January 17, 2008

Today we finished up the book of Joshua. We focused on chapters 12-21, but we kind of cheated. Instead of going through all of these chapters and reading exactly who got which parcel of land for their inheritance, we wrote a big note at the top of chapter 12 (or 13) to go to the maps section and look at map number 3 (or 5 for the older version). There we found a beautiful little map that was all color coded and had all of the inheritances and lands all divided up - it was much more visual and easier to understand. We spent some time looking at some photographs of these areas which are hanging in the classroom. We were able to see the barren wilderness, and imagine how the Israelites must have felt as they entered into the promised land (after 40 years of wandering) as it's fertile valleys were such a stark contrast to where they'd been.

We spent some time looking at the Lord's promises. We discussed when we had last made a promise, and whether or not we kept it. We discussed the promises we make each week as we take the sacrament, and what those promises mean - and whether or not we really keep them. We then looked at the promises the Lord gives the Israelites in Exodus 23:27-30 (if I remember correctly), and then at the promises we see later in Joshua 21 - the very last verses which show the Lord's response to these promises. We then spent time in DC 1:38, and DC 82:10 and scripture chained all of these together. We learned that the Lord DOES keep his promises, but the blessings are contingent upon our own righteousness.

Finally, we ended class with a district competition. The students imagined that they were Joshua - ready to die. They came up with lists of what type of advice they thought that he would/should give the Israelites prior to his death. (These are found in chapters 22-24). The students competed to see which group could come up with the biggest (and most correct list) without using their scriptures. We then checked it against the scriptures.
The Lord will ALWAYS keep his promises - it is up to us to have the faith to trust Him so that He CAN bless us. We will continue to see these promises and Israels' struggle with faithfulness throughout the remainder of the year.

We will have a breakfast scripture chase tomorrow, and pass off Isaiah 1:18.
The reading for next Tuesday is Judges 1-9. There is no class on Monday.