Tag: Joshua

Courage & Fear

Joshua 3 & 4

Psalm 33

Mark 16

-Devotion by John Railton (IN)

“Be strong and courageous!” Those were the words of God himself to Joshua in the first chapter which we read yesterday. In fact, God there challenged him three times with those exact words. At the end of the chapter, when the whole nation committed themselves to Joshua and his leadership, they too encouraged him with those same words, “Be strong and courageous!”

Joshua’s courage, and that of all the Israelites was tested in chapters 3 and 4. God was about to lead them into the promised land, but it meant getting to the other side of the Jordan River. There was no bridge and  the river was at flood stage. A most amazing miracle was about to happen! The priests were to carry the ark of the covenant into the river. As soon as their toes got wet, the flow of the river was disrupted. The current, flowing from the north to the south, completely stopped, and the water heaped up to their right. It was an invisible dam, accomplished by the almighty power of God. There’s no way to know how high that wall of water heaped, but it must have been quite a sight! No water flowed to the left. People downstream must have wondered what happened to the river? Not only did God stop the flow, but the whole nation then walked across the riverbed into the promised land. Not only did they walk across the riverbed, but it says they walked on dry ground! You can imagine the mud and muck at the bottom of the Jordan. How long would that have taken to dry up naturally? A few years ago, I baptized a young lady in a pond. After immersing her, we attempted to return to shore, but my feet were quickly sinking into the mud, so much so that I began to sink. We both needed help getting out of the water. God not only stopped the flow of the Jordan, but he instantaneously dried up the riverbed. A miracle indeed!

One more thought before we move on. Joshua 4:24 says, “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful, and so that you might always fear the LORD your God!” To fear God is to have a holy revere for him, that is, a deep respect and admiration.

Psalm 33 is a Psalm of praise and acknowledgment of who the LORD is, what he has done, his obvious worthiness of worship. Notice especially the teaching in V. 8, “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him!” See also V. 18, “But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love . . .” This reveals the call, and good reason for all people to respect and worship the LORD!

As you read Mark 16, you’ll probably see a note that verses 9-20 are not included in the most reliable early manuscripts. That’s not to suggest that those events never happened, nor that those words were never said. They may, or may not have happened or been said, but there’s doubt that they were originally part of Mark’s gospel. Most of these references are verified in other scriptural accounts. I will mention that some suggest a diminished importance for water baptism since Jesus’ words in verses 15 & 16 may or may not have ever been put quite like it’s worded here. One should never propagate a teaching or position based solely on one questionable passage. However, this questionable passage does not negate the numerous other scriptures that teach water baptism and its significance as a step in the process of salvation.        

Reflection Questions

  1. Joshua was clearly called and equipped to serve the LORD. In what ways do you feel called and equipped to serve?
  2. Have you ever needed the encouragement to be strong and courageous when you knew you needed to do the right thing?
  3. Have you yourself submitted to the waters of baptism as taught and practiced in the book of Acts, as symbolically explained in Romans 6, and with the promise of Galatians 3?

Prayer    

“Heavenly Father, thank you for the historical record of men and events such as we read in the book of Joshua. Thank you for the teaching and challenge we find in Psalm 33, that we should fear, revere you, that we should put our hope in you, and that your eyes are upon those who do. Thank you again for your son Jesus, and for the hope we can have in the kingdom because of him! In his name. Amen!”  

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He is Not Here!

Joshua 1 & 2

Psalm 32

Mark 16

-Devotion by John Railton (IN)

Moses, representing the law, was very much a great man and leader. He led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, through the wilderness, and eventually right up to the promised land. He saw it, but was himself denied entrance because of his own failure to perfectly obey God. This illustrates the weakness of the law, which in reality is the weakness of all people who are absolutely incapable of perfect obedience to that law. No one can enter God’s rest, the promised land, the kingdom of God on their own merit.

Joshua, who’s name means “The LORD saves” succeeded Moses and did in fact lead the Israelites into the promised land. Fast forward to Gabriel’s announcement to Mary that she was to give birth to a son. He told her his name would be Jesus, which is the Greek version of Joshua. When an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he explained the significance behind Jesus’ name. It was “because he will save his people from their sins!” Joshua was a type, or picture of Jesus, leading the Israelites into the promised land.         

