LESSONS OF FAITH FROM JOSHUA
Lesson 10 : The True Joshua

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10.7 Questions
Reflection and Application – The True Joshua and our personal journey of faith

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Introduction

The final section of this lesson invites us to reflect on what we have studied and to make it personal. The story of Joshua is more than a report about conquest and warfare. In it we recognize a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, who in a far greater way opens the true promised land — eternal life in the presence of God.

In this Sabbath School we ask:
How can typology help us understand Christ more deeply?
What does spiritual warfare mean in today’s world?
How can we draw hope from the promise of a better land?

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Answers to the Questions

1. How does biblical typology help you better understand the work of Jesus Christ for you?

Answer:
Typology opens a deeper view of God’s plan of salvation. It shows that Jesus does not simply appear in isolation in the New Testament, but that His work is prepared throughout the entire Bible. When we see Joshua as a type, we understand:

• Jesus is the greater Joshua, who does not merely defeat external enemies, but sin and death.

• He does not lead us only into a geographical land, but into spiritual rest and the eternal inheritance.

• Just as Joshua preserved the law and led the people in faithfulness, Jesus guides us in truth and grace.

Typology deepens our trust: God had a plan — from the very beginning.

2. In what ways is our spiritual struggle similar to the conquest of Canaan, and in what ways is it different?

Answer:
Similarities:

• Both battles require obedience, courage, and faith.

• In both cases God stands beside us as leader and source of strength.

• It is about taking hold of a promised inheritance that is not automatic but received through faithfulness.

Differences:

• Joshua’s battle was physical, against nations and cities. Our battle is spiritual — against sin, temptation, doubt, and the powers of darkness (Eph. 6:12).

• Joshua had a sword — we have the Word of God as the sword of the Spirit.

• Our victory is not shown through possession of land but through a changed life.

3. Consider the ultimate fulfillment of the Joshua typology. How does the picture of a world without pain, suffering, and death give us real hope in the daily challenges of life?

Answer:
The look toward the “promised land” of Revelation 21 comforts us:

• No tears, no suffering, no death — this is not wishful thinking, but God’s promise.

• In the midst of sickness, loss, and despair we can say: “This is not the end.”

• The daily struggle becomes lighter when we know that Jesus, the true Joshua, will bring us safely to the goal.

• We live from hope, not from fear.

4. Joshua reflected God’s character in such a way that he anticipated the ministry of Christ. How can you very concretely give Jesus more room to reflect His character more fully in you?

Answer:

• Through time with Jesus: in Scripture, in prayer, and by listening to the Holy Spirit.

• By not fighting our battles alone, but consciously accepting Him as leader.

• By contemplating His character (2 Cor. 3:18): humility, faithfulness, willingness to sacrifice.

• By choosing His way in the small daily decisions — instead of the easy or convenient one.

• By living intentionally as a bearer of light in family, church, and work.

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Spiritual Principles

1. Jesus is the true Joshua — through Him we enter the eternal inheritance.

2. Spiritual warfare is real, but we never fight alone.

3. The Bible is one unified testimony of God’s plan — from Moses to Revelation.

4. Hope is not a feeling, but a spiritual reality.

5. Transformation happens by beholding Jesus, not by effort.

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Life Application

• Read the Bible daily and ask: What does this text show me about Christ?

• Move closer to your “Canaan” today — through a step of faith or obedience.

• Do not fight temptation alone — ask for the armor of God.

• Encourage others with this promise: “Your inheritance is secure — your leader is faithful.”

• Live daily as someone who already rests in grace.

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Conclusion

Joshua was a servant of God — faithful, courageous, obedient. But he was only a shadow. Jesus Christ is the light.
He not only showed the way — He is the way. In Him we have access to an inheritance that never fades.
Every trial, every decision, every battle is redefined by His presence: “Be strong and courageous, for I am with you.”

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Thought of the Day

“The battle is not over — but the victory is certain. For Christ goes before you.”

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Illustration

The Call Beyond the Wall
When faith breaks through — a story of struggle, calling, and inheritance

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Chapter 1 – The Wall

Lucas was 27. An engineer, rational, efficient — but empty inside. He lived in Berlin, had a good career, a neat apartment — and a panic-ridden hidden doubt: “Is this all there is?”

