The Conquest
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with a prayer for the grieving Halverson family and quickly moved into a study of the conquest narratives in Joshua. The teacher reviewed Joshua 7, highlighting Achan’s sin and its communal repercussions, and referenced Joshua 22:20 to show how the whole congregation suffered for one man's iniquity. He then shifted back to the covenant foundation in Genesis 15, emphasizing God’s promise to Abraham and the foretelling of judgment on the Amorites. Using Deuteronomy 9:5, the lesson explained that Israel’s takeover was not due to Israel’s righteousness but as divine judgment and covenant fulfillment. Addressing contemporary objections, the teacher read critiques from Dan Barker, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens, urging believers to confront accusations about the Old Testament’s violence with humility and biblical truth. He compared ancient conquest to modern historical examples like Manifest Destiny, illustrating that while conquest is a human reality, God’s actions in Canaan were purposeful, just, and covenant‑faithful. The session closed with a call to trust God’s holy character and to equip Christians to discuss difficult scriptural topics thoughtfully.
Key Scriptures
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. And behold, dreadful and great darkness fell upon him. Then the Lord said to Abram, Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and will be servants there. And they will be afflicted for 400 years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve. And afterward, they shall come out with great possessions. As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace. You shall be buried in a good old age. And they shall come back here in the fourth generation, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between the pieces. On that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, the land of the Kenites, the Kenesites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Gergesites, and the Jebusites.