It finally hit me today reading about Israel crossing into the land, that the waters of the Jordan didn't recede until the priests' feet were in the water. Talk about making your faith work to the last possible second. God could have started lowering the level as the priests approached, but no, they had to trust Him to the point of doubt, getting their feet wet. It makes me think of Jesus telling Peter to put out into the deep and let down the nets for a catch. Peter says they couldn't catch a fish all night long, but at His word Peter obeyed. And then it says, "And when they had done this, they enclosed a large shoal of fish so that the nets began to break." In both situations, the priests and Peter, it wasn't until they had done it, that the miracle kicked in. As disciples following Jesus in the harvest, this ought to tell us something.
Joshua 5:1-7:15
Joshua 5:1
So, if the kings of the land had melting heart syndrome, they must also have had "stiff-necked, not very smart" syndrome. If Israel's God could do all that they knew He did in Egypt or at the Jordan, what chance did they think they had? There should have been "for sale" signs going up all over Canaan.
Joshua 5:2-12
Keep this place, Gilgal, in mind for later. This is where the stone monument would have been set up. It will be important in Judges 3.
There's a lot in this section, but to me it is interesting that on the day after the Passover, the manna stopped. Some of these people didn't know anything but the manna. I wonder if they felt bad that this had ended and years later reminisced about the wonder of it. It sort of makes you wonder which miracles and provisions of this time on earth are being overlooked and taken for granted. When this is all over, we might appreciate what a wonder it was that we were indwelt with the Spirit and had the Word as a daily resource. Maybe we'll wonder, too, why we didn't take more advantage of these very special and amazing privileges.
Joshua 5:13-15
Joshua must have had guts. He apparently recognized the "man" as an angel, but didn't know what kind (good or bad) he was. So, he challenged him anyway. What a guy.
By the way, who was that angel? Hint: You're not allowed to worship angels. Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God." 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Joshua 6
So, what things do you notice here and what speaks to you as a disciple?
The biggest lesson for me is that God demands faith, and thereby strengthens our faith. I've heard people go overboard trying to explain why they went around the city 7 times, trying to find significance in "7." There might be something there. I don't know. But I do know that the entire process was "out there." It wasn't normal. It didn't make sense. There was nothing externally smart or wise or crafty or military about what they did. But it was wise to listen to God, and they did. We get so used to only doing the "smart" thing, that we forget to walk by faith. If faith is included in the equation, then the smart thing might look stupid in the eyes of the world. As disciples, we know God and understand life & reality in a way that is different than everyone around us. It will make us look like fools. As Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot and four other guys gave their lives to follow Christ into the harvest.
Joshua 7:1-15
It's too bad they didn't include the entire chapter for today.
There are a few things that stand out to me.
First, Achan becomes the symbol of how one man's sin has an impact on others. Phinehas will mention this again at the end of Joshua. Notice in verse five that 36 men died as a result of what Achan did. That was tragic. Families suffered and children lost their fathers. On the other hand, good does come out of this. The guys were safe with God in heaven and chillin', and this becomes a tremendous example to the nation. After this, you can bet they were holding one another responsible to obey the Lord.
You very seldom hear anyone say that our individual walk with the Lord is important to the work we are doing together in the harvest. It is.
Second, in the next conquest, God is going to allow them to collect plunder. Achan should have just waited.
Third, God will use this entire situation for good. Not only do the people get a great lesson, but the nations surrounding Israel will now get arrogant. This arrogance will actually help Israel make quick work of the main strength of the opposition. In everything, God works for good with those who love Him.
Luke 15
This section is rich with lessons for us as disciples. I don't have much to mention here. If we were meeting together to discuss it, I'm sure I'd learn from some of the things the Spirit will be pointing out to you.
So, why do you think Jesus makes the same point with three different stories? What is the same in each? How does the image get enlarged in each?
It is pretty cool to think that there was rejoicing and joy in heaven the day you gave your life to Christ. This is a way that we create joy and celebration in heaven, by working in the harvest, making disciples.
Psalm 81
Because you have read the books of Moses, you will understand this psalm so much better.
Proverbs 13:1
Does the father's instruction also contain rebuke? It looks that way from the parallelism. Rebuke sounds negative to us, but God commands it.
2 Timothy 4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.
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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