God had been only a childhood memory. The Bible? A thick, foreign book. But lately he began having dreams — an endless land, golden wheat fields … and a wall. Always the wall.

One evening he found a Bible reading plan in an app: “The True Joshua.” He clicked — out of curiosity. And read:
“How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” (Joshua 18:3)
Something hit him. Deeply.

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Chapter 2 – The Call

In the days that followed, Lucas kept reading. He learned about Joshua, who led Israel into the promised land — not by his own strength, but by trusting God.
The picture became clearer: the wall in his dreams was not outside — it was inside.

He began to pray. Haltingly. Awkwardly. But in the silence he sensed something: a gentle, insistent call.

One sentence burned in his mind:
“Lucas, you are living before the border — not in your inheritance.”

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Chapter 3 – The Battle Begins

Daily life suddenly became a battlefield. Lucas struggled with:

• Old guilt resurfacing

• Temptations pressing in

• Thoughts like: “You’re not worthy. You can’t do it.”

But then he read Ephesians 6:
“Put on the full armor of God …”

He wrote verses on sticky notes, placed them around his apartment. He started praying daily. It wasn’t easy — but it was real.

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Chapter 4 – New Vision

One morning he saw Berlin differently: not as a gray city, but as a place full of people standing before walls, just like him.
He realized: Christ didn’t come only for “his personal peace” — but for an entire world.

He began serving in his church. A youth group. Conversations with doubters. Someone soon asked him:
“How did you start believing?”
He smiled: “With Joshua. And a wall.”

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Chapter 5 – Breakthrough

The dreams stopped — not because the wall vanished, but because Lucas walked through it.
He no longer lived in fear, but in calling.
Not before the land — but within it.

One Friday night he preached for the first time — nervous, sweating, but honest. He told of Joshua, of Jesus — and of himself.

At the end, an old man whispered to him:
“I stood before the wall all my life. Today I stepped over it.”

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Closing Thoughts on the Story

Lucas’ journey is our journey.
Many Christians, like Israel, stand at the border to their inheritance — but hold back because of fear, doubt, or comfort.
But the true Joshua — Jesus Christ — calls us onward.
He fights with us. He leads us.
He gives not just new land, but a new heart.

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Conclusion and Spiritual Application

• Even if you think you’re not ready — God is.

• Your “promised land” is not a location, but a new reality in Christ.

• Fight with spiritual weapons — God’s Word, prayer, truth.

• Hear the call: “How long will you wait?”

• Step forward in trust — the wall falls when you move.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%8c%b1living-faith-10-the-true-joshua-10-7-questions-%f0%9f%97%ba%ef%b8%8f-lessons-of-faith-from-joshua/

6 december 2025

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BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Daily Bible Reading

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Ruth 2 – Grace in the Unknown Field
When God opens doors in everyday life

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Read online here

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Introduction

It begins quietly. No voices from heaven, no angel, no dream, no prophet. Just a young woman who gets up early in the morning, an older mother-in-law who remains silent, and a field somewhere on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Nothing about it seems holy — and yet right in the middle of a dusty path begins a story of divine providence that still moves hearts centuries later.

Ruth is not looking for miracles. She is simply looking for a few ears of grain so that she and Naomi can survive. But when she bends down to gather the stalks, God bends down at the same time to direct her path.

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Commentary

Picture the scene:

The sun is still low. The morning mist hangs over the fields. Ruth wraps her shawl tightly, her fingers are cold, but her gaze is steady. “Let me go to the field,” she says to Naomi. No big promise, no plan — just a simple request that sounds like a prayer: Maybe I will find favor.

She knows no one. She has no name in this town, no story that counts, no family protection. She is a Moabite, a foreigner, a widow. In Israel that means: you are the last in line, if anyone notices you at all.

But there is this field. No voice telling her, “This is the right place.” No lights, no signs. She simply goes, following the sound of the sickles and the rhythm of the harvesters. Dust rises. Men call to one another. Kernels fall heavy to the ground.

And then Boaz comes.

He does not come with pride but with a blessing: “The Lord be with you!” The workers answer: “The Lord bless you!” — and suddenly it is clear: a different spirit rules here. Someone works here who knows God not just as religion, but as presence.

