Category: Joshua

The Lord’s Sovereign Will

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 11

Maybe you know and maybe you don’t, but I’ve been a member of a local Community Bible Study group for the last 7 years. Together we study verse by verse through books of the Bible, meeting weekly to discuss what we learn and listen to some teaching on that week’s lesson. Last week we began studying 1 Samuel.

Our teaching director challenged us this semester to memorize Hannah’s prayer found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

And Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the LORD; my horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.

“There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God. Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble bind on strength. Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.

The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and on them he has set the world.

“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail. The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; against them he will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10 ESV

Working on memorizing Hannah’s prayer has encouraged me to remember God’s sovereignty in both giving life and giving death, in both exalting the poor and breaking the mighty.

Dear friends, God sees the whole BIG picture and He is working. He has purposes that we don’t even know about, but we can trust that His plans are good. If the Lord is hardening someone’s heart, it’s for good, just as much as when he’s softening it.

Heavenly Father, I know that Your ways are higher than mine. I know that You are good and Almighty and nothing happens apart from Your sovereign will. Help me to trust You when things seem bad and out of control. Help me to humbly, joyfully yield my life to Your will. In the name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Lord, I pray. Amen

Fear Not

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 10

In Numbers we read about when the Israelites were afraid to go into the Promised Land because the spies had brought them reports of the people already living there. And, now, in Joshua 10, here it is. They are facing these cities and kingdoms and armies. And it’s scary.

Friends, there are lots of scary things in life. Things like cancer and job loss, hurricanes and forest fires, wayward children and wayward husbands. But there is no situation – no matter how terrifying – that is beyond God’s reach.

There is nothing too hard for our God. There is no person beyond His reach. There is no crisis on earth that God does not hold in the palm of His Almighty hand. Fear not. He is still on His throne.

Heavenly Father, sometimes life here is awfully scary. Like a child imagining what might be hiding under the bed or in the closet, sometimes I let my mind wander to all those unsettling, scary what-ifs. Please, Father, help me to cast all my anxiety on You and trust that You care for me. You care about me, and You take care of me. You are cradling me in the palm of Your Almighty hand, sheltering me under the wings of Your Steadfast, Omniscient Love. You know all things. You are in control of all things. You are wise. You are good. Help me to trust You right now, in this moment, and in all the moments still to come. In the Name of Jesus Christ who triumphed over sin and the grave, I pray. Amen.

Fear Makes You Hide and Deceive

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 9

When Eve was afraid in the garden after she’d eaten the forbidden fruit, she hid from God. (Genesis 3:10)

When Sarah was afraid since she’d laughed at the pronouncement of her upcoming pregnancy, she lied, denying that she’d laughed. (Genesis 18:15)

In today’s passage in Joshua 9, when the Gibeonites heard about what the Israelites had done to the cities of Ai and Jericho, they were afraid, so they concocted an elaborate scheme to deceive Joshua, insisting that they had come from a very distant country rather than from a nearby land.

Have you ever been confronted with something you’re ashamed of or embarrassed about? Maybe it was something as small as how much you weigh or how much you spent at the grocery store that day or how many cookies you ate from that enormous platter of cookies that was sitting out on the counter tempting you all day? Maybe it was something bigger like you’ve been caught speeding or cheating on your taxes or stealing something from work?

When you find yourself in one of those situations, are you tempted to lie? To bend the truth? To cover up or hide what really happened?

Do you say you weigh five pounds less than you really do or you only ate two cookies when you know you perfectly well that you ate four?

Do you say you didn’t see the speed limit sign, even though you knew what the speed limit was because you drive that street every day?

Oftentimes our gut reaction to even the tiniest fear of embarrassment or shame will be to lie, hide, and deceive, even though deep inside we know we should come clean and tell the truth.

Let me encourage you, friend. Make your fear of God greater than your fear of man. Fear bringing shame to His name more than you fear bringing shame on your own. Remind yourself that God knows what is true and you can’t hide from Him.

One little deception begets more deceit. That first lie will lead you down a path you don’t want to go down.

I wonder, has the Lord brought something to your mind as you’ve been reading this that you feel guilty about? Something you’ve hidden or lied about? Come clean today. Confess right now. God is quick to forgive. He loves a repentant heart.

Heavenly Father, You are the truth. It is impossible for You to lie. But for us fallen women, it’s often easier for us in the moment to lie rather than face the consequences of our actions. Lord, I pray that our fear of disappointing You would be greater than our fear of disappointing someone else. I pray that we would be women of integrity and honor because You are a God of integrity and honor. Forgive us for all the times we’ve taken the shortcut of secrecy rather than keeping carefully on the road of reality. I’m asking You to cleanse me of this sin in the blood of Jesus Christ. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit in me. To the glory of Your Name I pray. Amen.

