Study Desk

"Go to the Abarim Mountains in the land of Moab opposite the city of Jericho; climb Mount Nebo and look at the land of Canaan that I am about to give the people of Israel.

You will look at the land from a distance, but you will not enter the land that I am giving the people of Israel."

He said, "My servant Moses is dead. Get ready now, you and all the people of Israel, and cross the Jordan River into the land that I am giving them.

Remember that I have commanded you to be determined and confident! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for I, the Lord your God, am with you wherever you go."

The Lord said to Joshua, "What I do today will make all the people of Israel begin to honor you as a great man, and they will realize that I am with you as I was with Moses.

"Neither," the man answered. "I am here as the commander of the Lord 's army." Joshua threw himself on the ground in worship and said, "I am your servant, sir. What do you want me to do?"

The Lord said to Joshua, "I am putting into your hands Jericho, with its king and all its brave soldiers.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Point your spear at Ai; I am giving it to you." Joshua did as he was told,

But now, look. It has been forty-five years since the Lord said that to Moses. That was when Israel was going through the desert, and the Lord , as he promised, has kept me alive ever since. Look at me! I am eighty-five years old

and am just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else.

so he called all Israel, the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of the people, and said, "I am very old now.

The Lord answered, "The tribe of Judah will go first. I am giving them control of the land."

I told you that I am the Lord your God and that you should not worship the gods of the Amorites, whose land you are now living in. But you have not listened to me."

Then the Lord ordered him, "Go with all your great strength and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I myself am sending you."

Gideon replied, "But Lord, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least important member of my family."

Well, I am putting some wool on the ground where we thresh the wheat. If in the morning there is dew only on the wool but not on the ground, then I will know that you are going to use me to rescue Israel."

That night the Lord commanded Gideon, "Get up and attack the camp; I am giving you victory over it.

When they arrived at Sukkoth, he said to the men of the town, "Please give my men some loaves of bread. They are exhausted, and I am chasing Zebah and Zalmunna, the Midianite kings."

So he said to them, "I am going to come back safe and sound, and when I do, I will tear this tower down!"

But you still left me and worshiped other gods, so I am not going to rescue you again.