Moses is gone, and Joshua is now responsible for leading Israel into the land God promised generations earlier.

God's message to Joshua is repeated again and again: “Be strong and courageous.” But Joshua's courage isn't supposed to come from confidence in his own abilities. God promises, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

In Week 7 of The Story, John Gunter follows Israel across the Jordan and into the Promised Land. At Jericho, God gives instructions that make little sense from a human perspective. Israel obeys, and the walls fall. But their next experience at Ai demonstrates that one victory does not mean they can stop listening to God. Faithfulness requires continued obedience.

Years later, Joshua looks back over everything he has experienced and gives God the credit. He reminds Israel that not one of God's good promises has failed.

Then Joshua recounts their story, from Abraham to Egypt, through the wilderness, across the Jordan, and into the land. After remembering everything God has done, he asks Israel to respond:

“Choose this day whom you will serve.”

Joshua's own decision has already been made:

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Our history with God should shape the way we move into the future. When we remember how God has been faithful before, we can courageously trust and obey Him with whatever comes next.

Key Scriptures: Joshua 1:1-9; Joshua 6:1-20; Joshua 8:1-2; Joshua 23:1-14; Joshua 24:1-15

Series: The Story
Week 7: Choose Whom You Will Serve
Speaker: John Gunter

Eagle Community Church of Christ
Mont Belvieu, Texas

Loving God. Loving People. Following Jesus.

Israel has finally reached the edge of the land God promised to Abraham generations earlier.

The spies return with evidence that the land is everything God promised. But they also report fortified cities and powerful inhabitants. Ten spies become convinced that Israel cannot overcome what lies ahead. Joshua and Caleb see the same obstacles, but their confidence comes from somewhere else: “The Lord is with us.”

In Week 6 of The Story, John Gunter explores how fear changed Israel's view of both their circumstances and God's faithfulness. Instead of remembering the God who delivered them from Egypt, brought them through the sea, provided for them in the wilderness, and led them to the land, they focused on what they believed they could accomplish on their own.

Their decision had consequences. Forty years later, a new generation stands ready to enter the land.

Moses' message to them isn't that the road ahead will be easy. It's that they will not travel it alone:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear...for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.”

Fear itself does not mean we have no faith. The question is what we do when fear comes. Will we measure the situation only by what we believe we can handle, or will we remember the God who has been faithful and who goes before us?

The obstacles may be real. But God is with us.

Key Scriptures: Numbers 13:26-33; Numbers 14:1-11; Deuteronomy 8:2-5; Deuteronomy 31:6-8

Series: The Story
Week 6: God Goes Before You
Speaker: John Gunter

Eagle Community Church of Christ
Mont Belvieu, Texas

Loving God. Loving People. Following Jesus.

After more than 400 years in Egypt, Israel is finally free. But God did not rescue His people simply to remove them from slavery.

He tells them at Mount Sinai, “I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.”

In Week 5 of The Story, John Gunter explores what happens as Israel learns to live as God's people. God establishes His covenant with them, calls them His treasured possession and a holy nation, and gives them the Ten Commandments. These commands show Israel what life with God should look like, both in their relationship with Him and in the way they treat one another.

But Israel quickly struggles to remain faithful. While Moses is on the mountain, the people build a golden calf and credit it with the deliverance God Himself accomplished.

Even after their rebellion, God reveals His character to Moses as “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.” Moses pleads for God's presence to remain with Israel, and by the end of Exodus, God's glory fills the tabernacle and He dwells among His people.

Israel's story reminds us that grace and obedience belong together. We do not obey God to earn His rescue. We respond in obedience because of what God has already done for us.

From Eden to the tabernacle and throughout the rest of Scripture, God's desire remains the same: God wants to be with His people.

Key Scriptures: Exodus 19:2-6; Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 32:1-8; Exodus 34:4-9; Exodus 40:34-38

Series: The Story
Week 5: Brought to God
Speaker: John Gunter

Eagle Community Church of Christ
Mont Belvieu, Texas

Loving God. Loving People. Following Jesus.