With just three weeks left, I would have been testing you all on prayers tonight. So guess what I want your families to do? Yup~! Test you on your prayers. :)
With such limited time, and your books still locked away at ICS, I will be posting the bible verses and links to the stories like last week. I know this is getting old. We are tired of learning from home. Parents are tired of teaching from home. We are all struggling, so I hope tonight, you will get a small glimmer of hope that you can hold on to for the next two weeks, until we are done!
Technically, there are 2 units left in our book. Unit 4 is God Leads the Chosen People and Unit 5 is Prophets Prepare the Lord's Way.
Here's what I propose... to finish the book by the end of the year, or, in case you want to continue learning into the summer break, I'll break down each lesson in the unit and give you the information you need to learn the facts. But understanding is different from the facts. And applying the lessons that were taught back then is different from just reading them or watching them. Still... every bit of knowledge helps us grow and helps prepare you for what is coming next year.
Chapter 17: The Period of Judges: When the Israelites turned from God and were attacked by enemies, God saved them through the judges.
History of the Time (information quoted from the teacher's manual)
The book of Judges was written as religious history.
The events in this book span about 200 years, starting with the death of Joshua.
The Israelites did not occupy the Promised Land all at once. There were many tribes. joined in their devotion but each with their own problems.
In the process of changing from a nomadic people, the Israelites adopted many of the customs of their Canaanite neighbors, including their acceptance of the pagan diety Baal. They eventually started to believe that mixing with the Canaanites and their own acts of infidelity, was responsible for their problems with invaders. Banding tribes together helped keep them safe from attackers and may have kept Israelites remain united.
"Certain men and women, impelled by the Spirit of the Lord, rose to defend Israel during times of attack. These were the judges. They were military heroes rather than judicial rles and their influence was within tribes. Although the exploits of the judges show that they were not always good, moral models, the message of the Book of Judges is of God's fidelity and forgiving love."
Scripture Readings: Judges 4, 5 The story of Deborah
Judges 6-8 an obedient judge, Gideon
Judges 13-16 the strongman, Samson
The Book of Ruth Ruth's faithfulness
Sampson:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62pSeKJU4EU&list=PLqrHj2ccYgfh4GReIYsKi7oc-z92c0v8l&index=76&t=0s
Read the four stories or watch the videos. Consider how the stories tie into the historical information I shared above from my teachers manual.
Identify 4-5 traits or qualities that make up a hero/heroine.
Who are today's heroes/heroines?
Do these heroes demonstrate the qualities you thought of?
Now consider yourselves. Are there qualities that you would like to develop in yourself? Spend some time with God this week, asking Him to reveal to you the leadership qualities and hero/heroine qualities that you can develop.
Before closing, say a Hail Mary and one prayer of your choosing.
Until next week,
Mrs. Gagnon
