Maybe God sometimes allows trials to remind us not to stay comfortable in our sin.

<p>Maybe God sometimes allows trials to remind us not to stay comfortable in our sin.</p>

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Hope Channel

InVerse 4th Quarter 2025: The Book of Joshua

Justin Kim

Felecia Lee

Israel Ramos

Joe Reeves

01 Covenant Promises

Coming to you from Silver Spring, Maryland, welcome to Inverse, a Bible-based conversation on life principles, contemporary issues, and thought-provoking perspectives.

Now here's your host, Justin Kim, with Inverse.

Hey everyone, my name is Justin Kim and you're on Inverse.

And we are so happy to be studying the Bible with you and that you're here tuned in with us.

In the studio we got Israel on to my left and got Felicia and Joe on my right.

And we are very excited because we are studying a new book.

And I don't know about you guys, but I like when we study a book of the Bible.

Like it's just getting into the text and we're getting into the narrative.

And sometimes we have topical studies and sometimes we have Bible studies.

We would encourage you to go to inversebible.org and you can study and download and do all the things you can do on the website there.

And you can see all the past topics there.

We're gonna go into the book of Joshua, but before we get into Joshua, we actually go to Genesis, because Genesis gives the background, yeah?

So we'll have a word of prayer and we'll get into Joshua.

And before we do that, any other business we're gonna do?

I'm thinking it was just, okay, no, we'll just go into it.

Our Father in heaven, we thank you for this wonderful opportunity that we have to look into the insights of the life of a great warrior for you, Joshua.

And as we read his life story, we pray that you would help us to find applications that would impact our own lives today.

I know we said we're gonna start in the book of Joshua, but we gotta go to Genesis.

Genesis 15, and then verse 12 to something afterwards.

Now, when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.

Then he said to Abram, that's God, "'Know certainly that your descendants "'will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, "'and will serve them, "'and they will afflict them 400 years.

And also the nation whom they serve, I will judge afterward, they shall come out with great possessions.

Now, as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace.

You shall be buried at a good old age, but in the fourth generation, they shall return here for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.

So Joe, we are looking at Joshua, but we're not going to look at Joshua, look at Abraham.

What is the connection between Abraham and Joshua here?

Well, the story of Joshua is the story of the fulfillment of the promises that were first given to Abraham.

And so you can't really understand the purpose behind Joshua or the motives or the setting unless you understand the promises that were made to Abraham.

So when we begin in Joshua chapter 1, which we will in episode or 2, it's jumping in the middle of the story.

So we need to kind of orient our minds to the promises that were made so that we can understand what happens in the book of Joshua.

Sometimes we try to jump into the middle of it and we don't know what's going on, but it's usually connected to something else.

And when it comes to prophecy, this is 1 of the early, or I know there's early, but 1 of the early prophecies of Genesis that have yet to be finally fulfilled and panned out.

This reminds me sort of like, if you're watching a relay race, and if you start, if you turn on the TV at the time that the anchor is running and everyone is celebrating, but you don't fully understand why everyone is celebrating.

You think, oh, it's just because they won.

But when you look at it from the beginning and the person who had the first leg, like they trip and they fell and then they got up and then it's like, wow, more mind blowing.

So it's like the book of Genesis and the story of Abram is that first leg of the race.

And then Joshua is carrying on the baton.

We read that passage already, but I know there's other passages.

This is a, this episode is called Covenant Promise.

So this word for covenant is a contract between God and Abraham.

And there are some conditions, some clauses, some stipulations, some rewards.

Share with us, let's talk about some of these details of what God had promised to Abraham.

And then what we're looking forward to in Joshua for that to pan out.

It seems that for God's mission on earth, he was looking for 2 things.

He was looking for a family and he was looking for a place.

And he wanted a family and a place that could represent the kingdom of heaven on earth.

And so whenever we see these promises are made to Abraham, this is a core 1 from Genesis 15, but it's repeated in 17 and repeated to his sons later again.