Boaz does not look past Ruth. He asks, “Whose young woman is this?” She is just one face among the sheaves, but something about her stands out: humility, diligence, loyalty — a heart that does not demand but receives.

Boaz listens, hears the story of how she left her country, her family, her security — so that an old woman would not be left alone. There is something in her life that is bigger than origin.

“Stay on my field,” he finally says. “I have instructed my men not to bother you. And when you are thirsty, go to the jars and drink from what the servants have drawn.”

Ruth trembles. She bows low. “Why have I found favor in your eyes? I am a foreigner.”

Boaz knows why. Because God recognizes faith in strangers. Because God rewards loyalty even when no one else sees it. Because grace paves the way before it is earned.

At midday Boaz calls her to eat. Bread. A piece to dip in vinegar. Roasted grain. Not a feast, just simple food — but enough for Ruth to be satisfied and to have leftovers. Then he gives a quiet order to his workers: “Leave some stalks on purpose. Do not shame her. Let her gather.”

Ruth knows nothing of these conversations. She keeps collecting until sunset. Her hands are tired, her back aches, but when she beats out what she has gathered, it is an ephah of barley — nearly 20 kilograms. More than enough for two women. More than enough for a future.

When she returns home, Naomi sees the grain — and her eyes widen. “Blessed be he by the Lord, who has not stopped showing kindness to the living and the dead.”

Finally, a name appears: Boaz.

A man. A relative. A redeemer. A carrier of hope hidden in dust, grain, and a simple meal.

In complete silence God begins a story that starts in Bethlehem — and will end many generations later in Bethlehem, in a stable, where another kind of grain would grow: the Bread of Life.

All through a woman who simply got up, went, and gathered.

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Summary

• Ruth seeks work, not pity.

• God “by chance” leads her to Boaz’s field.

• Boaz sees her character and blesses her with protection, water, food, and extra sheaves.

• Ruth works faithfully until evening.

• Naomi recognizes God’s hand behind it.

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Message for us today

God works in the everyday, not only in the supernatural.
Not every leading is a vision — sometimes it is a field, an opportunity, a kind word.

Grace expresses itself practically.
Not in theories, but in bread, water, safety, and respect.

Faithfulness attracts divine provision.
Ruth did what she could — God did what she could not.

“Coincidence” is God’s hidden path.
What we do not plan, God arranges.

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Thought to ponder

What “fields” exist in my life today where God wants to bless me — but I must go there before I discover them?

Maybe it is a phone call.
Maybe a task that seems insignificant.
Maybe a person you are supposed to meet today.

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4 – 6 December 2025

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BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Weekly Reading – Spirit of Prophecy

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Ellen White | Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 46
The Blessings and the Curses | When walls break before faith

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Read online here

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Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%93%9cbelieve-his-prophets-06-12-2025-%f0%9f%8c%beruth-chapter-2-grace-in-the-unknown-field/

6 December 2025

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Daniel – Strong in Faith. Faithful in the Fire
Devotions from the life of a young man of conviction

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7. Lions’ Den & Loyalty of Faith – When God matters more than your safety
Why real faith does not wait for guaranteed outcomes

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Daily Verse

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths.”
– Daniel 6:23

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Introduction: When faith has no guarantees

We often want faith to be like a rescue rope: firm in the hand, with a clear assurance that it will hold before we step out. But real faith works differently. It does not begin with certainty, but with trust.

Daniel had no earthly guarantee. He did not know if God would intervene. He only knew that unfaithfulness was not an option. And in that lay his strength.

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Devotional – The night of decision

The story does not begin in the pit but in a palace full of politics, power, and suspicion.

Daniel had grown old — a man whose surroundings changed several times, but whose character remained. Persia was now in power, and King Darius quickly recognized that Daniel was exceptional. Wise. Incorruptible. Loyal. So he promoted him to one of the highest officials in the kingdom.

Exactly that became his problem.

Other men at court — princes, administrators, strategists of the state — watched Daniel. Not because they valued his wisdom, but because they feared his integrity. People who play political games feel threatened by someone who doesn’t.

They searched his past, his decisions, his administrative records. They looked for corruption, a mistake, a flaw in the system. But they found nothing.

“We will find nothing against Daniel — except in his faith.”

