. Jesus: From Allegiance to Humility
Joshua and Jesus both demand a choice, but they shift the focus of what "service" looks like.
Joshua’s Call (Allegiance): In Joshua 24, the choice is exclusionary. It is about tribal identity and choosing the right "Master" to avoid the influence of foreign idols. It is a macro-level commitment to a national covenant.
Jesus’ Words (Implementation):
Luke 16:13: Jesus echoes Joshua’s "either/or" logic but makes it internal and economic: "You cannot serve God and wealth (Mammon)." He identifies money as the primary rival deity that competes for the human heart.
Matthew 20:20-28: Jesus radicalizes the definition of service. While Joshua’s "service" often looked like military obedience, Jesus claims that the "Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." He turns the hierarchy upside down: to serve God is to be a servant to others.
Comparison:
Joshua’s choice is about Whom you serve; Jesus’ teaching is about How you serve. Joshua demands loyalty to the Sovereign; Jesus demands that we express that loyalty by washing feet and sacrificing our own status for the "least of these."
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.