Posts from 2023 (Page 19)

  BIBLE READING: Joshua 22-24                 The book of Joshua ends with a very poignant and clear challenge to the nation of Israel that still has meaning for us today.  Joshua knows that the days ahead for the nation will be difficult.  He knows that there will be those that will continue to look outside of God’s command because of selfishness.  He knows that in the days ahead it will be easy for them to be so caught up with…

  BIBLE READING: Joshua 19-21                 In Joshua 20, the LORD tells Joshua to appoint certain cities in which an innocent person can find refuge against those who seek to avenge.  It is very easy to understand the purpose of these cities in the ancient world, but do they have an application for us today?  Throughout the Old Testament God has placed several things that have an allusion to New Testament principles, and these cities of Refuge are no exception. …

  BIBLE READING: Joshua 15-18             The springs mentioned here in Joshua 15 are still flowing today in the modern city of Debir, where 100s of gallons of water per minute pour from them. Since the area around Debir is dry and barren, the possession of the springs of water around them was important for crops and livestock. Embedded here we find a great story of Caleb’s positive influence of boldness on others. Caleb promised his daughter, Achsah, in marriage…

  BIBLE READING: Joshua 11-14                 You have to love the passion and spunk of Caleb!  Here is a man who went out on a limb with Joshua and trusted in the power of God when the original twelve went to spy out the land.   He knew that God had the power to deliver the Canaanites into their hands, only to have to spend the next forty years of his life waiting on being able to see that power displayed. …

  BIBLE READING: Joshua 8-10                 In Joshua 9, men from Gibeon had heard what God had done by the hand of Joshua at Jericho, Ai and Bethel. They had heard that Jehovah had commanded Joshua to not make any covenants with any of the people of Canaan, but to destroy its inhabitants.  Therefore, out of fear for their own lives, they pretended to be travelers from a far country seeking to make a covenant with the people of Israel. …

  BIBLE READING: Joshua 1-4                 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over the Jordan…” -Joshua 1.2             Do you remember those first day jitters you had before the first day of school or the first day of a new job?  As I recall, those feeling were a combination of excitement and fear.  It seemed to always put me under a great deal of pressure.  Based on the reading for the day, I am convinced that Joshua…

  BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 31-34                 As the book of Deuteronomy is about to conclude, I think it is very important to remember just what the book of is about.  The word “Deuteronomy” simply means a “repetition of instructions”.  The instructions that are to be repeated to the Israelites is the Word of God, or simply put, the Law.  In Deuteronomy 31.9-13, Moses writes the Law down and gives it to the priest and the elders of Israel.  He then…

  BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 28-30    “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of…

  BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 24-27                 Police officers, secret-service agents, and soldiers make oaths that they will put their lives on the line, if necessary. Losing one’s life in the course of such duty is honorable, but it’s painful for those who remain behind.  In today’s passage, Moses teaches Israel to put its life on the line. Once they are in the promise land, they will pronounce the blessings and curses of the covenant-blessings for faithful living, curses for disloyalty.…

  BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 20-23                 This verse sounds familiar to us because Jesus’ disciples did this very thing in Matthew: “At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” (Matt. 12:1–2). According to the law of God,…

  BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 16-19                 Moses prophesied that the day would come when Jehovah would raise up, from within the nation of Israel, a prophet who would be like him in many respects. This coming prophet would speak divine words, and those who refused to hear his words would give account for such rebellion (Deuteronomy 18:15-19).  One does not have to speculate on the fulfillment of this prediction. The coming prophet was none other than Jesus Christ, as Peter…

  BIBLE READING: Deuteronomy 8-11                 “God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart”  (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV). If every prayer were answered immediately, if every need were instantly met, and if every problem were automatically solved, your faith would never be stretched. You’d be spoiled. You’d have no need for faith! We’re humans, and we don’t like to wait. We hate it!…