Analyzing Labor Education in the Historical Books: Applying the Bible to Practical Labor: The Education of Labor in the Bible

By Bible Sermons

This book serves as a guide for those who want to go deeper into the Scriptures. It contains practical and encouraging biblical principles that will make your work life a concrete work directed by divine wisdom, shown through the Historical Books (from the book of Joshua to the book of Esther) of the Bible. You will be empowered with wise lessons on faith, justice, hardship, spiritual restoration and Christian work ethics. These truths are derived directly from the ancient historical books included in the 66 canonical books as part of a series. The contents help to stimulate true effort and appreciation for our own work as believers characterized by: personal discipline, constancy and circumcision of the heart. By applying this profound insight fueled by God's Word you will be able to develop your work skills without neglecting your spiritual relationship with Him.
 An incredible tool of wisdom for Christians and non-Christians alike!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seminit Publications
• Release date: Mar 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215202487

Bible Sermons

This bible study series is perfect for Christians of any level, from children to youth to adults. It provides an engaging and interactive way to learn the Bible, with activities and discussion topics that will help deepen your understanding of scripture and strengthen your faith. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Christian, this series will help you grow in your knowledge of the Bible and strengthen your relationship with God. Led by brothers with exemplary testimonies and extensive knowledge of scripture, who congregate in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world.

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Introduction to Joshua and Judges

The books of Joshua and Judges tell the story of ancient Israel taking possession of the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 15:18-21; 28:13) and of the formation of tribal confederations there.... The overall theme of the book is that when God's people obey His commandments and His guidance, the work goes well and they experience peace and joy. However, when they do as they please and believe they are the supreme authority, poverty, conflict and all kinds of evil will bring them sorrow and pain.

The function of the God-appointed leaders, prophets, armies, and the entire people of Israel was to conquer, settle, and govern a territory. Although there is a great deal of evidence that these books contribute to the understanding of the work from a biblical perspective, additional effort is needed to discover how the work seen in Joshua and Judges relates to our current work situations (remember that we are not considering the modern nation-state of Israel, nor its neighbors, which is a topic that is not in the focus of our research).

However, if we look closely, we can see that certain events in the text emerge with insights applicable to the issues at hand, including leadership and management development, the relevant commitment to hard work, God's guidance for us to achieve our goals, conflict and related resources, the tension between moving forward to achieve success and serving others, God's direction for our work, and the constant risk of turning our work into an idol. The events in Joshua and Judges provide us with examples of how to resolve conflict in the workplace, motivate employees, deal with the challenges of choosing a position, and plan new leaders to replace existing ones, both good and bad examples. They leave their positions. The characters we meet in the book demonstrate the extraordinary courage of female leadership, the economic impact of war and the complicity of authorities in the mistreatment of the most vulnerable at work.

The main narrative thread of the books of Joshua and Judges is that although God's chosen people repeatedly rebelled, decided to serve other gods and forgot the covenant with God, the Lord was always ready to respond to their crisis and fulfill the promise. Only when they no longer wanted even God's blessing, they descended into misery and social destruction. It is also a particularly modern message. We often turn away from God when we decide how to handle the opportunities and challenges that arise at work. We discovered that we had put other issues before receiving his love and loving and serving him through our work. The message of Joshua and Judges is that, here and now, God is ready for us to return to Him and receive His blessings in our life and work.

We will organize our study of these books around four main themes that correspond more or less to the course of the narrative: Conquest, Coordination, Pact and Chaos.

The Triumph of the Takeover (Joshua 1-12)

In the book of Joshua , God first reaffirms the Promised Land and God's presence to Joshua.

My servant Moses is dead; arise now, you and all this people, and cross over the Jordan into the land which I gave to the children of Israel. I have given you all the places where the sole of your foot has trodden, as I said to Moses: From the wilderness and this Lebanon to the great river Euphrates, from all the lands of the Hittites to the sea to the going down of the sun shall be your territory. All the days of your life no one shall be able to stand before you. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:2-5).

Joshua, the land and the presence of God are highlighted, as we will see in the following sections.

Who is Joshua (Joshua 1)

Joshua was the successor to Moses and replaced the leader of Israel. While he was not a king, he foreshadowed in some ways the kings who ruled Israel in later centuries. He led the nation into battle, acted as judge when necessary, and worked to get the people to obey the commandments of God's covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai.

In modern terms, we might say that the transition from Moses to Joshua exemplifies good succession planning. Under God's guidance, Moses appointed Joshua as a leader who matched Moses' own character of faithfulness to God. He is described as a brave and wise man, strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6-7), knowledgeable and obedient to God's law (Joshua 1:8-9), and above all, a spiritual man. Ultimately, the basis of Joshua's leadership was not his own strength, not even the teachings of Moses, but the guidance and power of God. God promises, Wherever you go, the Lord your God will be with you (Joshua 1:9) (For more on Joshua's preparations to succeed Moses, see Succession Planning in Numbers 27:12-23).