Psalm 32, written by a repentant King David, is a beautiful reminder of the weight of guilt, the necessity of confession, the blessing of forgiveness, and the joy of being right with the LORD! Read here the first two verses, and the last, but be sure to read the entire short Psalm. “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit!” “Rejoice in the LORD and be glad you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”         (Psalm 32:1,2 & 11)

Now we come to Mark 16. We’ve been reading about the last supper, prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Judas’ betrayal, Jesus’ arrest, his trial, Peter’s denial, Jesus’ crucifixion, death, and burial. Mark’s climax to all this is his short, sweet, and factual report of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! It was early Sunday morning when three women went to Jesus’ tomb, taking spices to anoint his body. The Jewish community neither then nor now practice embalming. The women evidently had no idea Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had already treated Jesus’ body with 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. Nor did they even hope or suspect that he might be resurrected from the dead! Who would have thought? 

“He has risen! He is not here!” Those were the words of the angel who was seated in the tomb. What a shock! What an announcement! It seemed too good to be true! In fact, Mark’s version tells us they ran away, fearful, and told no one! “He has risen! He is not here!” According to the Apostle Paul, our hope rises and falls on the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Paul states clearly that this truth is one of the several things one must believe in order to be saved. “He has risen! He is not here!”

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you solid in your conviction that Jesus was raised from the dead, that he is alive, at the right hand of God? Is your lifestyle a testimony to that conviction?
  2. Is there any sense in which you’ve dozed off when you should have been watching? Betrayed Jesus, as did Judas? That you’ve denied him, as did Peter? That you’ve doubted, as did Thomas?
  3. Are you clear in understanding that you will not enter the kingdom of God on your own merit? That it is only through the resurrected Jesus that you have hope?
  4. Have you experienced the weight of guilt, the necessity of confession, the blessing of forgiveness, and the joy of being right with the LORD?       

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your love, your plan from the very beginning to cover our sin, and for Jesus whom you sacrificed on the cross. You allowed him to become sin, so that we might become righteous. Thank you for raising him to live again, to live forever, the firstfruits of eternal life. Thank you for wanting me in your kingdom, and for making a way for it to happen. Help me to make you proud. Help me to live like Jesus. In his name I pray. Amen.    

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Praise or Platitudes

Joshua 22-24

In these final chapters of Joshua, we read his deathbed advice to his people. Filled with nuggets of wisdom, Joshua calls the people to remember their history and God’s faithfulness, and he encourages them to continue following God. Joshua reminds the people that there is only One True God, YHWH, and that the household idols and the gods of the people around them are not truly going to save them. Yet still Joshua asks them to make a conscious decision, to declare their devotion one way or the other: “Choose this day whom you will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!” What a powerful charge to the people! If anyone had been unclear about Joshua’s position, there was no doubt after this profound declaration. Of course, the people agree that they will follow God, and of course, it wouldn’t be long before they would turn away yet again.

Joshua, famous among his people as a devoted follower of the One True God, knew humanity’s tendency to have idolatrous hearts. As he closed out his life, he wanted to remind the people to focus on what – WHO – is truly the most important. If you’re anything like me, you probably scoff at the ways in which the Israelites kept turning from God in spite of all His miraculous provisions, but in reality, all of humanity worships something; the idols are just different for each of us. We have an innate desire to worship, and that should be directed toward our Creator. However, our flesh can often lead us to worship the things of this world – money, entertainment, sex, identity, work, comfort, power, nature, and self – more than we worship our God. We must be alert to the things of this world that are vying for our devotion, keeping our eyes attuned and faithful to our God above all else. 

Don’t let Joshua’s words be just an empty platitude on your dining room wall, but really take it to heart. Whom will you serve? Will you follow the empty gods of this age, or will you wake up every day willing to follow the One True God? 

-Rachel Cain

Reflections:


What does it mean to really serve the Lord? What idols do you need to cast aside to really seek and serve Him? 

Research the ways in which Joshua is a foreshadowing of Jesus. There are many interesting parallels! 

