Please read Joshua 10:29-43 in preparation for today’s lesson.
As we read about all the destruction of cities, kings, and people, we might wonder how all this death can be honoring to God. Please take a moment and read the following paragraph for insight:
“The Canaanites were guilty of extreme wickedness (Dt 7:2 – 11; 20:16 – 18). God is completely holy, and He, therefore, cannot tolerate sin. Sin must be judged. He is also patient. For many years the Canaanite sin did not justify annihilation. But that time did arrive, and it came in the time of Joshua. Israel was a tool in the hand of God to judge the wickedness of those nations. Leviticus 18 is a gruesome list of their evil actions, including impurity, incest, adultery, child sacrifice, and bestiality. The Canaanites brought God’s judgment on themselves by their own sins. Canaan was not destroyed without plenty of warning. God is never unjust. They were a thoroughly debased society, hostile to all God’s ways (Dt 9:4 – 5). The most sobering reflection is that now, today, many of those wicked sins listed in Leviticus 18 are present in our society. God’s judgment in the last day will be complete indeed.”--Amplified Study Bible Notes
God’s patience toward the sins of the Canaanites had finally come to an end, and He used the Israelites as His means of pouring out His wrath on all who lived such sinfully degrading lives without repentance.
This points forward to the return of Jesus when God will pour out His wrath on all nations and all people who have rejected salvation through Jesus Christ. And the unbelieving nations will respond in this way:
“Then the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the rich people, the powerful people, the slaves, and the free people hid themselves in caves and in the rocks on the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us. Hide us from the face of the One who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb! The great day for their anger has come, and who can stand against it?" (Revelation 6:15-17).
“Joshua’s action is a type of the final and eternal destruction of all impenitent and implacable enemies of the Lord Jesus, of all who, having insulted the riches of his grace, must bear the weight of his wrath forever and will have judgment without mercy (Jas 2:13). Nations that forget God shall be turned into hell (Ps 9:17), without discrediting God’s infinite goodness.”--Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible
Fortunately, all who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection as full and complete payment for their sins have found an “ark of refuge”, safety in Jesus Christ from the coming wrath: “And you wait for God's Son, whom God raised from the dead, to come from heaven. He is Jesus, who saves us from God's angry judgment that is sure to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10 NCV).
Question 1. In light of Joshua 10:29-43, do you see that you, as a believer, have been and will be completely saved from the wrath to come on all unbelievers?
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Carol writes, "I see it. It is scary to see how the world today is returning to the sinful ways that led to destruction we read about. Not all non believers are sinning to that extent, but they have their heads in the sand. They look away from the sins of others, they say “well what’s right for them is ok”. They will stand by and let sin happen, they reject God (which is a sin) as well and by standing on the fence they will be destroyed as well."
Karen writes, "Yes, I do see that I have been saved from God's wrath! It is amazing to know that the things I have done, all of my sin, was taken at the Cross and that God sees me as righteous because Jesus suffered the wrath for me!!"
Kelly writes, "It’s amazing to know that we as Christians have been saved by God from God. There will truly be no excuse in those last days. No one has to go to Hell. God not only provides warning of the destruction that’s coming but the way out through Jesus too. Jesus removed Gods wrath from all who will believe and absorbed it all Himself. We only need to believe and receive His free gift. Yet as tragic as it will be for those who turn away, I can’t look down nor judge them because I know but for His Sovereign Grace I would be right there with them."