Wednesday, January 8: Joshua 7- A leaders role.

As the account of Achan’s sin unfolded I found myself wondering, should Joshua have known? The last sentence of verse 1 kept replaying in my thoughts. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel (1b).

I am not wondering if Joshua, as leader, should have known one of his privates stole something. Rather I’m wondering if Joshua, as leader, should have known that God’s anger burned against Israel. Did Joshua get cocky after the Jericho win and fail to seek the Lord before taking on Ai?

The text is silent on this. Joshua did handle the situation appropriately once it came to his attention. But I am still wondering if Joshua missed a step or missed an indicator from the Lord before he sent men to attack Ai.

I am not trying to blame Joshua for the loss of 36 men in the battle of Ai. I guess I am wondering if leaders have a greater responsibility to seek and in turn be with the Lord more than the average person.

And so I wonder.

James 3:1 comes to mind. Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. Does the ‘judge more strictly’ indicate that leaders have a higher level of accountability? And so I wonder…

No answers from the Lord today, just a lot of wondering.

Father, Spirit, Son, as I wonder today about leaders and responsibility and other things, please speak. Answer the wonderings of mine that will move my faith deeper. Keep me pondering other wonderings where the added thought will drive my faith deeper.

Lord, lead me to places of deep trust, deeper obedience, deeper connection and deeper love for You. This I prayer in Your mighty name. Amen.

 

Tuesday, January 7: Joshua 6- A test of obedience.

The capture of Jericho is certainly strange militarily. What general would design this battle strategy? A person reading this account can see the hand of God. There is little doubt God was making Himself known in the battle of Jericho.

And yet, as I read the account this morning, I also saw the obedience required by Joshua and the people of Jericho. The crossing of the Jordan certainly solidified Joshua as Israel’s leader, demonstrating his connection to the Lord. But Jericho was his first military campaign, and the strategy he explained to the people was crazy from a human perspective.

Had God given it? Joshua and the people would only find out through obedience… seven days of obedience!

God, it seems, was testing Israel’s obedience and God was testing Joshua’s obedience.

I thought through a number of Israel’s leaders…Moses, Joshua, Saul, David, Solomon, Reheboam, etc. Each man faced a situation early on where their heart was exposed and their obedience tested. Those who ‘passed’ rose in prominence. Those who failed (i.e. Saul and Reheboam) failed.

Obedience…

Obedience is key…

Am I, are you, passing God’s obedience test?

Lord, David refused to kill Saul, God’s anointed… he passed. Saul didn’t wait to sacrifice the offering as Samuel instructed… he failed. Solomon asked for wisdom rather than riches… he passed. Reheboam refused the advice of the wise confidantes of his father choosing the reckless advice of his peers… he failed.

Lord, give me grace to choose obedience today and every day. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Another thought hit me, obedience is not the same as perfection. Each of the leaders above sinned, but David would come to his senses and repent after his sin. Solomon, who strayed from God much of his life, repented toward the end and came home to his Lord.

Obedience is key, but repentance is always needed because none of us are perfect. None of us.

Lord, thank You for the gift of repentance and forgiveness… Hallelujah. Amen.

 

 

Monday, January 6: Joshua 5- Pledges made; Promises kept.

What an interesting chapter. If I think about it from Joshua and the people’s perspective, I see promises made. Then again if I look from God’s perspective, I notice promises kept.

Here is what I saw in the texts.

Circumcision and the celebration of the Passover involve pledges and promises made by the people to God. In circumcision, the people pledge fidelity to the Lord. Faithfulness brings blessing, unfaithfulness curses. In circumcision the people are shouting, “We are Yours, O Lord!” Celebrating the Passover, the people are recalling God’s faithfulness and saying only by the Blood of the Lamb are we saved. The eating of unleaven bread is a sign of fidelity to the Lord, “We will do as You say, our Lord.”

Flip to God’s perspective. The chapter opens with the peoples of the Land shrinking in terror before the Lord because of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan. God promised to go before them and He has! Then we have manna stopping only after the people have eaten the fruit of the Land. Again, this is a promise kept by God. He sustained them by manna and now that they are in the Land.  They eat of its bounty and no longer need manna. A promise kept.

This chapter speaks to me of my life, too. Pledges and promises made to God and promises kept by God.

God is always faithful to His promises. I am less so. And yet God’s love is great, far greater than I deserve.

Praise be to the Lord! God, my God is faithful. As He was to Joshua and the people of the OT, so He is to me and the people of the NT. Praise be to the Lord…

 

A second reminder. I must be vigilant to the pledges I have made to the Lord…

Lord, I run hot and cold. I am faithful and faithless. Forgive me, Lord, when I turn from You. Restore me, Lord, that my mouth might praise You and my life be a worship offering to You.

Through Jesus, my Lord, I pray. Amen.

 

Saturday, January 4: Joshua 4- Reminders of God's wonders.

I find something special about the account of taking the stones from the middle of the Jordan and making an altar or maker of the event. It is good to remember what God has done. But the stone memorial was more than a memory device for those who crossed the Jordan. It was also a curiosity piece so that future generations would ask what it was and then people would have the perfect opportunity to tell the story to younger generations.

In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever" (6-7).

What a great idea…

I started thinking about markers we have to tell God’s story…

My wife collects crèches. We have them from many parts of the world. We have fancy ones and ones for play. Some day, when we have grandchildren, we hope these crèches will be a way to tell our grandchildren the story of Jesus’ birth.

