Look, Listen & Live 3: Victory through God

Introduction

Good day. On this track you will hear who succeeded Moses as the leader of Israel. You will also learn how God lead them out of the desert to the land of Canaan and how He helped them to defeat their enemies on the way. Look at the pictures in the brown book and turn to the next picture when you hear this music.

Picture 1: Joshua Fights the Amalekites

Exodus 17:8-13; Matthew 18:19

The people of Israel had no land of their own yet. They roamed (moved about) the desert. But God had promised the land Canaan to them as a dwelling-place (home). God chose a young man called Joshua to be captain (leader) of the Israelite army. This was before Moses, the leader of the Israelites, passed away.

Another people, the Amalekites, came to attack Israel, so Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff (stick) of God in my hands." While Moses held up the staff (stick) of God above his head, Joshua and the Israelites were able to defeat the Amalekites. But Moses' arms grew tired and he could no longer hold them up. Then the Amalekites began to win the battle. So two men held up Moses' arms until evening came, and God helped Joshua defeat the Amalekites.

Picture 2: The Spies with The Fruit of Canaan

Numbers 13:1 - 14:38

When the Israelites came close to Canaan's borders, the Lord commanded Moses to send out men to explore (spy out) the land. Moses sent out twelve leaders, including Joshua and Caleb. After forty days the men returned and gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey (is rich and fertile)! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are very strong and large." Then Caleb silenced the fellow spies and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." But the men said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread a bad report about the land. That night the people wept and grumbled against God's leaders, Moses and Aaron, and against God.

God became angry because they did not trust in Him and He led them back into the desert for 40 years. All the Israelites who did not trust in God, died in the desert.

Picture 3: The People of Israel Cross The River

Joshua 1:1-2 - 3:1-17

After Moses died, God appointed Joshua to be the leader of Israel. Then God said to Joshua: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give them - to the Israelites . . . Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit (receive/take) the land I swore to their forefathers to give them." God promised to be with Joshua and commanded him to obey his (God's) Word. Then God told Joshua exactly what to do. The priests of Israel had a special box called the ark. It contained the laws of God on tablets of stone. God told them to carry the ark into the Jordan river. The river was flooded, but as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water, the river stopped flowing from the one side and dried up to the other side. The priests stood in the middle of the riverbed while all the people crossed over into Canaan on dry land.

God wants to teach you and me that when He asks us to do anything, we must obey Him and trust him to help us to do his will.

Picture 4: The Walls of Jericho

Joshua 5:13 - 7:1

The people of Israel camped in Canaan near a city called Jericho. Then God said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound (give) a long blast on the trumpets, have (let) all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight in."

So Joshua and the people did exactly as God commanded. The walls of Jericho fell down and Israel conquered (took hold of) the city. God told Israel not to take any loot for themselves. But one man called Achan, disobeyed God. We shall tell you about him later.

Picture 5: Israel Flees from Ai

Joshua 7:1-12 - 6:18-19, 24

Near Jericho there was another enemy city called Ai. Joshua had to conquer Ai as well, so he sent men to spy out the city. The spies returned and said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai . . . for only a few men are there (they only have a small army)." So Joshua sent a small army of men to capture Ai. But the men of Ai were too strong for them and defeated the men of Israel. Some Israelites were killed and the rest had to run for their lives. Then Joshua and the elders (leaders) of Israel fell on their faces in distress before the Ark of the Lord. But God said to Joshua, "Stand up. What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated (broken) my covenant (agreement), which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand before their enemies."

The Lord had told the Israelites before that they should devote (put) the silver and gold (from the spoil) to Him (in his house). From this we learn that God must punish those who disobey Him. When we disobey God, we harm ourselves and we can cause much harm to others as well.

Picture 6: The Judgement of Achan

Joshua 7:14-26

Joshua gathered all the people before God. God showed Joshua that it was Achan who had sinned against him (God). Joshua said to Achan, "Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." And Achan said, "It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. When I saw among the things God forbade us to take, a beautiful robe and silver and a bar of gold, I took them and hid them in the ground, inside my tent." A few men found and brought these things to Joshua. Then Achan as well as his family were killed and destroyed with all their possessions, as God had commanded. God turned from his anger and said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered (given) into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land." So Israel obeyed God and was able to defeat Ai.