So they made a plan. Not an attack on a weakness, but on a strength. They did not wait for a mistake — they created one.

With flattering words they convinced the king to sign a decree that forbade all prayers for 30 days except to Darius himself. In the kingdom it stood: The king’s signature could not be revoked — not even by the king.

Daniel heard about it. There was no misunderstanding. No hidden clause. He knew exactly that the law had one purpose: him.

He stood at his window. The city below him was loud, but inside he was calm. The law had changed the rules — but not his heart.

He could have closed the curtain. No one would have blamed him if he waited a few days. He could have said, “God sees my heart, that’s enough.”

But Daniel did not live for excuses.
He lived for faithfulness.

As on every other day, he opened the window. The light came in. He knelt. And he prayed.

Not loudly. Not provocatively. Simply faithfully.

That alone was enough to accuse him. He was arrested, brought before the king. Darius immediately recognized the trap, but he could not undo the law. The scheme was set up so that the king trapped himself.

During the night before Daniel was to be thrown into the lions’ den, the palace changed. The king could not sleep. No musician could soothe him. No food could comfort him. He knew: he was losing the only man at court he could truly trust.

The next morning Daniel was brought to the pit. The soldiers rolled the stone away. Below was darkness. Movement. The dry breath of the animals.

It was not a symbolic place.
It was unprotected, dangerous, final.

Daniel said nothing grand. He made no dramatic prayer, no farewell speech. He was lowered into the pit, and the deed was done without spectacle.

The stone was rolled back. The night began.

For Daniel it was long.
For the king it was endless.

But in the silence of the pit, something happened that no one expected.
An angel.

What should have killed became still. The lions lay there as if suddenly tamed. The floor of the pit was still cold, but the danger stopped being a threat.

At first light the king ran himself to the pit. He called out with an uncertain voice:

“Daniel, has your God, whom you serve so faithfully, been able to save you?”

A pause. Then came the answer. No fear. No panic.

“My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths.”

Daniel was lifted up and stood again in the light.
No scratch on him. Not a hair harmed.
The night had not destroyed him.
Faithfulness had won.

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What does this mean for us?

Faith does not first ask, “How will it end?”
Faith asks, “What is right?”

Daniel knew that God can save. But even more important: he believed that God’s will is better than his own need for safety — whether rescue comes or not.

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What we can learn from Daniel

• Courage means taking the next step without knowing the ending.
• Public faithfulness grows from private faithfulness.
• The “pit moments” in life reveal whom we truly trust.
• Safety is not always God’s goal — closeness is.

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Practical steps for today

1. Consider where you are refusing to let God control the outcome.

2. Pray today, intentionally and honestly: “Your will, not mine.”

3. Identify your “lions’-den area” — where trust involves real risk.

4. Remember: God’s presence is better than a guarantee.

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Questions to reflect on

• What decision would I make differently if I did not wait for safety?
• What am I afraid of when it comes to trusting God?
• What would be my “open window” today that I must keep open?

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Prayer

Lord,
I want to trust You without first seeing the solution.
Make me faithful in everyday life so I will be strong in the decisive moment.
Help me not to seek safety, but Your closeness.
Be with me in my “pit moments,”
and show me that You are greater than any danger.
Amen.

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Key thought of the day

Faith does not wait for a guarantee —
it steps into the night and trusts that God is already there.

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LumenCorde | Daily light for a living soul.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%e2%9a%93heart-anchor-06-december-2025-7-lions-den-loyalty-of-faith-when-god-matters-more-than-your-safety-%f0%9f%9b%a1%ef%b8%8fdaniel-strong-in-faith-faithful-in/

LESSONS OF FAITH FROM JOSHUA
Lesson 10 : The True Joshua

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10.6 Summary
Jesus – The Greater Joshua and Our Eternal Leader

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Introduction

The story of Joshua does not end with the conquest of Canaan. It points beyond itself — to someone greater, to the true leader of God’s people: Jesus Christ. The Bible describes Joshua as a type, a foreshadowing of the Messiah. In Joshua’s leadership, his battles against Israel’s enemies, and in the distribution of the inheritance, we see a shadow of what Christ has perfectly accomplished for His church and will fully accomplish in the future.

