Deuteronomy 34
One question here is why God hid the grave site. The standard, and probably correct, answer is that if Israel would have known where the body was, they would have brought it with them and made a shrine to Moses, possibly, a place of worship.
Apparently God kept Moses from wearing out.
I find it interesting that Joshua is described as being full of the Spirit. It says spirit of wisdom, but we can guess it was Holy Spirit enabled wisdom. In the OT it doesn't mean Joshua was indwelt by the Spirit (that couldn't happen until Christ), but the Holy Spirit was close to him, guiding Him.
It is also interesting that the miracles are mentioned as "deeds of terror." That is our language struggling to express the Hebrew. The signs created a sense of amazement and fear and awe. As awesome as that was, sin trumps wonders. All the people older than nineteen who saw those miracles and followed Moses out of the land, were overthrown in the wilderness by their sin.
Joshua 1-2
Josh. 1:1-9
This is a great section of Scripture; God's first address to Joshua after Moses' death.
Note how often God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous.
If you have never memorized verse 8, this would be a great time. In fact, instead of doing just verse 8, memorize 5-9.
Joshua 1:10-18
I get inspired reading what the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh said to Joshua. Why do you think they close their message to him with, "Only be strong and courageous?" This strength and courage were to have come from Joshua's own faith and confidence in God. I was reading Jesus teaching His disciples saying that a disciple is not above his teacher. It makes me think that those who lead others don't need to be perfect, but they should be strong and courageous in the couple of things we really need to be doing as we follow Christ in the harvest. Faith is contagious. So is doubt.
Joshua 2:1-24
There is lots here for you to observe. I only want to make a few points.
First, that the spies went to a prostitute almost gives the idea that they were like sailors finally hitting land and looking for a good time. Rahab might have been a prostitute, but most likely she ran an inn. They were looking for a place to stay. These guys would have been close to the Lord.
Second, the entire city was on "red" alert for Israel. This is evident from them coming for the spies and Rahab's words.
I find it cool that they were close enough to the Lord to know they could make this promise to Rahab.
Now, what about the faith of Rahab? This is a little complicated, at least in our thinking, because she was a prostitute, a Canaanite woman who should have been killed, and she lies like a trooper (whatever that means). There is some tension in all of this. God not only shows her incredible mercy, but she marries Salmon (some think he's one of the spies) and through Rahab comes the entire Davidic line of kings and, eventually, the Messiah.
In my thinking, real faith has three parts: information, acceptance/trust, and Doing.
Notice the information that Rahab had. It dates all the way back to the Red Sea, 40 years earlier.
She certainly believed and trusted this information. She mentions that she and everyone else (v.11) was shaking in their sandals. Rahab goes on to make the connection of all that Israel had done, to the supremacy of their God.
What is interesting to me is that, to this point, everyone in Jericho went this far with what they believed. Rahab says that everyone knew this information and that they believed the information. So why was she saved?
Rahab risked her life to save the spies. She did something. Doing is what completes real faith. The demons believe in God and tremble (James 2:19). The demons have the right information, they really know that God's there, but they make the wrong response. So did the people in Jericho. Rahab made the response of faith, honoring God. She may have lied, but she was also risking her life for God and these men who followed Him.
The response of Jericho's city fathers was to pursue the spies to kill them. Bad choice. This showed their hearts. If they had approached Joshua with terms of peace, they would have been told there could be no peace and they would have had to move before Israel got there. If they really believed the stories they would have moved and saved their lives. They should have known they didn't have a chance.
This is why Rahab was saved. She had real, amazing faith. Everyone knew about the Red Sea, and Egypt and Sihon and Og and believed the truth of those stories. Everyone understood that Israel had an awesome God. Rahab personalized that information and, when given an opportunity by God, she did something. She honored God. And in spite of her past and fear and weakness, God honored her right back.
Luke 13:22-14:6
Luke 13:22-30
Jesus taught this to His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. Notice that this is part of His message to the crowds. There was a sense of urgency in His preaching and the mention of rejection and Hell were part of the "Good News" that Jesus presented.
Luke 13:31-35
Can you imagine the surprise these Pharisees received when they died and immediately found Jesus sitting on a throne? Shocking.
Jesus is trying to help the people, and these guys are trying to scare Him away. Jesus' route to Jerusalem was not very direct. You could say that He was making a final tour of Israel, sometimes actually heading away from Jerusalem, but the destination was where He was to offer Himself to God for mankind.
He weeps over Jerusalem here, though He is miles away. He will do this in Luke 19:41 as He views Jerusalem from across the valley. Notice the words Jesus uses here. And people can actually say that Jesus didn't think He was God?
Luke 14:1-6
When I read this, all I can say is that Jesus was strong and courageous.
Psalm 79
This looks like it was written after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586BC. Verse 11 talks about prisoners. By this time, there was a well established and protected Jewish community in exile in Babylon and the synagogue system was being developed. A descendant of Asaph, apparently, got inspired.
Since this psalm is inspired by the Spirit of God, the thoughts of this psalm are also God's thoughts. That's something for us to think about when we try to understand God. Look at what Jesus said regarding the narrow gate. He is not just about inclusion and warmth and love and tenderness. There is also judgment and punishment. These are also part of the good news.
Proverbs 12:26
We do have a responsibility to those around us, including the guy next door. To whom much is given, will much be required. It's a matter of compassion and love. We've been shown it, and now as a disciple of Jesus in the harvest, we need to try to help others find what we have found.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
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