He talks about his descendants being as the stars of the heavens in multitude and about the land.

So it's about the family and it's about a place that God is going to use to do something.

And so he's not a, he's, I guess, how do I, some people make this a literal application and they say, hey, God promised Abraham a family and land.

So then, hey, God's gonna promise me some, a little garden and a wife and some kids, right?

So that's not, there's a disconnect there.

At the end of the day, what's gonna, we trace our, we trace salvation history to Abraham.

So yeah, we trace our heritage to Abraham and what God is trying to do is, he's always been on a mission ever since, you know, we're in Genesis, ever since Genesis chapter 3, His mission has been to save the world, to be able to provide some kind of a means to salvation, to to bring back together the families of heaven, the family of earth, which Satan tried to separate forever.

And Joe was saying that he's because of this he was looking for a means by which to do this.

Abraham was and and and even before Abraham, there were other people.

Noah, does Noah come after Abraham before Abraham, right?

So you have I was like, I had a I had a I had it for a moment there.

Throughout history, you have this, this, lineage going through where God has chosen people to be the, the, the, the recipients of his grace to the world.

Finally, you hit this kind of apex moment with Abraham, where God says it is through you that I'm going to bless all the families of the earth.

And so you have essentially through Abraham, you have the birth of the Jewish nation who are God's people on earth in the Old Testament, who are called to share his gospel to the world In the New Testament, there is a shift.

That shift becomes, you know, you hear in Paul's writings that, you know, you are Abraham's not through birth anymore, but through the faith that he expresses.

And so this continues on in the New Testament.

And so what God is promising us, He's not promising us necessarily lands and wives and children and husband, but He's promising us salvation.

And He's promising us the opportunity to be a part of His family that share salvation with the rest of the world around us.

It's symbolic, Everything that Israel just said, even like with the land, it's supposed to be a reminder to us of the promised land that's really coming.

That is that place where we have with God.

It's not so much this geographical location here on earth.

But every time we read the story of Abraham, it's reminding us of our journey on earth, our trek through the wilderness, our slavery to sin, our freedom, and then finally getting to a place where we're reconciled with God.

So the whole story, it's literal, and at the same time, there's a bigger picture.

Yeah, and while you were talking, I think more than just land and more even than the promised land.

I mean, it's inclusive of all that for sure, but it's a sense of peace and restitution that God is promising, right?

So there's literal land and the literal land is like, finally, when you own this land, this is yours and you can kind of settle down and you can plant and you can kind of experience peace and shalom for the first time.

The promised land, this spiritual heaven we're talking about is, hey, this is where you rest from sin.

Jonathan Walter

02 Lessons in Leadership

Binds our team together is we really like Bible study and not just reading the Bible or just not just pontificating on scripture, but really looking at practical elements and then sharing where we see humor, where we see things that really kind of don't match and finding how it matches throughout all of scripture and applying it to our lives.

And we're so glad that you guys are here.

Whether it's podcast or audio or radio or smoke signal, however you're getting this signal, we really appreciate and we look forward to your comments and suggestions.

Please no insults, but really communicating with you on social media.

We're studying the book of Joshua and you can go to inversebible.org and look at all the Bible study guides, especially in this quarter, we're looking at Joshua.

Last week we looked at the Abrahamic covenant, the promise, yeah?

I think Felicia and Jonathan, or Israel, you were, Jonathan, you were not.

You were fishing in Austria, wherever you were.

And we looked at the foundation of this 400 year prophecy.

And then we're, although we're studying the book of Joshua, we're not gonna get into Joshua just yet, because we're gonna look at the character of Joshua.

And then instead of going to Genesis, we're gonna now go to Exodus.

So we'll have a word of prayer from Felicia, and then Jonathan, if you can read some scripture for us.

Father, we are so grateful that to whatever role you call us to, there is something in the Bible, someone in the Bible that we can relate to.