God sees everything we do. We cannot hide our evil deeds from him. But if we are truly sorry for our sins and confess them to God, he forgives us and cleanses us from (washes away) our sins.

Picture 7: The Sun and The Moon Stand Still

Joshua 10:1-14

The wicked Amorite people of the land of Canaan began to fear Israel. Then the five Amorite kings (leaders) came together to fight against Israel. But God said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand (stand against) you." So Joshua and his army went out to fight those tribes, and they all fled from the Israelites. God also threw great hailstones on the enemies and many were killed. The battle continued all day. Joshua prayed and God caused the sun and the moon to stand still that day until Israel had defeated their enemies. There has never been another day like that when the Lord listened to a man.

Picture 8: Joshua Instructs the People

Joshua 23:1 - 24:31

When Joshua was an old man, he called all the people of Israel together. He reminded them of the great things God had done for them: how He had led their ancestors out of Egypt, how He had cared for them and how He had fought for them. Joshua said to Israel, "Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses (which he had received from God), without turning aside to the right or the left. If you serve and obey God alone, he will drive out the remaining nations before you and you will inherit the whole land of Canaan. But if you serve other gods, you will perish from the good land God has promised you. Decide today, whom you will serve." After that Joshua died.

Picture 9: Deborah Speaks for God

Judges 4:1-9

But after Joshua's death, the people of Israel turned away from God. They worshipped the idols of the Canaanites. So the Canaanites obtained power over Israel and treated them badly, until they called out to the Lord God for help. Deborah was the leader of Israel. The people came to her for advice, and she helped to settle their quarrels. She tried to turn them back to God.

One day she called for Barak. He was the leader of Israel's army. She said to him, "Take 10 000 men to Mount Tabor. Sisera and the army of Canaan will come to fight you. But God will give you victory over him." Barak was afraid. He said to Deborah, 'If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go.' So Deborah said, 'I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honour will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.'"

Picture 10: God Helps Defeat Sisera

Judges 4:10-16

Deborah and Barak led the Israelite army to Mount Tabor. Sisera and the Canaanites went there to fight against Israel. Sisera had 900 chariots made of iron. They were specially made to fight wars with. But those chariots were too heavy for the soft ground of the river-valley where the Israelite army was. As Barak and the Israelite army came forward to attack Sisera, God brought confusion in the ranks of the Canaanite army. Sisera jumped off his chariot and fled on foot. But Barak pursued the Canaanite chariots and killed all the troops by sword; not a man was left. So, with the Lord's help the army of Israel was able to defeat the army of Canaan. Only Sisera escaped.

Picture 11: Jael Kills Sisera

Judges 4:17-23

Sisera fled to the tent of a woman named Jael. Jael was not an Israelite. (Her people were friendly to the Canaanites, but she and her husband had left their own people and no longer lived amongst them.) Jael said to Sisera, ". . . come right in. Do not be afraid." So he went inside to hide in her tent. She gave him milk to drink and covered him with a blanket. Then Sisera went to sleep. Jael took a tent peg and a hammer. She went quietly to Sisera while he slept, and drove the peg right through his head and into the ground.

Soon after that Barak came by, searching for Sisera. Jael called him and said, "Come, . . . I will show you the man you're looking for." There lay Sisera, with his head pinned to the ground.

Picture 12: Israel Celebrates

Judges 5:1-31

It was God who gave Israel power to defeat those Canaanites. Deborah and Barak sang a song to thank God; the people rejoiced with them. They were glad to have a leader like Deborah. She was like a mother to them. They praised Jael too, because she was not afraid of Sisera. God used these two women to save Israel.

God uses those who seem to be weak, to overcome those who are strong. We all have a strong enemy called Satan. To defeat Satan, God sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die on a cross. There He took the punishment for our sin, for yours and mine. Wicked men caused Jesus to be put to death. They thought that He was weak. Do you remember how the Israelites defeated their enemies through God's power? Jesus also defeated Satan, the enemy of all people, when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. Through this He showed that He had overcome the power of sin, death and Satan. And He also set us free from the power of sin in our lives. So today we can still have victory over sin and Satan's power through Jesus. Jesus gives everlasting life to everyone who trusts and obeys Him. Therefore let us sing and be glad and worship only the true God.

