Courageous Faith: Joshua Joshua 22:1-‐34 – East

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Courageous  Faith:  Joshua   Joshua  22:1-­‐34  –  East  and  West   Troy  Thomas   April  8/9,  2014    

In  chapter  22,  Joshua  sends  the  eastern  tribes  to  return  to  their  land  on  the  other   side  of  the  Jordan.  Before  they  go,  Joshua  commands  the  eastern  tribes  to  be faithful. A conflict arises between the eastern and the western tribes when the eastern tribes erect a symbolic altar. Yet, in the end, the eastern tribes show themselves faithful. We can learn from this passage that faithfulness is often revealed when the plans change.   1) The  Return  is  Rewarded  -­‐  Verse  1-­‐9     a) “rest”  =  peace;  a  break  from  enemies   b) Pattern  of  Joshua  22:  rest  –  interruption  –  rest   c) The  Moses  Plan  and  The  Joshua  Plan   d) “hold  fast”  =  “cleave”  =  “be  loyal”  =  “cling”     2) The  Rumors  Rise  –  Verse  10-­‐12     a) Geliloth    =  Gilgal?   b) Another  Shiloh?     3) The  Rumors  Researched  –  Verse  13-­‐20     a) Expectations  are  not  reality!   b) The  Sin  of  Peor   c) The  Sin  of  Achan     4) The  Right  (Eastern)  Response  –  verse  21-­‐29   a) The  eastern  tribes  respond  faithfully   b) The  Mighty  One,  God,  the  LORD     5) The  Relationship  is  Reconciled  –  Verse  30-­‐34   a) Lowered  expectations   b) Rest!     Application  Points:   What  plans  and  expectations  do  you  have  for  people  close  to  you?   What  will  you  do  if  people  don’t  meet  up  to  your  expectations?   Will  your  faithfulness  be  revealed  when  your  plans  don’t  work  out?           This  message  can  be  found  at  elmbrook.org/media/teaching.