All God’s Words for All God’s People

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 8

Every person needs every word that the Lord has given to us. Joshua read every word to all the people, and so should we. (Joshua 8:35)

We need the Old Testament as well as the New. We need all the words; those that Moses wrote and those that Jesus spoke; those that David sang and those that Isaiah prophesied; those that Peter spoke simply and that Paul penned eloquently. We need them all.

Men as well as women, children as well as adults, those who are unfamiliar with the scriptures and those who grew up with them, everyone needs God’s Word.

I understand that there is value in making our children’s ministries age appropriate. Children benefit greatly from making crafts and dancing around while singing songs about Joshua and Jericho. But children also need to study the Word as God’s inspired, true, trustworthy Word – not some fairy tale on par with “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” The Bible is more than a series of inspirational stories to teach our kids to be good and kind and helpful, not to lie or cheat or steal. The Bible is the bread of life, even for children.

Additionally, children have an incredible ability to memorize the Word. Would you rather your children memorize “Hop on Pop” and “The Cat in the Hat” or the 23rd Psalm and the Sermon on the Mount?

And let’s not forget that children have been created by God to receive with simple faith the words of their teachers and parents. Children absorb truth (and lies) like thirsty sponges. Would you rather train your children to believe in tooth fairies and boogie monsters or the Holy Trinity?

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 30:5 ESV

Proverbs 30:5 is a great verse for you, your husband, your children, your neighbor, and everyone else to hide in their hearts.

Hold the presses … My daughter (along with my two-year-old granddaughter) just called me, so I got to have a little Grammy break to read “Inside a Barn in the Country” and a story from my old Beginners Bible story book, and sing the Ten Commandments song with hand motions.

Then, my daughter told me about a new podcast for children that she’d found called “God’s Big Story“. I just love how God shows His goodness and sovereignty in His perfect timing. Don’t you?

Have you ever heard of this podcast? Are there other children or family podcasts that you’ve found? I’d love to hear about them.

God Brings Hidden Sin to Light

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 7

The Lord is perfect in His power and wisdom and knowledge. Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing is outside of His control. Who are we to think we can hide from Him? He is so good to bring to light in His sovereign timing the things that are hidden.

Yet, even when things remain hidden, our actions have consequences. We might think that we aren’t hurting anyone in those little secret things we do. The truth is: that’s not true. Our sin impacts those around us, whether they find out about our sin or not. When we pursue – or remain – in sin, it changes our outlook on life. Our words and actions are affected by our inner thoughts and desires.

Little by little, those sinful desires inside us tempt us and lure us away from the Lord’s goodness. In today’s passage in Joshua 7, Achan’s sin began the moment he coveted the spoils of the town of Jericho. This coveting led to breaking God’s command to destroy these items, and that led to even more deceit and disobedience. Achan’s sinful choices led to the death of his children, as well as the defeat of Israel at Ai and the death of 36 of his countrymen.

Don’t believe the words of that lying serpent who says, “No one will ever know. You’re not hurting anybody. It’s no big deal. God is just mean. He is withholding good things from you.”

The truth is: God knows even if no one else ever finds out and your sin stays buried under your tent.

The truth is: You’re hurting yourself, and those around you, when you choose sin over obedience

The truth is: Every sin is a big deal when inspected under the blinding light of God’s holy perfection.

The truth is: God is good, very good, and He wants for Your good. Hidden sin will tear you up inside. It wreaks havoc on your heart, your mind, your family, your community, your church – even if you don’t realize it. And He knows that, so He’s protecting you and your people from it’s harm.

And praise be to God, He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast in love and faithfulness. He is a God of second chances. He wants so much to reconcile you back to Himself that He sent His own Son to die in Your place, that You might be forgiven and set free of your slavery to that sin that’s holding you captive.

1 John 1:6-9 ESV — “If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Acts 3:19-20a ESV — “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Romans 4:7 ESV — “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered;”

Isaiah 1:18 ESV — “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.”

Ephesians 1:7 ESV — “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”

Heavenly Father, You have forgiven me so much. Time and time again I have wandered off the path of holiness and found myself again in the swamp of sin. Thank You for Your unending forgiveness and mercy. Help me to clean out the closets of my soul, to bring into the light things that I’d rather keep hidden, to unearth those hidden things I’ve tried to bury so no one would find out. Make me a peacemaker. Make me an agent of Your peace, an ambassador for Your kingdom, a messenger of reconciliation. May the love of Christ control me – and compel me – to preach the good news in any place, at any time, and to any one. Because, Lord, You are worthy and deserve the worship of all of your Creation. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer and Lord, I pray. Amen.

Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me – City Alight

The Goodness and Sovereignty of God in Bringing Hidden Things to the Light

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 5-6

God is a “that very day” God. He has purpose in His timing. He fed the Israelites with manna until the day after they had the produce of the Promised Land. This kind of perfect timing always encourages my faith in the goodness and sovereignty of God.

God is also a “that very person” God. He has purpose in His people. God didn’t have to choose Rahab the prostitute to deliver the Hebrew spies, but He did. God saw in her something that He wanted to use in His kingdom. This, too, encourages my faith in the goodness and sovereignty of God.

Are you going through something right now that is tearing you up? Something that’s gnawing at your mind and eating you up inside? I am. And the Lord knows it. The Lord sees what is hidden in the dark.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

Psalm 139:1-12 ESV

The Lord knows what is hidden in my heart and your heart, and He knows what is hidden in that other person’s heart, too.

And no creature is hidden
from his sight, but all are naked and
exposed to the eyes of him to whom
we must give account.

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

Have you ever dealt with bedbugs? We did. It was awful. The thing is, though, we didn’t even know it! Those sneaky little things were eating my son alive, but we didn’t even know it.

Then, finally, after weeks of unexplainable bites, I got out my handy-dandy flashlight and peered into the cracks and crevices of my son’s bed frame, and there they were. Every nook and cranny of that blessed thing were full of them. But I didn’t even know it! And if it hadn’t been for the bites covering my son’s body, I’d never know to go looking for them.

Here’s what that taught me: Don’t be mad when evidence finally comes to light. Be thankful that those hidden things are finally being revealed so they can be dealt with!

I’m thankful we figured out what was causing those bites all over my son’s body … so we could deal with it and get rid of them! Likewise, I don’t want hidden sins to go undetected, wreaking havoc on a person’s heart, life, and soul.

My greatest desire is for everyone to be saved, to truly know the peace, love, and joy that only faith in Jesus brings. Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, You are the God of angel armies. You can bring to rubble even the highest, strongest walls erected by the greatest nations. One Word from Your lips makes even the mightiest army fall to their knees. You know all things. You are all-mighty, and You are good. Help me to trust in Your perfect timing and Your perfect wisdom. Redeem the things that are ugly, like You redeemed Rahab … and me. Thank You for Your grace toward me. Thank You for giving me a testimony. I am Yours forever more! You are God, and You saved my soul! I am free! I was dead, but now I’m alive! All praise to Your Name, Jesus! Amen.

Saved by Soul – City Alight

Stones of Remembrance and Your Children

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 4

I grew up listening to my mom’s stories, stories about her life growing up on a dairy farm, how she and my dad planned a quick wedding before he went off to college out-of-state, how I was finally born three weeks past my due date, and many more. I’ve heard the same stories again and again, but somehow I can’t seem to remember all the details. I need to be reminded of these true stories that are important to my family’s life.

The Israelites had been miraculously delivered out of slavery in Egypt. They had spent 40 years wandering in the desert while the Lord miraculously fed them daily with bread from heaven. And now they are going to miraculously cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land of Israel.

Their children will need to hear these stories told again and again. They will need to be reminded of how God provided and God delivered and God led His people, not just so they’d know their people’s history but so they’d know their God.

Our children need to know how God worked in our lives, so they will trust that He can work in their lives, too.

Remember, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 ESV) Let’s tell our children some stories about how the Lord has worked in our lives, setting up some Stones of Remembrance for them to know and trust God. This is one of many reasons I wrote the story of my Jesus transformed my life from Evangelical Atheist to Evangelical Christian.

I’d love to hear your stories. Leave a comment here so others can be encouraged by how the Lord has worked in your life.

Heavenly Father, You are the eternal, unchanging God. You have always been perfect, and You always will be. But, Father, we need change. We need transformation. We need to be made new creations by the power of Your Spirit in us. And so do our children and our neighbors. Please work in us and through us, give us courage and wisdom to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with whoever You place in our path. Let us not forget the Stones of Remembrance that You have given to us. May we remember You, and how You have led us, delivered us, and provided for us. In the Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

All the Way My Savior Leads Me – Fanny Crosby

Take the First Step of Faith

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 3

For the last four years, I’ve been learning Chinese very, very slowly. Very slowly. One phrase, one word, at a time.