Introduction

Look, listen and learn these lessons from the Bible. And remember to turn to the next picture when you hear this music.

Picture 13: Gideon and the Angel of God

Judges 6:1-24

The people of Israel once more disobeyed God and did evil things. So God allowed a people called the Midianites to rule over them for seven years. The Midianites destroyed the crops of the Israelites. Then Israel cried out to God to save them.

One day a man called Gideon was threshing some wheat in a wine press. He was hiding the wheat from the Midianites. The angel of God appeared to Gideon and said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." Gideon replied, "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?" But the Lord encouraged Gideon, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" Gideon knew that his clan was the weakest and that he was the least (important one) in his family. But the angel of God also said to him, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together." Gideon offered some food to the angel. The angel touched the food with his staff (stick). Immediately it burst into flames and the angel disappeared. Then Gideon knew that it was God who had spoken to him.

Picture 14: Gideon Destroys the Idols

Judges 6:25-32

That night God spoke to Gideon once more. "Tear down you father's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the Lord your God on the top of this height." Gideon's family worshipped these idols, Baal and Asherah, of the Canaanites. Gideon was afraid of the people, but he obeyed God. That night he took ten men and they destroyed the idols. The people were angry and wanted to kill Gideon, but his own father protected him and said, "If the idol really is a god, let him defend himself." But nothing happened.

God is greater than any idols made of wood, stone or anything else.

Picture 15: Gideon’s Army Drinks the Water

Judges 7:1-7

Gideon then gathered an army from Israel, because the Midianites came together to fight against Israel.

But God said to Gideon, "You have too many men . . . Anyone who trembles with fear (is afraid) may turn back and go home." Most of Gideon's men went home. God spoke to Gideon again and said, "There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there." So Gideon took his men to the water to drink. Many of the men knelt down and drank the water. Only 300 men lapped the water with their tongues like a dog. Then God said, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands."

Picture 16: Gideon’s Men Surround the Camp of Midian

Judges 7:16-25

So great was the army of the Midianites that it looked like a swarm of locusts on the land. With a vast number of camels they camped in a valley. Gideon only had the 300 men, but God told him exactly what to do. Gideon gave each man a trumpet and an empty jar with a torch (light) inside. They surrounded the Midianite camp in the middle of the night. Then all at once they made a great noise. They blew the trumpets, smashed the jars and cried out, "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon." The Midianites feared for their lives and began to kill each other. They fled from Gideon's men. Gideon sent messengers to call up the rest of the fighting men of Israel. They pursued the Midianites and killed many of them.

Picture 17: Samson Kills a Lion

Judges 13:1 - 14:19

After Gideon died, the Israelites again turned away from God. So God allowed the cruel Philistines to rule over them for 40 years. Then God sent a leader again and gave him power to save Israel. His name was Samson. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, he became very strong. Samson never cut his hair. His long hair was the sign that he belonged to God. That was the secret behind his strength. Samson loved a Philistine woman, so he said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me."

As Samson was on his way to the woman's house, a lion attacked him. Samson was so strong, that he killed the lion with his bare hands. He married the Philistine woman, but she humiliated him in front of the other Philistines. Samson killed 30 Philistines in his anger. Then he went back to his father's house.

Picture 18: Samson and the Foxes in the Wheatfields

Judges 15:1-7

After some time Samson went back to the Philistines to visit his wife, but her father had given her to another man. Samson said, "This time I have a right to get even with the Philistines; I will really harm them." He went out and caught 300 foxes and tied them together in pairs by their tails. Then he tied burning torches to the foxes' tails and let them loose into the wheatfields of the Philistines. All their crops were burned up. The Philistines hated Samson and went to Judah to take him prisoner.

The Israelites in Judah were afraid of the Philistines and bound Samson; they handed him over to the Philistines. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson in power. His bindings fell off. He took the jawbone of an ass and killed 1 000 men.