Typology in the Bible is not an accessory; it is an essential way of understanding the grand narrative of God’s salvation history. Jesus is the antitype, the fulfillment of everything the Old Testament promised. This Sabbath School lesson invites us to shift our focus from Joshua to Jesus — and to recognize our own lives as part of this divine story.

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BIBLE STUDY

1. Typology – God’s Method of Revelation

Typology is a divinely inspired foreshadowing: an event, a person, or an object in the Old Testament shown by the Holy Spirit as a preview of a later, deeper fulfillment. The type is like a shadow that points to the real light — the antitype.

Example:

– The Passover lamb (Exodus 12) → Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29)
– David, the suffering king → Christ on the cross
– Joshua conquering land → Christ opening the heavenly inheritance

2. Joshua as Type – Jesus as Fulfillment

Joshua is the leader who brings the people into the promised land. But his mission was not the final fulfillment of God’s plan. Jesus is the better Joshua who conquers sin and death and gives true rest.

Comparison Joshua – Jesus:

– Joshua: outward battles, earthly inheritance, temporary peace
– Jesus: spiritual victories, eternal inheritance, deep inner peace

Hebrews 4:8–9 emphasizes: “If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.” → The true rest is in Christ.

3. The Church’s Battle – Spiritual, Not Fleshly

Today, the church does not fight with swords, but with the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, and the helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6). We are like Israel: saved from Egypt (sin), traveling through the wilderness (life of faith), on our way to the promised land (eternity).

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Spiritual Principles

1. Christ is the center of the Bible — including the Old Testament.

2. Spiritual battle is unavoidable — but Christ is our leader.

3. Faith means following the true Joshua — even when the path is uncomfortable.

4. Our inheritance is heavenly, unfading, and present through grace.

5. Only by looking to Christ are we transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).

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Life Application

– Read the Bible typologically: discover Christ in Old Testament narratives.
– When you feel spiritually weary: remember that Christ wants to lead you into His rest — even now.
– Take up the spiritual armor daily: Scripture, prayer, truth, faith.
– Live in your “inheritance”: you are not poor — you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).
– Talk with others about the hope of heaven — it already begins today.

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Conclusion

Joshua is not just a historical figure — he is a prophetic window into Christ. Jesus is the true Joshua who leads His people not only out of slavery, but into the promised inheritance. While Joshua brought Israel temporary rest, Christ brings eternal rest — beginning in the heart and fulfilled in the new world.

God calls you today not to hesitate, but to receive your inheritance: peace, grace, forgiveness, strength. Follow the true Joshua!

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Thought of the Day

“Christ is not only our Savior — He is our leader, our inheritance, our goal. He is the true Joshua.”

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Illustration

The Threshold
When one step into the new changes everything

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Chapter 1: At the Edge

Lea stood at the window of her small apartment in a big city. Rain rolled down the glass, just like the thoughts rolling through her heart. She was 33, single, professionally successful — at least according to LinkedIn — but inwardly… empty. For months she had felt: “I am not living the life God intended for me.”

She knew the Bible, was active in church, had given her life to Jesus years ago. Yet everything felt like a loop: work. church. exhaustion. inner withdrawal. If she was honest, she felt neither peace nor passion. She was… stuck.

Then she came across Joshua 18:3 in her Bible reading:

“How long will you wait before going in to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, has given you?”

She read the verse five times. It was as if God looked at her and said:

“Lea, you are standing on the threshold. When will you finally go?”

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Chapter 2: Invisible Enemies

Lea began to pray again. No long Bible study, no worship marathon — just honest conversations with God.
“Why do I have no joy? Why do I feel numb? Where is Your strength, Lord?”

During that time she realized: her problem was not external. These were inner strongholds: fear, rejection, disappointment. Lies from her past:

– “You’re not enough.”
– “You’ll fail anyway.”
– “God uses others, not you.”

She remembered a sermon on 2 Corinthians 10:4–5:

“The weapons we fight with are not of the flesh, but powerful through God to demolish strongholds…”

Lea began to understand: her battle was spiritual. And she had not been willing to fight it.

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Chapter 3: Armor

She decided to pray Ephesians 6 every morning — to “put on” the armor of God:

– Belt of truth — “I am in Christ, not in my past.”
– Breastplate of righteousness — “I am loved, not condemned.”
– Shoes of peace — “I will go where He sends me.”
– Shield of faith — “I believe, even when I feel nothing.”
– Helmet of salvation — “I belong to God.”
– Sword of the Spirit — “I fight with the Word.”