Hello: 你好 (nǐ hǎo)

Goodbye: 再见 (zài jiàn)

1 一 (yī)
2 二 (èr)
3 三 (sān)
4 四 (sì)
5 五 (wǔ)

Two days ago, I learned a new word from one of my students. 千 (Qiān), the Mandarin word for thousand.

Have you ever heard the Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step“? 千里之行,始于足下. (Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià.)

I was thinking about that saying this morning when I read Joshua 3.

And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.

Joshua 3:13 ESV

The priests had to step into the flooded waters of the Jordan before the Lord stopped the river from flowing. This, my friends, is what a faith walk looks like. Like Hebrews 11:1 says,”Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” God wants us to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

Do you believe God inspired Paul to write these words?

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.

2 Corinthians 5:10-11a ESV

I do.

I am so thankful that my life is hidden in Christ, but I will still have to appear before Christ and give an account for what I said and did during my time in this fleshly body. Did I seek Him first? Did I love my neighbor as myself? Did I try to persuade others to join me in trusting Christ?

This faith journey begins with one step followed by another. Sometimes that journey has a lot of “two steps forward and one step back,” but a journey forward it is. And it begins by trusting God and His Word.

Heavenly Father, I believe in You. I believe every word of God is true. I believe You are a shield to those who take refuge in You. Give me the strength, wisdom, and courage that I need to walk by faith and not by sight. Help me to love my neighbor as myself by sharing the good news of salvation by trusting in Christ. In His Name I pray. Amen

First Things First – Consumed by Fire

His Mercy is More

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Joshua 2

Today’s passage reminded me how often the Bible just “tells the story like it is” without any commentary on the morality of a person’s decisions. Was Joshua wrong to send the two spies to Jericho? I’m not sure. Was Rahab wrong to lie about the Israelite spies she was hiding? I think so, but once again I’m not sure.

But I am sure that God works even through the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad decisions that we make. In fact, God chose Rahab who had been a prostitute (clearly not a good choice) to be the great, great grandmother of that man after God’s own heart, King David.

And did you know that Rahab is the mother of Boaz, the worthy man who acted as the Moabite Ruth’s kinsman-Redeemer? (Matthew 1:5) I think that Boaz was more accepting of Ruth’s Gentile background because of his mother’s, and that he would’ve better understood the transformative power of faith in God because of his own mother’s testimony.

Sister, have you made choices in your life that you wish today you could go back and erase? I have. And, yet, those very choices have made me the woman I am today. All I can say is, PRAISE GOD for where sin abounded, His grace abounded all the more.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king….

Matthew 1:1-6 ESV

Heavenly Father, Your mercy is more. Your power is greater. Your love is better. You are perfect in all Your ways, using the tangled webs of our lives to weave a masterpiece of Your glory. You have cleansed me and washed me white as snow in the crimson blood of Christ my Savior. Now take my life as a living offering of gratitude for Your saving grace. In the Name of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, my sinless kinsmen-redeemer, I pray. Amen.

His Mercy is More – The Gettys

By faith Rahab the prostitute
did not perish
with those who were disobedient,
because she had given a friendly
welcome to the spies.

Hebrews 11:31 ESV
Jesus Paid it All

Do Not be Frightened … BUT WHY? (Joshua 1)

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Joshua 1

Growing up, I fought a persistent battle with fear, especially fear of death. As an atheist, my life was the mere result of random chance. I thought I was the master of my own fate, and I knew I was not a very good master. I was just one of five billion people in the world, weak in both the physical and moral sense of the word.

Fear is a completely natural
by-product of a lack of faith in a
good, all-powerful God.

As God prepares Joshua for his new job as leader of the Israelite nation, God is so kind to remind Joshua that He is going with him and that He is a promise-keeping God.

Friends, if you are a child of God, God is with you, too. He will not leave you or forsake you. He is with you WHEREVER you go. But you need to be strong and courageous to do the things He has called you to do.

If he wants to reach the Promised Land, Joshua will have to step into the rushing Jordan River. Likewise, if you want to follow God, you will have to take that first step of obedience.

That first step is often the scariest. Speaking up when it’s easier to be silent. Knocking on a new neighbor’s door. Saying goodbye to a boyfriend who’s no good for you. These are hard things, but if we never take that first step we will never see where the road leads. And taking that first scary step is much, much less frightening when you know that the Lord has called you to it, and that He is with you.

I’m praying for you.

Heavenly Father, please help us to take that first step of obedience, to strike out into the unknown. Help us to be strong and courageous, believing without a doubt that You will never leave us or forsake us, that You are with us wherever we go. Please guide us by Your Holy Spirit. Convict us of our sin, our sins of unbelief, cowardice, and complacency. Help us to love You with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. For the glory of Your Name, and in the power of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

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