And when it comes to leadership, we can look to the story of Moses and Joshua and their struggle through this, but most importantly, how you helped them by your spirit.

So as we study the story, as we study the life of Joshua, May we take it and apply it to our own lives and be drawn closer to Jesus.

Let's go to Exodus chapter 17, and then 8 and onwards.

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

And Moses said to Joshua, "'Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek.

"'Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill "'with the rod of God in my hand.' So Joshua did as Moses said to him and fought with Amalek.

And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

And so it was when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed.

And when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

But Moses' hands became heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it.

And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, 1 on 1 side and the other on the other side.

And his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Then the Lord said to Moses, write this for memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

And Moses built an altar and called its name, the Lord is my banner.

For he said, because the Lord has sworn, the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

Hey, can you give us just a really quick recap of last episode?

Because I think that feeds into what we're doing here.

Yeah, so we were talking about how the story of Joshua actually begins with the story of Abraham.

And it's based on a promise that God gave to Abraham that he would bless him, that he would multiply his seed even though he had no children up to that point, and that through him and through his seed or through his family all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

God promised that Abraham would, although Abraham would die in his old age a peaceful death, that his generation, his offspring would ultimately be living in the land of strangers and they would go undergo difficulties for 400 years And then after that prophecy was completed, then they would be able to defeat their enemies.

Yeah, in that 400 year prophecy, I think it'd be cool if you were like alive in the beginning of it, because you're like, you get to, you're like listening to it and you get to be, it's cool if you're part of the end of it, because you're getting to see, but poor those guys who are in the middle, who are like, we don't know when it was made, and we're like in year 200 to year 300, and we're like, Oh man, we're just here in Egypt and then they die.

And then I'm sure they have, the Lord has something special just for them.

The middle guys, it's like the middle children.

But for the last born, you're a Last born Israel, yeah.

I'm mentioning this because we're gonna look at the character of Joshua.

I love the character of Joshua because I just feel like he's, or look at it, but in many ways he was prepared, but also unprepared.

And now he's receiving the mantle and that shifting of the guard from Moses to Joshua.

As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you.

It's just a wonderful promise that in every stage of my life, you know, in every little thing, I'm just like, oh man, can I handle this?

I always go back to Joshua 1 versus 1 through 1, 1 through 8, 1 through 9.

And I'm sure Joshua, even after years of experience, like he still feels unprepared following the footsteps of Moses.

1 of the thing is beautiful cause you mentioned the 400 years and I don't know if this was mentioned in the previous episode, but even though we see when we look at the story of Israel, we see that, you know, there were issues.

They had to kind of relearn some of the ways of God.

But I believe that throughout, and we have seen this all throughout history, God has always had people, families that have kept, been faithful and have kept truth alive, have passed it on by generation and generation.

And Joshua seems to come from a line of family that maybe was faithful all the way through those 400 years.

And so he was prepared to be faithful and become a leader, a young leader, you know, within Israel.

As we know, he was 1 of the few that actually sought a promised land from those who came out of Egypt.

You may not see what in 345, 10 generations from now will happen, but your faithfulness today does impact generations.

Even if there's an unfaithful generation after you, maybe the generation after will see what you as their grandfather, great grandfather did and what stood out, how God used you, your testimony can inspire even long after you're gone.

And so who knows what the faithfulness of those who were in between did.

How it consciously or subconsciously impacted the life of Joshua and others who left you.

Yeah, it's those in betweeners that really kept the promise alive, right?

And I wonder if Caleb was, or not Caleb, but Caleb and Joshua, both of them, when they're 1 of the 2 of the 12 spies, they were like, hey man, like time's up.

Like now it's time to go back and maybe that's where we come to the basis of their curse.

It's not mentioned in scripture, but you gotta kinda have to imagine like the timing is coming to an end.

They're like, hey, you know, like it's not based on our ability, but it's based on the time promise of God.