It wasn’t a magic ritual. It was a daily step of faith. And slowly… something began to change.

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Chapter 4: The True Joshua

In deep prayer, Lea suddenly saw a picture in her mind: Jesus — not as a baby in a manger, not on the cross — but as a leader. Strong. Calm. Full of authority.

He said nothing. He simply reached out His hand. And she knew: “He is my Joshua. He leads me. I can trust Him.”

She understood: Just as Joshua led God’s people into the promised land, Jesus was leading her into a new life. Not into a different country, but into peace, calling, freedom.

“Jesus, I don’t want to hesitate anymore. I want to go. I trust You.”

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Chapter 5: The First Border

A few days later, Lea sat in a team meeting at work. It was about a morally questionable deal. Before, she would have remained silent — but today… she spoke up. Calmly, but firmly. She asked questions. She talked about integrity. And she knew: this was a step into the land.

That same evening, a colleague wrote to her anonymously:

“Thank you for your courage. I had doubts too. You encouraged me.”

Lea cried. Not because she was right — but because she knew: Jesus had gone with her.

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Chapter 6: The Inheritance

Lea began to get more involved in church. Not out of duty — but with joy. She led a small group for young women. It wasn’t about perfect theology — but about real discipleship.

She learned to pray, fast, and listen with others. And she saw young women freed from lies, fear, and the past. That was the inheritance — the spiritual land.

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Chapter 7: Rest

Six months later, Lea sat at the window again. This time, no rain — but sunrise. She did not pray loudly. She felt quiet. Carried.

The restlessness was gone. Not because she understood everything — but because she trusted.

Jesus had become her Joshua. Not just theologically — but really. In everyday life. In her inner battles. In her future.

She whispered:

“Lord, thank You. I’ve arrived. Not perfectly. But in the land. And I will keep going — with You.”

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Final Thoughts on the Story

Many Christians like Lea stand at the threshold of their inheritance. They are saved — but not free. They believe — but do not live from the fullness Christ gives.

The true Joshua — Jesus — calls you too:

“Do not hesitate. I have given you an inheritance. Come. I fight for you.”

The path is not a stroll. There are battles, decisions, processes. But the rest of God begins with the first step of faith.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%8c%b1living-faith-10-the-true-joshua-10-6-summary-%f0%9f%97%ba%ef%b8%8f-lessons-of-faith-from-joshua/

TEASER – THE BOOK OF RUTH

A story of hope, devotion, and divine providence

In the midst of a dark period in Israel’s history – when the people were marked by confusion, moral decay, and spiritual apathy – a small book shines like a ray of hope: The Book of Ruth.

What at first seems like a minor note in the Old Testament turns out, upon closer look, to be one of the most moving and meaningful narratives in the entire Bible. It is the story of a young woman – a foreigner, a widow, a Moabite – who leaves everything behind to turn to the God of Israel. Her famous words, “Where you go I will go… your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16), stand to this day for radical loyalty and determined faith.

But the Book of Ruth is more than a personal testimony of faith. It is a deep theological statement:

• About God’s hidden guidance, which often becomes visible only in hindsight.

• About the power of relationships shaped by mercy, loyalty, and respect.

• About the role of seemingly insignificant people in the great plan of redemption.

For Ruth’s story does not end with a happy ending just for herself. Her descendants make history – literally. Her great-grandson is King David. And through his line comes the One toward whom the whole Bible points: Jesus Christ.

❝ In Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, in Boaz’s grace toward Ruth, in God’s sovereign action over everything – we encounter the gospel in the Old Testament. ❞

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Why the Book of Ruth is relevant today

• For all who have experienced loss and new beginnings.

• For all who feel foreign or forgotten.

• For all who wonder whether faithfulness and belief still matter in a selfish world.

• For all who want to learn how God writes history – through ordinary people who trust Him.

The message of the Book of Ruth

The Book of Ruth is a shining jewel in the midst of a dark time. It takes place “in the days of the judges” – in an era marked by chaos, apostasy, and confusion. And yet it tells a story of faithfulness, hope, and divine providence.

