APRIL 12
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 number of fish, and
their nets were breaking. (Luke 5:6) 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
V. 1 So, if the kings of the land had melting
heart syndrome, they must also have had "stiff-necked and 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.
It was also a good thing they were in no mood
for a fight, because Israel's soldiers were not in any shape to fight back.
Vs. 2-9 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.
This entire section shows us what we might
have guessed at, but didn't fully realize. When Israel rebelled at
Kadesh-barnea, God broke off the Mosaic Covenant with them. His promise to
Abraham was still guiding things toward this moment, but some things were
stopped. Since Kadesh-barnea none of their male children had been circumcised.
This wasn't neglect on the part of the people or Moses. Moses of all people
should have known how important circumcision was since he almost died by not
circumcising his son. This must have been a directive by God. God was looking
ahead to this moment when He would lead a new generation into Canaan.
Circumcision will mean something to these people. It was the symbol of the
promise to Abraham. By going through this, every man would know he was
participating in that covenant. This generation of Israel is probably the most
godly group of people who ever followed the Lord.
Vs. 8-9 This is God's explanation to them. In
Egypt, the people were forbidden to circumcise their children. Apparently only
people high in society could be circumcised as a sign of their position. The
Hebrews were slaves, and reproached as such, and therefore forbidden to be
circumcised. (Bible Knowledge Commentary-OT, p. 337)
V. 10 Here is another surprise. An
uncircumcised man could not participate in the Passover. They had not celebrated
a Passover since Kadesh-barnea. This means that this is only the third Passover
that Israel has held. They had the original Passover, they had a Passover at
Mt. Sinai, and the next would have been held in Canaan if they had obeyed. Many
people in this generation have only heard of the Passover.
Vs. 11-12 It is interesting that on the day
after the Passover, the manna stopped. The Feast of Unleavened Bread followed
the Passover and for this feast they gleaned grain from the fields. 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 darkness 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.
Vs. 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.
Since Joshua was by Jericho, he probably went
to look at the challenge of how Israel, without materials or experience taking
a fortified city, could wage war here. With those thoughts in his mind this
angel appeared. Joshua realized that this person was in command of the battle
for Jericho, not him. Joshua was the servant.
By the way,
who was that angel? Hint: You're not allowed to worship angels. 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 the true words of God.” 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 brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.”
For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:9-10)
I wonder what
Jesus thought, years later, walking through the city He Himself had led Israel
to conquer.
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 seven 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 and 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." In 1956, in Ecuador,
Jim Elliot and four other guys gave their lives to follow Christ into the
harvest.
Vs. 1-14 One thing about the way God did it
was that the people couldn't take any of the credit for this. A city like
Jericho could have withstood a siege for months. God's way only took a week.
Vs. 15-21 It seems that Joshua gave these
instructions just before the men yelled. Notice that special care is given to
protect Rahab. Notice too that all the people of Jericho were called to stand
before God for judgment. That meant they would all have to be separated from
the body to stand in His presence. The killing of the animals might have had
some religious significance, but probably it was for Israel and the other
nations to understand that God's judgment was total. Also, all of the precious
metals were to go into the treasury, almost as a memorial to this first
victory. This kind of total ban on taking anything would only happen here, so
if the men were patient, they would get stuff at other cities.
Vs. 22-25 Again, these are special
instructions about Rahab and her family. They would have to be taken outside of
the camp until they were cleansed and the men circumcised, and then they would
become part of the community of faith. Her faith was already evident. This was
an exception to God's rule of not including any of the Canaanites. But God's
mercy always extends to faith in action and we'll see another exception in
chapter 9.
Vs. 26-27 We can assume it was the Spirit
speaking through Joshua to pronounce this curse. Believe it or not the most
evil of the kings of Israel, the northern kingdom, will rebuild Jericho and
this curse will be fulfilled.
Joshua 7
Vs. 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. Perhaps it was good that something like this
happened right away. It became a permanent lesson to that generation of people.
Phinehas will mention this again at the end of Joshua. Notice in v. 5 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. God will turn this small defeat into a military
strategy to defeat Ai.
Luke
15
This section is rich with lessons for us as
disciples. 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?
I do want to mention one thing before I begin
here. These three parables do not stand alone. This section of teaching will
continue to Luke 17:10. Because we are reading smaller sections, it is hard to
see the continuity, so as you go from one section to the next, look for the
flow of the teaching and how it all holds together.
Vs. 1-2 This is the occasion and reason for
Jesus teaching on the lost sheep, lost coin and lost son. Now, if you look at
Luke 17:1-4, you will see the conclusion of all of this teaching and all of
these parables. To deny anyone forgiveness was a sin.
Vs. 3-7 Notice that He doesn't love the lost
sheep more than the others, but there is an outpouring of mercy, compelled
because of the need. Notice too that the neighbors and friends are invited to
rejoice. And of course, there is rejoicing in heaven. That happens now too.
Vs. 8-10 Here, even the angels of God
rejoice. The other ones, not so much.
Vs. 11-16 There are good lessons here on how
the Father allows us to have our way. Love cannot be compelled. It should be a
warning to us when God allows us to prosper in our sin.
Vs. 17-24 Notice that it was hardship that
caused the son to come to himself. Neither the father nor anyone else bailed
him out. And he knew the door was open to return to his father. There is true
repentance here.
V. 21 Although the father cut him off and
didn't let him finish, he heard enough and knew there was genuine repentance.
His words are so interesting, he was dead
and is alive again. (v. 24)
Vs. 25-32 Enter the older brother, with whom
I can identify unfortunately. Notice what his concern was. It was the fattened calf. He never got one. The
father pointed him to the spiritual reality. It wasn't about stuff; it was
about life and salvation.
And to think, as we work in the harvest we
meet these prodigal sons and can tell them the Father is waiting if they are
ready to turn to Him. And when we help them come to the Father, there is joy.
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. Most commentators think this psalm
is recording the celebration of the Feast of Booths. If so, that pinpoints it
to Nehemiah 8:14-18. This son of Asaph was writing after the exile, celebrating
the first Feast of Booths since the death of Joshua.
Vs. 1-3 This is to be a joyous celebration
because God is their strength.
Vs. 4-10 God made this feast a statute, so
Israel would always remember how God sustained them in the wilderness living in
tents. He freed them from slavery and did the impossible by keeping them alive.
Just think, they were supposed to have celebrated this every year for the past
800 years and never did it.
There is a lot of wilderness history here.
Vs. 11-16 Once in the land, the people didn't
listen to God. Ironically, not holding the Feast of Booths was a case in point.
God was the one who freed them, but once free they didn't need Him.
Notice how there is an exhortation here that
if people will listen to Him, He will forgive and bless them. This portion
reads a lot like Isaiah 55.
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.
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: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove,
rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1-2)
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/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
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
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