My church has 2 distinctive crosses… one outside the main door and one right in front of the pulpit on the platform. Sometimes these crosses give an opportunity to tell people the story of Jesus’ atonement. (Admittedly though, because the cross is so common a symbol, it doesn’t often attract the curiosity I imagine it once had.)

I am wondering what I might do to create some unique visuals that might allow me to share the story of God with others…

If you have an original idea, please email it to me…

Lord, telling Your story in creative and visual ways, creating markers that incite curiosity by new comers or future generations is such a great idea. But honestly, I don’t have much creativity in this department. Help me to come up with some so that I can enhance my telling of Your story.

I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Friday, January 3: Joshua 3- Amazing.

What a way to begin!

There are certain dramatic moments and miracles in the Bible that amaze and this is one of them. These Israelites have never seen anything like it. Born during the wilderness, wandering for years, they heard stories of the Red Sea crossing. But they were not there. They did witness military victories, but nothing like this. They did receive manna every day, but that is all they knew. They never knew planting and harvesting, so quite possibly, it was none-to-special for them to harvest manna every day. But a river stopping and doing so when the priests touched the water, that’s a miracle to remember!

I love the line, they crossed over on dry land. I wonder what that line specifically means. I like to walk the beach at the waters’ edge. When a wave goes out, the sand is wet and cushy. Was the river bottom like that or was it firm and dry, like dry land? I don’t know and it doesn’t really matter… but I do wonder.

More importantly, this miracle was a loud and clear communication to the people of the Land that Israel, protected by her God, was coming. One map I consulted showed the town of Adam about 20 miles upstream. All the people for those 20 miles saw the river dry up instantly and the people of Adam watched as the waters piled up (16). What did those people think? What did Jericho think realizing that Israel was crossing right by them?!

This was a miracle for Israel but it was also a broadcast to the peoples of the Land.

It was also a communication for Joshua. Like his predecessor Moses, Joshua’s leadership was established by a great water crossing. What this did for Joshua’s faith must have been amazing.

Thinking about this event has increased my profound awe of God. In one action, He communicates so effectively to many different people. The more I pondered, the more I found praise of God for who He is and what He does rising within me…

Lord, I found myself remembering many things I have seen You do, things in my life and things around me for others. Thank You for being real and for really being interested in Your  people. Thank You that Your miraculous power is available and on display as You advance Your kingdom around the world.

I pray for missionaries and brothers and sisters who are on the vanguard of Your kingdom.  I pray for, people who are on the front lines, so to speak. I pray that You provide breakthroughs and miracles that advance Your name into presently unreached areas and people groups. Praise be to You, Lord God Almighty. Amen!

 

Thursday, January 2: Joshua 2- God at work between the lines.

Some days as I read God’s Word, my heart and thoughts latch on to specifics, a particular incident here, a comment or phrase there. Today was different. I found myself considering God’s work in the larger picture; the things God was doing behind the scenes to bring about the outcome He desired.

For example, the two spies happening to connect with Rahab, who apparently was sympathetic to them.  He was wise enough to come up with a plan on the fly to keep the spies from harm.

Another ‘God-working’ was that the people of Jericho were talking about the Hebrews and all their God had done for them. Some of the things Rahab mentioned that were being talked about on the streets, happened over 40 years ago!

Then Rahab’s plan worked and the spies, after almost a week of hiding, made it back to Israel safe and sound.

Too often in life I am so focused on the here and now, I miss the BIGGER picture, the many ways God has been at work for years… decades… longer, orchestrating events for His glory and the advance of His kingdom.

First thing, I sat in awe of God today and the way He works often quietly in the background.

Another thing I pondered is that I am never sure how a word spoken or our life lived might be impacting someone and we don’t even know it.

In the midst of these thoughts a whisper came… “Live so that your life points to Me. When you do, I can use your life to make a positive difference in other lives…”

Lord, I pray that my life in Your hands does make a difference. So that in small or big ways, You are able to use me as You used unnamed spies or the prostitute Rahab. All to Your glory Lord.

Lord, as this new year gets started, I offer my life to You as a Romans 12:1-2 offering. May how I live be a fragrant offering to You, my Lord and King, Savior and God. Amen.

 

Wednesday, January 1: Joshua 1- Faithfulness to God first.

Most people I know want to be successful. Most people I know want to prosper. Many people I know want to make a difference for good and some want to make a difference for God in this world.

The Lord gives Joshua the first steps toward success, prosperity and becoming a difference maker in one’s life… Check out verses 7-8: Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Growing in understanding of and obedience to the words and instruction of the Lord… these are the critical first steps. God actually makes this point 3 times in cascading succession:

·         Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you;

·         Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.

·         Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful

Once wisdom from God is gained then it will take strength and courage to toe the line, to live as God directs and to do the things God asks you to do. But one’s core (fidelity and faithfulness to the Lord) better be solid before we attempt courage and strength.

Given that today is the first of the year, the whisper of God into my heart was clear. What is my plan to consistently be in and grow from study, meditation and reading of God’s Word?

Seriously, do you have a plan to grow in God’s Word? This is step one in living a meaningful life…

Lord, give me strength and courage to create and follow through on a study plan of Your Word. And as I do this and grow in knowing You and Your ways and Wword, I pray for assignments that will make a difference in our world. A difference for You and for good in our world.

Lord, I am signing up to be part of Your kingdom advance in 2014. Teach me and I will do what You would have me do, no matter what!

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.