Sabbath School Lesson for December 13-19, 2025
Introduction of Lesson 12, God Is Faithful!
Memory Text: “Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45 ESV
Joshua 21:45 reminded them that the promises of God are never broken. He is unmatched in being faithful to His people; and, as long as they were faithful in return, the blessings would continue to be showered upon them. What incredible hope would be theirs if they continued believing in those promises!
The last two chapters of Joshua comprise his words of farewell to those he had bravely led to victory in Canaan. The first chapter in his farewell address (chapter 23) focuses on their future occupation of the Promised Land and how they must continue serving only God in order to secure His blessings.
Joshua caused them to look back at the faithfulness of God in fulfilling all His promises during the conquest–the incredible victories they were given when they drove out their pagan adversaries. Seeing the power of God through their experiences led Joshua to then point forward to the future path of success they were sure to have if they kept the covenant they had made with their amazing Lord.
- Sunday: All Came to Pass
- Monday: A Sign of Concern
- Tuesday: Clear Boundaries
- Wednesday: The Anger of the Lord
- Thursday: Cling to God
Sunday: All Came to Pass
The whole book of Joshua is thought to be summarized in Joshua 21:43-45. These verses are the climax or highpoint of what Joshua recorded in his account. His remarks centered on the promises God made to their fathers to give them the land which they fought for and now possessed. All had come to pass, just as God had declared in His covenant with them.
Six times in these three short verses we find the word “all”. This emphasizes the totality of God’s faithfulness in keeping His promises. It may take longer, and it may be more difficult because of their unfaithfulness, but it all comes to pass, in the end.
The Israelites could take no credit for receiving the land. It was ALL God’s gift to them; just as Paul declared our salvation to be. Only by His grace, and through the faith He gives us, are we saved. Salvation is not based on our works (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Verses and questions:
Joshua 21:43-45
- What is the main message to us here?
- Why are these verses said to be the climax of the whole book of Joshua?
1 Corinthians 10:13 and 2 Corinthians 1:18-20
- In what way is God still faithful to His church? What promises does He continue to keep?
- How has He been faithful to you?
Monday: A Sign of Concern
Twice it was mentioned that Joshua was advanced in age. He and Caleb were the two oldest, surviving members of the small Hebrew army that had just won so many battles to conquer Canaan. This would hopefully cause his audience to listen intently to any words of wisdom he might have for them.
Reminding them of their recently-won victories, it was important that they see that God would always be faithful to them going forward if they followed and obeyed His commandments, which was their part of the covenant. There were still victories to be won, as they struggled to occupy the land and live peaceably there. Knowing their past behavior and mistakes, Joshua surely had reason to question whether they would enjoy lasting peace in the Promised Land.
Like the Israelites, we have spiritual battles that must be won in our lives today. Many times these battles within are a greater threat to our well-being than the physical ones. This caused Paul in the New Testament to describe spiritual armor that we need for these violent, inner conflicts with the forces of evil (Ephesians 6:11-18).
Verses and questions:
Joshua 23:1-5
- What points does Joshua bring to their attention in this introduction of his farewell address?
Ephesians 6:11-18
- Why are spiritual battles so difficult?
- What are some of the defenses we have to fight them?
- Which pieces of armor have you personally relied on and how did they help you?
Tuesday: Clear Boundaries
For whatever reason, there would be remnants of pagan tribes left in Canaan after the most aggressive ones had been driven out. Perhaps this was to give idolaters one more chance to adopt God’s ways by witnessing how God was blessing the Hebrews. This also had the potential of growing the faith of His people by allowing them the chance to share God’s way of salvation and convert their neighbors to the one, true Creator God.
There was, at the same time, however, the possibility that the Israelites would become too close to the remnants of pagan tribes and this would cause them to fall into idolatry, and thus lose their identity as the people of God. Joshua pointed out this threat and admonished them to maintain clear boundaries, in order to avoid the spiritual dangers that would draw them away from God.
Just as Christians today are warned about marrying nonbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14), Joshua warned them that intermarriage with idolaters would pose the greatest threat to their spiritual growth and survival as a nation.
Verses and questions:
Joshua 23:6-8, 12, 13
- Why didn’t God cause all the idolaters to leave Canaan? Why were there remnants of them left behind?
- What threat did intermarriage pose, and why did Joshua warn against it?
Wednesday: The Anger of the Lord
We are attracted to the loving side of God’s character, as portrayed so well in the earthly life and ministry of Jesus. God is full of blessings when we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
At the same time, it is more difficult for us to grasp the justice God also reveals in His character. Often the word “anger” is used for His justice in the Bible. We tend naturally to associate His anger with negative consequences for those who don’t accept God.
To complicate the issue even further, our anger is usually that of an ugly emotion that is filled with painful, unpredictable, overreacting revenge and hatred. But God’s anger, or wrath, is always mixed with mercy and love, holding none of the distasteful expressions and actions that we are more likely to display. Ephesians 4:26 cautions us to be angry, but not allow it to make us sin, as we sinful beings are so prone to do.
Thinking of God’s anger as righteous indignation has helped us understand what God is forced to do when we turn our backs on Him. We, too, must remember to hate the sin, but love the sinner. We are told repeatedly that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), that He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9).
It is indeed a merciful God who won’t let sin continue in the universe, making its victims suffer endlessly. Thankfully, no one’s pain and suffering lasts more than his or her mortal lifetime. We will need a thousand years in heaven to understand God’s strange, final act of justice, when God’s anger is poured out for the last time on this rebellious planet (Revelation 20:7-9).
Verses and questions:
Joshua 23:15, 16
- Why do you think God reacts so angrily when it comes to idolatry?
- How does idolatry change people, and how can it still be a problem in our modern world when we aren’t actually bowing down to idols as they did back then?
Thursday: Cling to God
Joshua knew that the only way Israel would be able to stay away from the idolatry that surrounded them would be to maintain a close, personal relationship with God. This can’t be done by focusing on the “don’ts” in the covenant. It must be a conscious effort on their part to cling to God by doing all they could to please Him. In other words, to actively love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5). Just as in a marriage, we need to find ways to please God, not simply avoid making Him angry.
God gave Adam and Eve the institution of marriage to help them see just how close a bond they could enjoy with Him. Genesis 2:24, the marriage covenant, explains how Adam would be joined to his wife Eve. The word “joined” literally means for them to cling to each other.
Our special bond with God is for all who recognize what He has done for them and respond with love and devotion only to Him. God should have all our undivided attention and love.
Verses and questions:
Joshua 23:11 and Deuteronomy 6:5
- How could the Israelites avoid falling into idolatry?
- What are some of the things that please God?
Friday: Final Thoughts
The role of a parent can also teach us much about the kind of love God has toward those He has created. In order to raise our young ones, we must show them love by being kind and giving. But at the same time, we must not overlook the need for disciplinary action when their behavior calls for it.
God, too, would be seen as a weak parent, not faithful to His duties, if He never showed the side of His character that delivered fair consequences to His erring children. Joshua is careful to combine the loving side of God with the one that will allow negative consequences if the Hebrews failed to follow His instructions. God’s reasonable boundaries must not be disregarded, Joshua warned them in his farewell address.
Foreseeing the difficulties ahead as they continued their occupation of Canaan, Joshua rightly identified intermarriage with the remnant pagan tribes as one of their greatest dangers. It was not going to be easy, but they must establish wise, balanced interactions with their neighbors if they were to serve and share God’s truths, without losing the close connection they had with their heavenly Father.
Next Week: Choose This Day!
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