Ruth is not a judge, not a prophetess, not a queen – but a foreign widow. And yet her story powerfully reveals how God works quietly to accomplish His great plans.

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1. What is the Book of Ruth?

The Book of Ruth is the eighth book of the Bible and belongs to the so-called “Megillot” (festival scrolls).

It takes place during the time of the Judges – between Joshua and Samuel.
It consists of only four chapters, yet is rich in depth and meaning.
The main characters are: Ruth, Naomi, Boaz – and God, who mostly acts in the background.

Main storyline:

• A family flees famine to Moab.

• The father and both sons die – the widow Naomi remains with two Moabite daughters-in-law.

• Ruth decides to return to Israel with Naomi.

• In Bethlehem, a new chapter begins – through loyalty, hard work, and divine guidance.

• Ruth marries Boaz – and becomes part of the royal line from which David and later the Messiah will come.

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2. Main themes and core messages

Faithfulness in crisis
Ruth shows radical devotion:
“Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16)

She leaves her homeland, family, and gods – to follow Naomi and the God of Israel.

Message:
True love shows itself not in words, but in decisions.

God’s quiet providence
No miracles occur in the Book of Ruth – and yet God is felt everywhere.
He leads Ruth to Boaz, opens doors, provides – all in everyday life.

Message:
God often acts invisibly, but He is never absent.

Grace for outsiders
Ruth is a Moabite – and yet God welcomes her. She becomes part of Israel’s story.

Message:
God’s salvation is for all people, regardless of background or past.

The power of decisions
Naomi could have sent Ruth away. Ruth could have chosen the easier path.
Boaz could have ignored his responsibility.
But all of them make courageous, God-honoring choices.

Message:
God’s plan often unfolds through faithful decisions made by ordinary people.

The lineage of the Messiah
The book ends with a genealogy – from Boaz to David.
Ruth – a Moabite widow – becomes part of the royal line that leads to Jesus.

Message:
God uses the small and unexpected to bring about great things.

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3. The spiritual message for today

1. Your background does not limit your calling
Ruth was a foreigner – but God made her a mother of Israel.
No matter where you come from: God can write history with you.

2. God works greatly through everyday faithfulness
Ruth was not famous or powerful – she was simply faithful.
God sees your small steps of devotion.

3. Hope often begins in darkness
The book begins with death, hunger, loneliness – but ends with blessing, love, and life.
God’s ways lead through suffering to redemption.

4. Even in dark times, God writes stories of light
The time of the Judges was spiritually dark – but God was at work.
God does not need ideal circumstances to act.

5. Christ – our Boaz
Boaz is a “redeemer” – a picture of Jesus, our Redeemer, who saves us, honors us, and brings us into His family.
Ruth’s story is part of the gospel.

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4. Key verses

Ruth 1:16 – “Where you go I will go… your God will be my God.”
Ruth 2:12 – “May the Lord repay you for what you have done… under whose wings you have sought refuge.”
Ruth 3:9 – “Spread the corner of your garment over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”
Ruth 4:14 – “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer!”
Ruth 4:17 – “A son has been born to Naomi… he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.”

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Conclusion:

The Book of Ruth is a story of hope in the midst of pain,
an invitation to faithfulness despite loss,
a proof of God’s sovereign grace,
– and a foretaste of the gospel.

Ruth shows:

• That God’s story is greater than our past.

• That grace brings outsiders into God’s family.

• That even everyday decisions are part of divine plans.

In short:
Ruth shows humanity in its loyalty – and God in His providence.

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5 december 2025

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BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Daily Bible Reading

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Ruth 1 – Faithful despite ruins
Ruth’s decision in the valley of loss – how loyalty and faith open new paths

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Read online here

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Introduction

The first chapter of the book of Ruth begins in dark tones: a famine forces a family to flee from the promised land. In Moab, a pagan region, the father dies, then the sons – a bitter widow and two foreign daughters-in-law remain. Yet in the midst of this pain, a decision arises that will touch the salvation history of the world. Ruth’s faithfulness shines like a bright star in the night of human suffering.