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Succession Plans

Deuteronomy 30-31

Then Moses called Joshua, and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous; for you will go with this people into the land that Yahweh has sworn to their fathers to give to them, and you will cause them to inherit it. Yahweh, it is he who goes before you; he will be with you, he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:7-8 (REV)

In Deuteronomy 31, Moses begins to reflect on the fact that his life is about to come to an end and he will not be leading the Israelites into the promised land. We see Joshua enshrined as Moses’s successor, as God directed Moses (Numbers 27).

Succession plans are important as leadership changes are critical junctures for organizations. When a known change is coming, it is easier to start laying the groundwork for succession, but that can be short-sighted. There is wisdom in succession plans that consider the unknown. No one knows how many days they have left to live in this age. Illness can come on suddenly, and tragic accidents happen frequently. By the grace of God, you reader, will live many more years to serve God faithfully, but what if the unthinkable happens? Have you ordered your house? Have you, in your role as pastor, leader, director, or church volunteer, poured into those around you and prepared individuals to do the necessary ministry of the church if, for some reason, you must vacate your position, voluntary or otherwise?

In my first year at Atlanta Bible College, I took the course Principles of Ministry and Leadership (I think that was the correct class name) with Professor Jon Cheatwood. One of the books that we used was the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell. While I have not touched that book in nearly twenty years, I remember clearly one of the concepts in the book: Leaders should be training their replacements, figuratively working themselves out of the job. You should ensure that those under you or around you can take over the tasks and responsibilities you are responsible for. This is not to create job insecurity but to ensure stability for an organization or ministry if unexpected departures happen.

Just as Moses was chosen by God to lead his people out of Egypt, Joshua was chosen to lead them into the promised land. Moses publicly enshrines Joshua as leader, making clear the succession plan and avoiding a power vacuum with multiple individuals striving for the top spot or fearful individuals that pick up camp and head back to Egypt.

Several years ago, there was a TV show called Succession that was loosely based on real events from a power struggle within a powerful business. I am not recommending the show, but it showcases the chaos that surrounds an organization that does not have clear protocols and succession plans in place.

About 10 years ago, my church was thrust into unexpected changes in pastoral leadership. While not without bumps in the road, the leadership of the church was equipped enough to manage a very difficult period. Clearer succession plans certainly could have made some things easier and maybe would have created some different dynamics in leadership structures than what was implemented during the transition. While you may not be able to perfectly clone yourself as a leader (and you probably shouldn’t), you can pour into the next wave or generation of leaders and begin preparing them for the joys and difficulties of ministry and leadership. Whether you are a senior pastor, a volunteer coordinator, or somewhere else on the spectrum of ministry roles, we should always be working to ensure that the ministry of the Gospel is primed to continue in our organizations, with or without us.

-JJ Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Have you ever experienced a sudden change in leadership? Either as a member of leadership or someone that looked to leadership, what were some of the takeaways that you had from that experience? What could have been better in that situation?
  2. How important do you think it was that Moses made a public showing of the transition of leadership from himself to Joshua?
  3. What are some of the pitfalls of tight-fisted leadership that does not allow for the incremental growth and training of future leaders?
  4. Does God choose leaders now like he did in the times of Moses and Joshua? What does leadership selection look like now?
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Names

Numbers 26-27 

A census, a bunch of Hebrew names… seems difficult right?! More so in English, it’s easier in Hebrew, and the names have so much meaning! 🙂  When I first lived in Israel and learned Hebrew, names were difficult… Achinoam, Yonatan, Shaked! Hebrew names have meaning seen in the letters themselves, unlike English, so that makes it easier! It’s surprising how many adults I meet in America that don’t know what their name means.  In the Israeli hospitals where our children were born NO ONE ever asked what the new baby’s name was! The baby was identified by the mother’s first name and her mother and father. Then later named within 30 days after they were born according to their personality/character. They don’t measure the length of the baby either so as to not stretch it out after being curled up inside the womb.

Moses wasn’t allowed to lead these new people into the Promised Land. So he asked that God pick a new leader over the people. “Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” (27:16,17)

The LORD chose Joshua, “a man in whom is the Spirit.”(27:18) Interestingly, the Hebrew name of Joshua is basically Jesus/Yeshua. They have the same meaning, the LORD saves. Like Joshua was chosen by God to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, so Yeshua was chosen by God to lead all people into the Promised Kingdom to those who trust in him. Both were chosen to shepherd and lead the people.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”  John 10:11

-Stephanie Schlegel

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does your name mean?! Have you seen any special connections in your name over your life span?