Perhaps the most important characteristic of Joshua, who can serve as a model for today's leaders, is his desire to continue to grow in virtue throughout his life. Unlike Samson, who seemed to fall into childish stubbornness, Joshua grew from a reckless youth (Numbers 14:6-10) to a military commander (Joshua 6:1-21), the nation's supreme administrator (Joshua 20), and finally became a visionary prophet (Joshua 24). He was more than willing to undergo long-term training with Moses and learn from those with more experience than he (Numbers 27:18-23; Deuteronomy 3:28). He was not afraid to call the shots when he acted, but continued to share leadership on a team that included Eleazar the priest and the elders of the twelve tribes (e.g., Joshua 19:51). He never seemed to turn down any opportunity to improve his character or benefit from the wisdom of others.

Concerning the Land (Joshua 2-12)

Throughout the books of Joshua and Judges, this land is so important that it is almost a feature in itself: the land rested ( Judges 3:11, 30 , etc. ). The main content of the book of Joshua is that the Israelites conquered the land that God had promised to their ancestors ( Joshua 2:24 , beginning with 1:6 ). This land was the central setting for the events between God and Israel and was part of God's promises to the nation of Israel. The Mosaic law itself is closely related to the land. If Israel were not in the land, many of the main provisions of the law would be meaningless, and the main punishment under the covenant would be expulsion from the land.

I will destroy the land and terrify the enemies who live in it. But you I will scatter among the nations, and will hunt you with the sword, and your land shall be desolate, and your cities shall be desolate (Leviticus 26:32-33).

The earth, the ground beneath our feet, is where we exist. God's promises to his people are not immaterial abstractions, but concrete places where his will is fulfilled and in his presence. This is where we find God and where we can continue his work. Creation can be a place where good and evil coexist. We must do good in creation and in the culture in which we live. Joshua was given the task of sanctifying the land of Canaan by fulfilling his covenant with God there, and we also have the task of sanctifying our workplaces by working in accordance with God's covenant.

Tilling the land (Joshua 5)

Clearly, the land was fertile by ancient Near Eastern standards, but the blessings of the land went beyond a pleasant climate, abundant water and other natural benefits from the hand of their Creator. Israel would also inherit the infrastructure developed by the Canaanites. And I give you the waste land and the unbuilt cities in which you dwell; vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant, but which you eat ( Joshua 24:13, Deuteronomy 6:10-11 ). Even the famous description of the land flowing with milk and honey ( Joshua 5:6, cf. Exodus 3:8 ) assumes certain livestock management and beekeeping practices.

Therefore, land and labor have an indissoluble link. Productivity comes not only from our capacity or hard work, but also from the resources we have. On the other hand, the land itself is not worked. We have to sweat to get our bread (Genesis 3:19). This is clearly stated in Joshua 5:11-12. "And on the day after the Passover, that same day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and roasted grain. And the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten of the produce of the land, and the children of Israel had no more manna, but ate of the produce of the land of Canaan during that year."

The Israelites survived the desert drift thanks to God's gift of manna, but God did not design this solution to be a permanent supply. The land must be cultivated. Sufficient resources and productive labor are essential elements of the Promised Land. This point may seem obvious, but it is reasonable to mention it. While God may sometimes miraculously provide for our material needs, the rule is that we support ourselves with the fruits of our labor.

The Conquest of the Land (Joshua 6-12)

The fact that Israel's productive economy was based on the dispossession of the land of the Canaanites raises some uncomfortable questions. Does God approve (or condone) conquest as a way for a nation to acquire its land? Does God condone racial wars? Were the ancient Israelites more deserving of this land than the Canaanites? A full theological analysis of conquest is beyond the scope of this article. While we do not wish to answer many of the questions that arise, please note the following:

God decided to reveal Himself to His people during a time of turmoil in the ancient Near East, where the armies arrayed against Israel were huge and fierce.

The work of military conquest is certainly the most prominent in the book of Joshua, but it is not presented as a model for any later work. In Joshua and Judges we find aspects of work or leadership that apply today, but dispossessing people of their land is not one of them.

The command to dispossess the Canaanites (Joshua 1:1-5) was directed at ancient Israel and does not indicate a general arrangement of God's commandments for Israel or any other population group.

The reason for the perdition of the Canaanites was their recognized vice. The Canaanites were known for child sacrifice, divination, sorcery and witchcraft, practices which God does not tolerate, and which He chooses to bless the world (Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Idolatry must be eradicated from the face of the earth so that the world may have the opportunity to see the true nature of the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth.

Repentant Canaanites like Rahab (Josh. 2:1-21; 6:22-26) were spared; in fact, the assumption of the mass destruction of the Canaanites was never fully realized (see below).

In turn, the Israelites committed many of the evil deeds of the Canaanites. This answers the question of whether Israel is more deserving of the land. Like the Canaanites, the Israelites were also displaced by the conquest of others, which the Bible also attributes to the hand of God.