I wanna go back to the text here because here in Exodus 17, it gives us a 1 little episode, 1 little glimpse of how Joshua was being prepared.

And the relationship between Moses and Joshua.

What is the relationship between what Moses is doing and what Joshua is doing?

And it's not really clear about the relationship, but there is something there.

1 thing that I noticed in the story is you would think that Joshua is the 1 doing the hard work because he's fighting.

Like he has the sword, he's going out to battle.

And Moses tells him, choose us some men and go out and fight.

I'm going to stand on the top of the hill and watch the battle.

So you would think, oh, Joshua is in the thick of it and then Moses is just standing up and looking down.

Sikhu Daco

03 Time of Transition

My name is Justin Kim, and you're on Inverse.

And in the studio, we got Jonathan, we got Joe.

And after a 4 month hiatus, we have Siku with us.

And she's wearing polka dots to celebrate her return.

She was on a short hiatus, and we're glad that she's here for us for this quarter.

And if you wanna look at the first 2 episodes in this quarter, this arc that we're in on the book of Joshua, you wanna go hopetv.org slash inverse and you can watch episodes 1 and 2, kind of the background info on the character of Joshua.

We're studying the book of Joshua, we haven't actually gotten into the book of Joshua yet, but this is the episode, You guys came to the right episode to get into the book.

We're gonna go to Joshua chapter 1, and Siku, you're gonna read scripture for us, but before we ever read scripture, we do wanna make a point to pray.

We just don't do this for formality's sake, but really, This is not a scripted show.

We have no idea what we're doing, and so we have read the text before, right guys?

We read it, we studied it, but we haven't coordinated our conversation, and we really wanna be coordinated by the Holy Spirit.

So, Joe, if you can lead us in prayer and ask for that coordination.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this great privilege to open your word, and as we look at sacred history, we do want to open our hearts and to receive the things that you want to speak into our lives.

You can go to inversebible.org and you can download the Bible study guide entitled Joshua.

The warrior of God, the follower after Moses.

Not the letter of Joshua, because there's no such thing.

We prayed, we're gonna read Joshua chapter 1.

We finally got to the book of Joshua, Verses 1 through, let's do 9, which is, I know I mentioned this in a previous episode, but these 9 verses are just so awesome.

Every time I've shifted in a transition in leadership or a new job or whatever, I always come back to this passage.

And then before preaching, I usually go to Jeremiah 1.

Every time, but in terms of a leadership position, I come to Joshua 1 because I just feel like I understand what Joshua was going through.

Or I mean, you understand what, oh, anyway, Siku read the Bible, hurry up.

Joshua 1, verse 1, after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, Moses, my servant is dead.

Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, the children of Israel.

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given you, as I said to Moses.

From the wilderness and this Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.

No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life.

As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

For to this people, you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you.

Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

So again, we don't do this for the formality of just reading scripture, but I mean, this is foundational.

Like even if we did this on a formality sake, like this is a pretty profound passage.

I usually start off with the question, what do you see here?

But the thing that came out immediately was, what is the connection with Moses and Joshua that we see from this passage?

Most of his name is mentioned quite a many a time.

Name the verse and see what the connection is.

And it's almost as if Moses has 5 books of Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Numbers, what am I?

Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, they've ended.

And now the next book is trying to link with that and now move on to the narrative.

So it's almost trying to, it's hearkening back with Moses, the character.

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Series

InVerse 4th Quarter 2025: The Book of Joshua

12 Destructive Cycles

Transcript

Description

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

Parts

01 Covenant Promises

28m

02 Lessons in Leadership

29m

03 Time of Transition

28m

04 Across the Jordan

28m

05 Jericho

28m

06 Devastating Setback

28m

07 Deadly Deceptions

28m

08 The Day the Sun Stood Still

29m

09 Caleb’s Inheritance

29m

10 A Place of Refuge

28m

11 Recommitment

28m

12 Destructive Cycles

28m

13 Justice and Mercy in the Conquest

29m

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