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Commentary

In the time of the Judges, an era of unrest and spiritual confusion, a famine also comes over the land of Judah. Elimelech of Bethlehem – from the “house of bread” – leaves with his wife Naomi and their two sons the land God had promised and seeks safety in neighboring Moab. The decision to move to a pagan land brings food in the short term, but long-term sorrow: Elimelech dies, and later his two sons as well, who had married Moabite women.

Naomi is left alone – without husband, without sons, without a future. Once “Naomi” meaning “pleasant,” she now considers herself “Mara” – bitter. Everything seems lost. Yet right here God begins to work in secret.

When Naomi hears that God has visited His people again and there is bread in Bethlehem, she sets out. Her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth, accompany her. But along the way Naomi urges them to turn back: “I cannot offer you a future – I am empty, my life is over.”

Orpah turns back with a heavy heart. But Ruth clings to her. Her words are among the most moving in the Old Testament:
“Where you go, I will go. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth leaves homeland, religion, and family – not out of duty, but out of love and faith. She chooses Naomi – and the God of Israel.

Two women, widowed, wounded, impoverished, arrive in Bethlehem – at the time of the barley harvest. They do not yet know that this is the beginning of a new story. God has set the stage.

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Summary

• Elimelech’s family flees to Moab because of famine – all the men die there.
• Naomi returns to Bethlehem as a bitter widow.
• Ruth, the Moabite daughter-in-law, freely chooses to go with her.
• Her famous statement of loyalty marks a turning point.
• They arrive at the time of the barley harvest – a symbol of new life.

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Message for us today

1. God often works in secret – even in times of suffering.
The famine, the loss of family – everything seems like a chain of disasters. But looking back we see: God was never absent. He leads through darkness.

2. Our decisions in pain shape the future.
Ruth’s decision to remain faithful changes not only her life, but becomes part of God’s saving plan.

3. Loyalty is a sign of genuine faith.
Ruth had no guarantee that a better life waited for her in Bethlehem. But she trusted the God of Israel – her faith is revealed through her loyalty.

4. God invites foreigners to become part of His story.
Ruth, a Moabite woman, becomes the great-grandmother of David. Origin excludes no one – faith and devotion make us children of God.

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Thought to ponder

“Where you go, I will go … your God will be my God.” – Ruth 1:16

Whom or what do you follow when everything collapses?
Are you willing to leave familiar ground to follow God’s call – even when you cannot yet see the destination?
How do you deal with loss – bitter like Naomi or faithful like Ruth?

Today Ruth’s story invites you to trust anew – even if your life does not look hopeful right now. Perhaps your “barley harvest” is just beginning.

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4 – 6 December 2025

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BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS
Weekly Reading – Spirit of Prophecy

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Ellen White | Patriarchs and Prophets – Chapter 46
The Blessings and the Curses | When walls break before faith

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Read online here

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BLOG 2

The Stone with Writing
The law becomes visible, not only heard

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Introduction

God wants not only hearts, He wants remembrance. That is why Israel does not write the law on parchment, but in stone.

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Commentary

After the gathering on the mountains, Joshua called men who carried large stones. They built a monument on Ebal, rough and heavy. No artistic work, no carved figures, just massive stone blocks stronger than any human word.

Then they spread lime over them until the surface became bright like a tablet. And with hands that had known the desert, they wrote the law — word by word, command by command. Not only the tablets from Sinai, but also the words Moses had received and written down.

It was not hidden.
Not in a tent.
Not in the sanctuary.
It stood there, in the middle of the land, visible to every wandering shepherd, to every child, to every foreigner.

This stone spoke:
“This covenant is not secret. It is public. It is lasting.”

Beside it stood an altar — simple, uncut, raw — a sign that reconciliation is not carved by human hands. Sacrifices rose in smoke, and the scent was like a reminder of grace in the midst of law.

Here the gospel stood in the shadow of stone:
Sin deserves curse — but God provides sacrifice.

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Summary

Israel sets up a stone monument with the law and, next to it, an altar for sacrifices on Mount Ebal.

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Message for us today

– God’s word should remain visible, not hidden or forgotten.
– Obedience and grace always stand side by side.

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Thought to ponder

Which truth of God do you need to “write in stone” today so that you won’t forget it?

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%93%9cbelieve-his-prophets-05-12-2025-%f0%9f%8c%beruth-chapter-1-faithful-despite-ruins/