2. How can calling someone a bad name be hurtful? What effect does it have on people to call them a good name?!

3. What are we known for? Isn’t it a great compliment of Joshua that he was filled with the Spirit? May we be filled with the fullness of God and walk in His Spirit like Joshua did.

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A Good Leader

*Old Testament: Joshua 1

Poetry: Psalm 43

New Testament: Romans 14

Ahh, don’t you just love the political campaign season?! The mud-slinging ads, heated debates, and unwelcome solicitation of political literature are so refreshing to the soul! (Can you detect any sarcasm?) While I care deeply about this world in which my children are growing up and will always be grateful for the brave men and women who paved the way for freedom and suffrage, all the negativity and animosity around the primary and general elections, especially in a presidential election year, wear on my spirit. 

Speaking of elections and leaders, did you know that George Washington never wanted to be President? The great military general was relieved when the Revolutionary War ended so he could continue living simply on his Virginia farm, Mount Vernon. The only president to be voted in unanimously by the Electoral College, Washington spent exactly zero dollars on his campaign. He took his role as President very seriously, but feeling the weight of the country on his shoulders, he set the precedent for serving only two terms because he was more than ready to retire. One could argue that it was his humility that made him a great leader; others had grievances against him, claiming that many of his actions were quite negative. Though we can be prone to consider him a flawless leader, George Washington definitely had his share of critics by the time he left office. 

Biblical leader Moses had been a great guide for his people (the Israelites) and Joshua became leader of Israel following the death of Moses. He had been an assistant to Moses and, like Washington, seemed to have unanimous support. The theme of Joshua chapter one could be COURAGE. God knew that the tasks ahead seemed impossible, from crossing the flooded River Jordan to fighting all of the established cities that stood between the Israelites and their Promised Land. God reminded them that He would be present every step of the way. It wouldn’t be easy, but they only needed to obey, and He would fight with them. The people rallied around Joshua, promising in verse 16 to do whatever he commanded. 

Did you notice the directive (Joshua 1:7b-8) sandwiched between the reminders to “be strong and courageous”? The LORD reminds his people to follow all the commands given to Moses and to “meditate on the Book of the Law day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” God wants His people to have success and to enter their Promised Land, but it is conditional; they must stay true to Him, not straying from His ways and His laws.

Though these words were spoken to a distinct group of people at a specific time in history, I think they are still applicable to us today. God wants us to be strong and courageous to do the work He has called us to do for Him, but it is important that we are careful to follow His ways and stay in the Word. While you and I will most likely never be in charge of a country or even millions of people, we all lead in some ways. As a parent, I lead my children so they can become responsible, God-fearing adults. As a tutor, I lead my students in understanding math and reading concepts. In my church family, I try to encourage and help other people, both tall and small, learn more about God. In all of these areas, if I did not depend on God’s wisdom and strength to help me, I would fail. I could say that my leadership doesn’t matter all that much compared to being a President or a famous leader from the Bible, but in reality, the small steps you and I take as leaders can have eternal influence, especially when we are investing in the spiritual lives of others in the family of God. Lead with God as your Guide. Keep focused on His Word as you do His work. 

-Rachel Cain

Reflection questions: 

– Make a list of all the big and small ways you lead – at home, at your job, at church. How do you (or should you) rely on God’s strength to lead? 

– Where might God be calling you to step up as a leader, or back down so you can pursue other things he has for you? 

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A New Shepherd

Old Testament: Numbers 27 & 28

Poetry: Job 20

New Testament: Mark 5

Once again, we have come across another section of Numbers with a number of sacrifices, laws, and other things that the ancient Israelites were expected to fulfill.  Unfortunately for us, those laws are not as relevant to us today and can seem boring. To them though, these were essentially important to living in communion with their God. But what lesson can we Christians who are no longer bound by the Old Covenant take from this section?

