(Joshua 15-18) “God planted?”
Published 7 October 2025
Scroll down for “Lessons Learned…”
Designed for Personal Bible Study or for Bible Teaching
⚠️ Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Mistakes
- 1️⃣ Settling east of the Jordan for ease rather than unity in promise (Josh. 13).
- 2️⃣ Allowing Philistines to remain entrenched in the land, resisting removal (Josh. 15:47).
- 3️⃣ Overlooking God’s scattered plan for Levites, thinking only in terms of territory (Josh. 21).
- 4️⃣ Forgetting adoption—Ephraim and Manasseh treated as less, though God legitimized them (Gen. 48).
- 5️⃣ Failing to see living where God plants as divine assignment (Isa. 61:3).
💥 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Failures
- 1️⃣ Failure of faith—tribes clung to fertile land instead of trusting God’s promise.
- 2️⃣ Failure of courage—Judah unable to drive out the Philistines.
- 3️⃣ Failure of vision—seeing land only as property, not mission field.
- 4️⃣ Failure of unity—tribes separated themselves, weakening national identity.
- 5️⃣ Failure to embody God’s splendor—neglecting their calling as “plantings of the Lord.”
🚫 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Sins
- 1️⃣ Rebellion—ignoring God’s united plan for His people.
- 2️⃣ Pride—choosing comfort over obedience.
- 3️⃣ Idolatry—revering fertile valleys above God’s assignment.
- 4️⃣ Distrust—fearing entrenched enemies more than trusting God’s power.
- 5️⃣ Ingratitude—forgetting that adoption and scattering were God’s gracious gifts.
🏆 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Successes
- 1️⃣ Judah allotted vast land, anchoring Israel’s future strength (Josh. 15).
- 2️⃣ Simeon given land within Judah—God’s provision for smaller tribes (Josh. 19:1–9).
- 3️⃣ Ephraim and Manasseh affirmed as equal heirs by Jacob’s adoption (Gen. 48).
- 4️⃣ Levites scattered by design, ensuring spiritual influence across all Israel (Josh. 21).
- 5️⃣ God’s word fulfilled—tribes planted according to His promise.
🌱 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Spiritual Growth Lessons
- 1️⃣ Live planted—God places His people intentionally (Isa. 61:3).
- 2️⃣ Be scattered purposefully—God’s mission is everywhere, not isolated.
- 3️⃣ Flourish in hardship—like trees by water in drought, remain fruitful (Jer. 17:7–8).
- 4️⃣ Embrace adoption—God grafts outsiders into His family by grace.
- 5️⃣ Display splendor—everywhere we live, reflect His beauty to others.
🧭 Lessons Learned – The 5 Greatest Leadership Principles
- 1️⃣ Leaders complete the work—Joshua pressed on until all tribes had allotments.
- 2️⃣ Leaders honor God’s past—Caleb’s Hebron affirmed faithfulness from years before.
- 3️⃣ Leaders affirm adoption—Ephraim and Manasseh recognized equally.
- 4️⃣ Leaders scatter spiritual influence—Levites empowered to bless across Israel.
- 5️⃣ Leaders remind identity—we are God’s planting, rooted to display His glory.