Please read through my Study Questions on Joshua and the Book of Judges and then read Joshua Chapters 1 and 24 and Judges Chapters 1-2, 6-9, and 18-21. Of the characters mentioned in these chapters, which one do you find most interesting? What (if anything) is heroic about this character? What are his/her "warts"? What do you think is the most important lesson to be learned from the story of that character?
In Judges 19, the man takes on a concubine, who cheats, then leaves him for her parents' house. After some time, the man goes to get her back and is welcomed and taken care of for many days. Every attempt to leave is thwarted and he stays 'one more night'. He finally gets on the road with his donkey and concubine, and they stop in a town and an old man from his home invited him to stay with him. He welcomes the man into his home, but they are interrupted by men at the door want to have sex with the visitor. The old man offers up his virgin daughter and the concubine but they aren't interested. After the man sends his concubine out, they leave and abuse her all night and she ends up dying. The man cuts up her body and sends one of the pieces to each of the twelve tribes.
ReplyDeleteI found this chapter to be very shocking. The man thinks they made a good decision steering clear of the gentile town, but is mistaken. This chapter shows us the wickedness of men, sin rampant throughout the lands (concubine cheating, rape, chopping up a woman, etc). And an important lesson that we learn is that everyone sins; gentile and Israelite alike.
I like Sampson. Any guy that can slay 1000 philistines with a jawbone of a donkey is pretty badass. That being said, he did seem kinda dumb. I mean Delilah asks him his weakness three times and he doesn't get the hint? I mean he tells her his weakness and she uses it and some philistines just happen to be walking around. Wow, I'd have loved to have seen how she convinced him of that one. That guy was blind before he
ReplyDeletehad his eyes put out. He's still really cool though, and at the end he seems to realize his mistakes and goes down like any tough guy should, taking out as many of the bad guys as possible. The morals of this story are all about staying pure and focused on God and not of the things of this world. A good message.
The first couple chapters of Joshua is such a wonderful revision of all the great things God has done for his chosen people. All the miracles God performed to release his chosen people from Egypt and then goes over all the tribes that God has helped them conquer over the years. I am still a little confused and intrigued by the fact the the Hebrews have strayed from praying to the 1 true God so many times in their early history. Story after story is of them straying from the God of Abraham. But, when put in a more historic time line it may be easier to see how people needed more convincing not to worship false idols.
ReplyDeleteI love and always will love Joshua. He was the successor of Moses, and that is a big shoe to fill. He brought the people to the holy land that was promised to them so long ago. He was a great warrior and strategist. He helped unite the people. He keeps his promises like he did with Rahab. He shows a lot of courage because of the battles he fought and the fact that he was leading the people after Moses, and that could not have been easy. He doesn't have any warts in my opinion because he had all of the characteristics that a hero needs. People say that his wart would be though the fact that he did lead the people after Moses did and that he was in Moses shadow but I don't think so. I believe that he proved himself different than Moses and just as effective as Moses.
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