The Undercover Adventist

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Thursday “Crossing Waters, Experiencing God” Scripture: Psalm 66:6, Psalm 114, Joshua 3:1–17, 2 Kings 2:6–15, Matthew 3:13–17, Hebrews 3:7–4:11 Reflection: Psalm 66:6 declares, “He rules by His might forever; His eyes keep watch on the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against Him.” This verse reminds us that God’s power is both universal and personal—He rules over all creation while caring intimately for His people. The events in Joshua and the crossing of the Jordan River beautifully illustrate this truth. As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, the Jordan, swollen and impassable, became a symbol of human impossibility. Yet God’s power made a way, just as Psalm 66:6 affirms His might over all obstacles (Joshua 3:14–17). Psalm 114 ties this moment to the crossing of the Red Sea, highlighting God’s consistency in delivering His people. The Red Sea parted for Moses, and the Jordan for Joshua—both rivers...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Wednesday “Never Forget What the Lord Has Done” Scripture Reading: Joshua 4:20–24 After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, Joshua took the twelve stones from the riverbed and set them up at Gilgal as a memorial. He said, “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God” (Joshua 4:24). The purpose of those stones was remembrance — to make sure that future generations never forgot what God had done. In Joshua 4:23 , Joshua uses the words “us” and “we.” He didn’t distance himself from the miracle but included himself among those who had been delivered: “For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what He had done to the Red Sea when He dried it up before us until we had crossed over.” This collective language emphasizes that remembering...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Tuesday “Remembering God’s Faithfulness” Scripture Reading: Joshua 4 After the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, God commanded Joshua to have twelve men, one from each tribe, take a stone from the riverbed and set it up as a memorial. The Lord said, “In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (Joshua 4:6–7). The memorial was not just a monument—it was a testimony. It reminded Israel of the power and presence of the living God who brought them safely into the Promised Land. God knew how easily His people could forget. Just as the Israelites needed tangible reminders of His mighty acts, we too need memorials in our spiritual journey. These are not always made of stone—they may be moments, places, or symbols that mark God’s faithfulness in our lives. It could be a journal entry about a pra...

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Monday   The God Who Does the Impossible Joshua 3:6–17 As the Israelites stood at the edge of the Jordan River, the promise of the land before them seemed so close—and yet, utterly impossible to reach. The river was at flood stage, overflowing its banks. Yet God told Joshua to have the priests carry the ark of the covenant and step into the rushing waters. As soon as their feet touched the edge of the river, the waters stopped flowing and stood up like a wall, and the people crossed on dry ground. This scene shows us a God who is not limited by natural laws or human circumstances. The God of Joshua is a God of miracles and wonders —a God who makes a way where there seems to be no way. He is not distant or powerless; He is living, active, and faithful to His word. The ark of the covenant, representing God’s presence among His people, went before them into the river, showing that every miracle begins with God leading t...

Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 3 -  Sunday  “Preparing for God’s Presence” Joshua 3:1–5; Numbers 14:41–44 When the Israelites camped by the Jordan River , ready to enter the Promised Land , God gave them a command through Joshua: “ Consecrate yourselves , for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Joshua 3:5). This moment was sacred—God was about to reveal His power in a new way. But before they could witness His mighty act, the people had to prepare themselves spiritually. The ark of the covenant , carried by the priests, symbolized the very presence of God among His people. It was to go before them, showing that the Lord Himself would lead the way into the unknown. The people were not to move ahead of the ark, nor to act on their own wisdom. They were to follow at a distance, watching and waiting on God’s direction. This was a test of faith and obedience—a reminder that spiritual victory comes only when we move in step with God’s presenc...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua   Sabbath School Lesson 3 Memorials of Grace   You may use this for presenting and studying the current Sabbath School Lesson.

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 2 -  Friday Further Thought  A Model of Faith and Openness to God Scripture Reading: Joshua 2 ; Hebrews 11:31 ; James 2:25 Rahab ’s story begins in Joshua 2 , in the city of Jericho — a place destined for destruction. She was a Canaanite and a prostitute , an unlikely candidate for God’s purposes. Yet when two Israelite spies arrived at her home, Rahab chose to align herself with the God of Israel rather than the idols of her own people. She confessed, “I know that the Lord has given you this land… for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below” ( Joshua 2:9, 11 ). Her faith was not based on personal experience but on what she had heard of God’s mighty acts — the parting of the Red Sea , the defeat of Sihon and Og . Like Abraham, Rahab believed God’s word and acted upon it (compare Genesis 15:6 ). Her faith led to decisive action — hiding the spies and trusting in God’s mercy. The Old Testame...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 2 -  Thursday Commentary Justice and  Grace in Gibeon Scripture: Joshua 9:21–27 When the deceit of the Gibeonites was exposed, Joshua faced a difficult challenge. The Israelites had been tricked into making a covenant with a people they were supposed to destroy. The natural reaction might have been anger and retribution—but Joshua chose another way. He upheld the oath made before the Lord, sparing the Gibeonites’ lives, but assigned them to be “ woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord .” This decision was a powerful blend of justice and grace . Justice was served because the Gibeonites’ deception had consequences—they were reduced to servitude and would live under Israel’s authority. Yet grace was shown in that their lives were spared. Joshua refused to violate the sacred promise made in God’s name, demonstrating integrity and mercy even toward deceivers. This was no smal...

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 2 -  Wednesday Commentary When Promises and Purposes Collide Joshua 9:1–20 When word spread of Israel’s victories, the kings of Canaan united to fight—but the Gibeonites chose a different path. Like Rahab , they had heard of the Lord’s mighty acts and feared Him. Both Rahab and the Gibeonites sought deliverance from Israel’s God , but their approaches differed. Rahab came in truth and faith, risking her life openly; the Gibeonites came in deceit, pretending to be from a distant land. Yet, both acknowledged the power of the true God—and both found mercy. Joshua and the leaders, however, made a critical mistake. They “did not inquire of the Lord” (Joshua 9:14). In doing so, they entered a covenant that God had not intended. When the deception was discovered, Joshua was caught between two moral imperatives : keeping his oath before God or carrying out the command to destroy the Canaanite nations . In honoring his word, Jo...