Tag: faithfulness

May Our Choices be Righteous & Courageous! (Joshua 22-24)

Thursday, September 29

joshua-24

Nikki Green

As we wrap up the book of Joshua, we find our strong and courageous leader in the last days of his life.  Joshua calls the twelve tribes together to review all God had done for His people.  Joshua states that the LORD fought for Israel and drove out the other nations.  He urges the Israelites to remain faithful to God.  He warns them not to worship foreign gods or marry outside the Israelite nation.  He cautions them not to disobey – not to turn to the right or the left.  The theme of courage is echoed again.  He reminds them that what God gave, He can take away.  The land has always been His.  Joshua’s words of wisdom lead to a choice when he says, “Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Josh 14:15).  The Israelite people responded with the commitment, “We will serve the LORD, for He is our God” (Josh 24:18).

After the remarkable history lesson and reflection on the mighty deeds of God, we read that Joshua died at age 110.  He was buried in the land of his inheritance – the Promised Land.  Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua, which speaks volumes about his leadership and authority.  The book of Joshua ends with the completion of a generation of heroes.  We are reminded of Moses and Aaron, the dynamic duo, who began this great land repossession quest.  Joshua and Eleazar, the priest, jump in and prove to be the next generation of heroes.  Joshua was mentored by Moses.  Eleazar was the son of Aaron, Moses’ brother, and received outstanding mentorship from these men as well.  The book ends with the death of these “super men” and symbolically completes the story of conquest and conquer as “The LORD Saves” (Big thanks to Moses for Joshua’s new name & the answer to what we all need)!

 

 

Do Not Turn Away from GOD (Deuteronomy 16 – 18)

Saturday, September 17
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By Joseph Partain
I hope you are enjoying reading Deuteronomy. There are many great chapters left, especially ch.30 where a choice will be set before you. In today’s chapters God recalls to the people different feasts to observe and of course the Passover. God is telling his people to get together and celebrate what he had done in the past and what he will do for them in the future. It is sad that God has to remind us to worship him, we don’t have to remind him to bring out the sun in the morning or the moon and stars at night or any number of blessings he is faithful to provide every day. If only we were as faithful to God as he has been to us.
The next chapters deal with making sure we are following God’s word and as ch 17 v 11 states do not turn to the right or to the left. In this instance I’m afraid our country has left the road entirely. What God considered as bad is turned to good and this can not be. We need to make sure that regardless of our feelings we need to hold firm to what God says about any situation. He tells Joshua in later chapters to be strong and courageous and that God will be with him. Are we strong and courageous enough to stand with God and his word. There are blessings if we do as we have read.
God tells us in v 4 of Ch 18 to give the firstfruits to him. Thank you for giving your time and attention to reading God’s word. Keep up with spending time daily with God. In Gal 6 the word tells us not to grow weary in doing good for we will reap a harvest. Keep growing.