I believe that 27:15-23 has very great insight for all people of all ages. This passage explains that Moses will not be leading the people into the Promised Land because of his disobedience back in 20:8-12. However, Moses is commanded to install Joshua as his successor as leader of the Israelites. Up to this point, Joshua was likely studying underneath Moses and worked with him.

The point of this lesson is two-fold: Those that are older need to prepare someone younger to take their place eventually, and those that are younger need to learn from those that are older. Unfortunately today, people have a mindset that their generation is the only one that is correct, while the truth is that there is much that can be learned from all generations, both older and younger.

To those that are older: Look for the potential in those that are younger in your church and start training them up to eventually enter ministries that you will be leaving eventually

To those that are younger: Learn from those older than you, be willing to do ministry work in your church, and develop a passion for the Lord.

-Talon Paul

(originally posted September 8, 2016)

Reflection Questions

  1. What was Moses’ concern when the Lord told him he would not be entering the Promised Land?
  2. If you are on the older end of ministry – who are you mentoring and teaching to do the ministry you are doing? Who else can you get involved?
  3. If you are on the younger end of ministry – who will you ask to teach you how to serve and minister?
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Taking it By Yourself

Numbers 14

February 18

How many times do you think something at work or school is off and you need to take things into your own hands? The Israelites didn’t like what was going on in Numbers 14. They didn’t put their trust in him. They felt like they had to go beyond him and figure things out on their own. That is probably one of the worst things you can do as a Christian.

There’s so many times in a day where you just feel lost and hopeless and you just feel like you need to take a minute for yourself – but don’t be by yourself. Go into a room and pray, when everything feels wrong or off, talk to God about it. If you take a look at how the Israelites portrayed themselves in this passage., they were lost mentally, physically, whatever you want to say. They started losing trust, they started losing faith. They started believing and acting like God didn’t know what he was doing.

I find myself sometimes needing to take a step back from school and even my family and just be by myself in a room turning off my phone and just having an OutLoud conversation with God. Because when all else fails, I know I can always go back and just figure it out with God. I wish the Israelites did that in this passage. If they took a minute and had a conversation with God trying to work through everything, maybe they would’ve found what they were looking for.

Take a look at what Joshua said, which is in verses 7-9.

“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8 If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

He was brave to go in front of everyone and say what he said. He saw the land that God wanted him to see and he understood if God was pleased with them, He would lead them into this land.

-Genesis Dylewski

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

  1. How well do you feel you trust God when faced with difficulties? When you are in the minority? When you feel like a grasshopper? When you are in a scary situation or unsure of the outcome? How do you think more time calling out to God could help boost your faith in each of these situations? What else could help build your trust?
  2. Can you think of a time you went your own way and tried to take care of a situation on your own (perhaps the “safe” way) rather than joining God where He wanted to lead you? What might you have missed out on?
  3. Which was actually the bigger threat to the Israelites – facing the scary heathen foreigners who didn’t know God (with God at their side) or siding with the majority report from the people of God (who were not trusting God)?
  4. What were the consequences of the Israelites choosing to not go where He was leading when He was leading?
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Numbers 27-28, Luke 4

As the book of Numbers draws to a close, Moses begins to make preparation for his death. God tells him he will not enter the Promised Land with the Israelites, but he will be able to see it before the Israelites enter in. Moses is (very understandably) concerned for the Israelite people. He has had to intercede for them and guide them away from idolatrous actions again and again. In Numbers 27, Moses passes on the leadership torch to Joshua so that the Israelites will not be like a “sheep without a shepherd” (Numb. 27:17). Joshua would become the next leader who would guide, command, and take care of the Israelite people as they enter into the land of Canaan. 

Luke 4 describes the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Moses had spent years building up trust and confidence from the Israelite people, and Joshua benefited from that. He was able to build on the legacy of leadership that Moses left behind. Unlike Joshua, Jesus had to start from square one when building confidence and trust with the Jewish people. We see him begin this process in Luke 4. After the temptations in the wilderness, he begins preaching in the synagogues. At one point, he reads a passage from Isaiah that begins with “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because he has anointed me to…” and then lists out all the actions the God has sent him to do (Luke 4:18). Jesus did not have a Moses that told all the Jewish people to listen and follow after him. But, Jesus had something better to establish his authority. Not only did God speak over him after he was baptized, “This is my beloved Son. I take delight in him!” (Luke 3:22). He also had all of the Old Testament scriptures that spoke about him! 

