Week of February 21, 2016: Joshua and Caleb

Bible Passage: Numbers 13:1–14:38

Big Picture Question: What happens when God’s people sin? Sin has a price, but God forgives when people seek forgiveness.

Key Passage: Exodus 20:1­17

Unit Christ Connection: God instructed His covenant people how to live holy lives in an unholy world. This sustained their relationship with God until the perfect plan was revealed through Jesus Christ.

Christ Connection: Even though Joshua was not perfect, he lived a life of obedience to God. Joshua was faithful and was going to lead the people into the promised land. His accomplishments point to Christ’s finished work on the cross—defeating Satan, setting people free from sin, and making the way into the promised land of eternity.

God was leading the Israelites to the promised land. When they were close, God instructed Moses to send spies into the land to scout it out. The spies traveled around the land for 40 days, and it was just as God had promised. There was one problem; the people in the land were big and strong.

Caleb, one of the spies, announced, “We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it.” Caleb understood that God was with them. With God’s help, they could do anything. Joshua and Caleb understood who God is. When God promises to do something, He will do it. (Num. 23:19)

Joshua’s obedience to God, which resulted in his leading the Israelites into the promised land, reminds us of Christ’s life of obedience leading to His finished work on the cross, making the way into the promised land of eternity.