Picture 19: The Philistines Cut Samson’s Hair

Judges 16:4-22

Samson fell in love with another Philistine woman. Her name was Delilah. She was always trying to find out the secret of Samson's great strength. And at last he told her, "God told my mother and father to set me apart for God's service. If my hair is cut off, I will lose my strength."

One night, when Samson was asleep, Delilah called the Philistines. They cut off his hair. Then God left Samson, and he lost his strength. The Philistines bound Samson; they gouged out his eyes and made him work in the prison. But in the meantime his hair began to grow again.

Picture 20: Samson Destroys the Philistines

Judges 16:23-31

With Samson in prison the Philistines were very happy and their leaders made a sacrifice to their idol. They had the blind Samson brought out of the prison to entertain them. They made fun of him. There was a great crowd of people in the temple as well as 3 000 people on the roof. Samson asked a Philistine servant to let him lean against the pillars that supported the idol temple. Then Samson prayed to God saying, "O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more . . . " Samson pushed with all his strength against the pillars and the temple fell down on top of them all. Samson and all the Philistines in the temple died together. God gave Samson victory over the Philistines. That day of his death, God gave Samson the victory over the Philistines. He killed more Philistines that day than during all of his life.

Picture 21: Jesus Drives Out Evil Spirits

Luke 8:26-39

Many years after Gideon and Samson, Jesus lived in the land of Israel. One day He met a man possessed by many evil spirits. The man fell down before Jesus and said, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!" These spirits knew that Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus commanded the spirits to leave the man. The spirits entered a herd of pigs nearby. The pigs ran over a cliff into the sea below and they all drowned. People began to see that Jesus had power over Satan and evil spirits. Yes, even the spirits had to obey Him. The Word of God teaches us that Jesus has received all power in heaven and on earth. He has the power to drive out evil spirits.

Evil spirits have great powers, but they can be cast out in the Name of Jesus through the power of his Holy Spirit.

Picture 22: Jesus Drives Out Evil Men

Luke 19:45-48, 20:1-2

One day Jesus went into the temple of God in Jerusalem. The people had turned the temple into a market place by selling animals for sacrifices and they were making money for themselves by cheating others. Jesus drove out the traders and the animals. "'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it a den of robbers.'" Every day Jesus taught at the temple. But some Jewish leaders were looking for an opportunity to kill Jesus, because they did not believe in Him.

One day they asked Jesus: "Tell us by what authority you are doing these things . . . Who gave you this authority?"

Picture 23: Jesus Is Alive After Death

Matthew 28:16-20

Those of the Jewish leaders who were Jesus' enemies, used other men to kill him. Soldiers nailed Jesus to a cross of wood. There He died. But on the third day God raised Him from the dead. God gave Jesus power over death. He can never die again. His resurrection from the dead proved that He is the Son of God. Jesus said to his followers, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus has won the victory over sin and death. To all who follow Jesus, God gives his Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps the believer to love God and to obey his Word.

Picture 24: The Soldier for God

Ephesians 6:10-18

Jesus defeated Satan, and He gives us the power to stand against Satan and his evil attacks. But we can only do this if we are prepared for the battle, like the soldier in the picture. He is ready for war. Firstly, we must always speak the truth and live according to God's Word that is true. We must put it on like a belt that surrounds us wherever we go.

We must love others and do what is right before God. Good things that we think, say and do, protect us like a breastplate against evil deeds and words.

We must prepare ourselves to tell others about the good news of peace in Jesus. It is like putting on the footwear of the soldier. It helps us to stand firm against Satan and protects our feet from slipping into his evil ways.

We must believe that Jesus died to set us and all people free from the power of Satan and sin. This is our shield that protects us from Satan. Satan wants to tempt us to sin. He wants to destroy us. The Word of God teaches us that Jesus has saved every believer from the punishment of sin. And believers have passed from death to everlasting life. This knowledge protects every believer's thoughts from doubt, as a helmet protects the head of the soldier. God's Word is the sword of God's Holy Spirit. God's Word is true. Every believer must use the Word of God to destroy the lies of Satan. In all this we must pray to God, listen to his answers and obey his commands. Then we also have part in God's victory over Satan, sin and death forever. Then we shall live with God forever, even when we die. This is the good news that every person must hear.