Even so, the Jewish people did not accept him as a leader, because he challenged the way that he led and thought about the world. Just like the leadership example set by Moses, Jesus knew that the Jewish people needed someone to guide them, protect them, and care for them. They needed a shepherd. But, being led by a shepherd sometimes includes being corrected by a shepherd. The Jewish people, especially those in positions of power, were resistant to this. In fact, this section of Luke ends with the Jewish people doing this: “They got up, drove Him out of town, and brought Him to the edge of the hill, intending to hurl Him over a cliff” (Luke 4:29). 

Jesus is the “good shepherd” (John 10:14). His sheep “follow him because they recognize his voice” (John 10:4). When Jesus is leading us, do we follow? Are we resistant and stubborn to correction, choosing to go our own way? Or do we trust that our good shepherd will guide us on the right paths? How do we view Jesus’ leadership? 

My prayer is that we will trust in Jesus as our good shepherd. That his leading, both in guiding and correcting, will be a “comfort” to us as he lets us “lie down in green pastures,” leads us “beside quiet waters,” and “renews our life” (Ps. 23:1-4). 

~ Cayce Fletcher

Read or listen to today’s Bible reading at Biblegateway.com: Job 1-2 and 2 Corinthians 2 .

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Thumbs, Big toes, & Fire—oh my!

Sunday – Judges 1-2

Judges Devotions

Joshua is dead. Ten thousand Canaanite men—also dead. The Israelites take revenge on a Canaanite king who was notorious for cutting off other kings’ thumbs and big toes by, of course, cutting off his very own thumbs and big toes. Jerusalem is set on fire. And that’s just the first 8 verses!

Judges if off to a whirl-wind of a start, but if you think the craziest part of Judges is over, you’re in for a ferocious ride, my friend. After a wild first chapter, the author of Judges (who is unknown, but some speculate it’s Samuel) steps back to give us an overview of this unprecedented time in history, this 340 year stretch of judges.

The book of Joshua ended with a rousing speech in which Joshua declared, “As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). The Israelite people gave a unified response, “We will serve the LORD our God and obey him” (Joshua 24:24). The generation who made that vow saw God work in incredible ways—making way for the Israelites to cross the Jordan River, crushing the walls of Jericho, and keeping the sun from setting during battle. This generation even calls themselves witnesses (Joshua 24:22), and they take time to remember all God has done for them—carrying the ark of the covenant with them, setting up twelve stones by the Jordan.

However, we’ve already established that Joshua dies, and with him the generation that calls themselves witnesses. Despite everything their parents did to help them remember, this new generation forgets, “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel” (Judges 2:10).

As the Israelites occupied the Promised Land, God told them to remove all the idol-worshipping, morally-corrupt people from the land, but they forget.

I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, and you shall not make a covenant with the people of this land, but you shall break down their altars.’ Yet you have disobeyed me. Why have you done this? And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.’ (Judges 2:1-3)

They forgot who God is. They forgot what God had done. They forgot what God had told them to do.

While the events in Judges occurred over 3,000 years ago, their times seem eerily similar to our own. I’m at the age where I see a lot of my peers forgetting—forgetting who God is, what God has done, and what God has told them to do. We’ve all seen not only the statistics, but also the faces of people leaving the church. So what can we do to stop it?

Remember and remind.

Keep a list going: Who is God to you? What has God done for you? What has God told you to do? I encourage you to take some time during this quarantine to physically write a list so you can remember how present God is in your life. Also, support your brothers and sisters in the faith by reminding them of how real and near God is. Share your list with others, you never know how close someone in your life is to forgetting, just like the Israelites in Judges.

I can’t resist my strong urge to end this devotion with a joke: Who is the only person ever to not have any biological parents?

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Answer: Joshua son of Nun

 

Mackenzie McClain

 

Today’s Bible reading passage, Judges 1 & 2 can be read or listened to at https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges+1-2&version=NIV

Tomorrow’s reading will be Judges 3-5 as we continue the wild ride through God’s Word on our 2020 Chronological Bible Reading Plan