CHILDREN SEARCH LESSON 5, VOL 5 CONQUEST OF THE KINGS OF CANAANCONQUEST OF THE KINGS OF CANAAN
Text: Joshua 10:1-43; 11:1-23; 12:1-24
Before the nation of Israel entered into the Promised Land, God gave them strict instructions on what they should do to the people there. They were to be completely destroyed (Deuteronomy 20:16,17).
This command was carried out when Moses led the people to conquer Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan.
After crossing over the Jordan River, Joshua then led his army to defeat Jericho, Ai and thirty-one kings of other nations. Before the conquest of all these nations that make up Canaan, their kings conspired together and ganged up to fight the Israelites. First it was Adonizedec king of Jerusalem who called other four kings of nearby nations to fight Gibeon who had made peace with Israel. When the Gibeonites cried to Joshua for help, God helped Joshua and his army to defeat all these kings.
This did not serve as lesson to the other nations. They went ahead to also gather themselves together to fight Joshua and his army. They also suffered a disgraceful defeat. These victories show that:
(i) God is faithful to His promises to drive away the enemies before Israel.
(ii) God had fulfilled His promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, by giving Canaan to the children of Israel for possession.
(iii) The victories also serve as a means of assurance and confidence in God because whatever God has promised He will surely fulfil.
The destruction of the enemy nations and their kings is a lesson on the final judgment of God that will come upon the wicked at the end of the world. Jesus Christ, the captain of the church will return in righteousness with the armies in heaven. He will wage war against the ungodly.
Boys and girls who have rejected His offer of grace and salvation and continued in their sin will perish like the defeated kings.
Jesus the King of kings is calling you now. Repent from your sins and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour.
CONSPIRACY AND DEFEAT OF SOUTHERN CANAAN KINGS: Joshua 10:1-43
The union between Israel and Gibeon made other kings to be jealous. Adonizedek the king of Jerusalem sent for other kings to come and join him to fight against the Gibeonites. Their offence was that they had made peace with the Israelites. These five kings and their cities were called the Amorites. They set their armies against Gibeon.
When the Gibeonites noticed that their enemies had encamped against them, they cried out for help. They appealed to Joshua because Joshua had vowed never to hurt them. They told Joshua that they were his servants and that the kings wanted to fight them because they were at peace with Israel and had decided to serve the God of the Israelites.
Joshua prayed to God for assistance. The Lord promised Joshua that He would destroy their enemies and fight for Israel. God encouraged Joshua to assist the Gibeonites. Through divine help the Amorites were destroyed with hailstones from heaven. The enemies fled and the number that died that day from being hit with hailstones were greater than those that Israel slew with their swords. In the heat of the battle, Joshua spoke to the Lord in the presence of the Israelites. He told the sun to stand still upon Gibeon and the moon to stand still in the valley of Ajalon (Joshua 10:12-14).
To God’s glory, the sun and moon stood still until the Israelites had conquered all the southern kingdoms of the Amorites. God magnified Joshua that day before the children of Israel. The five kings were all killed and hanged on trees. Joshua then captured eight more cities.
When our spiritual enemies set themselves against us and threaten to swallow us up, we are to pray to God. When we pray to Christ, He will be our Captain in battle. He will fight for us and give us victory and we will live peacefully.
CONQUEST OF THE REMAINING KINGS OF CANAAN: Joshua 11:1-23; 12:1-24.
Having fought and defeated the kingdoms in the southern part of Canaan, the next target for the children of Israel was the northern, eastern and western cities and kingdoms. Before Joshua could make preparation to go into these lands, the kings of those kingdoms led by Jabin ganged up to fight Israel. This was a great problem to Joshua and his people because:
i) Ten kings who were a great number, all came to fight the people of God.
ii) These enemy nations had great and sophisticated weapons of war. Israel did not have such weapons.
iii) The army of these kings was made up of large numbers of soldiers. The Bible confirms that they were like sands by the seashore, notwithstanding this fearful consideration, Joshua and the children of Israel defeated all of them and became victorious. There are important lessons for us to take note of here.
i) The victory of Israel was a fulfilment of God’s promise that no man shall be able to stand before them (Deuteronomy 11:25). God will always keep His promise as long as we obey His word.
ii) God is not limited by our little strength or the giant size of the enemy. All He expects from us is to have faith in Him.
The last chapter for this study shows us a detailed record of the defeated kings and their kingdoms. After this great victory, Joshua then proceeded to divide the land as inheritance for the children of Israel. The major cause of the Canaanite’s defeat was idol-worship and rejection of the grace that God gave them to repent. Do not follow their footsteps. Repent from all sins and become a part of the Israel of God. Then God will defend and give you victory in all battles of life.
COMPLETE ARMOUR FOR GREAT CONQUEST:
Joshua 10:8-14,42; 2 Corinthians 10:3-6; Ephesians 6:10-18.
In this life, children and adults are constantly engaged in battles. Battle against Satan, corruption, sinful practices, trials, temptations, occultism, secret societies and worldly influences.
There are many weapons that are provided for a Christian child to overcome and defeat the enemy. They include:
(i) Righteousness (Ephesians 6:11,13.
(ii) Truth (Ephesians 6:14).
(iii) Shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16).
(iv) Sword of the Spirit (Bible) (Ephesians 6:17).
(v) Helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:17).
(vi) Preaching of the gospel (Ephesians 6:15).
(vii) Prayer and watchfulness (Ephesians 6:18).
All these weapons are part of the whole Armour of God to overcome all the evil works of the devil.
Sinful children cannot overcome in the battles of life.
To be able to use the whole Armour of God and overcome you must first take the steps to salvation:
a) Know that you are a sinner.
b) Confess your sins to Jesus.
c) Ask Jesus to forgive you.
d) Believe that God has forgiven you.
e) Invite Jesus into your heart, to be your Saviour and best Friend.
You will then be victorious in the battles of life as you continue to follow Jesus.
QUESTIONS:
- The children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua conquered many nations like _________ _____________________
and ________________ - The enemy nations __ together to fight Israel.
- Joshua and his army were able to defeat the enemy nations by being _____ and determined.
- The complete armour needed to overcome in the battles of life are ____, ____ and __
- What must a sinful child do to overcome in the battles of life?
MEMORY VERSE: “And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.” (Joshua 10:42)
LESSON: There is victory for everyone who fights on the Lord’s side.
THOUGHT: I will trust in the Lord and follow Him till the end so as to be victorious.
ACTIVITY: Read the following Bible passages. Write out the names of the kings that were defeated, their offences and their punishment.
(i) Exodus 14:8,27.
(ii) 1 Samuel 31:1-6
(iii) Acts 12:20-23.
(iv) Daniel 5:25-31
CONGREGATIONAL SONG GHS: 16 – IF GOD BE FOR US
CHORUSES:
(1) Jesus conquered the world and gave us victory.
(2) I am in the Lord’s army, Yes Sir.
(3) I am a soldier in the army.
HOMEWORK: Be watchful and pray for grace to have victory in every battle of life.
BIBLE WORD SEARCH
Find the meaning of these words. You can use your dictionary:
1. Conquest
2. Nation
3. Alliance
4. Armour
5. Conspiracy.
