(Tuesday)
Moses is dead. It is now Joshua’s role to lead the people. God told Joshua that He would be with him as He was with Moses. They would be successful and conquer the land if they remembered to follow the laws God had given them. Joshua was to remind the people constantly and he was to think about them day and night. God told Joshua not to fear, to be courageous and strong and to know that God would be with them wherever they went.
It is interesting how God knows us so well. He knows that only when we stay in His word constantly, when we pray faithful each day, when we stay connected to the body of believers then we can defeat the evil one who would try to steal us away from God.
So Joshua prepares to enter into the Land God is giving them. He sends in two spies. You may recognize the name of the woman who helps the spies escape, Rahab. And yes, Rahab was a prostitute, but she is also listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).
Even as a foreigner she recognized the sovereignty of God. She chose to be on the winning side and so hid the spies and saved herself and her family and becomes the mother of Boaz (the man who marries Ruth – but that’s a story for another day).
Joshua then directs the people to cross over the Jordan in similar fashion to the crossing of the Red Sea. Take note that the river was flowing at flood levels. Have you ever watched how fast a river flows during a flood? This is not a little stream that is trickling down. Wow. There is no human way that even today we can totally shift the path of flood waters or dam them up so they stop flowing. So, the Ark goes before them and the river dried up and they passed over on dry ground. They set up a pillar of stones to remember and to remind themselves of the miracle of crossing the Jordan.
Do you set up “monuments” in your life to help you remember the great things God has done for you? I don’t mean physically – actually pill up rocks, but what are the ways that help you remember the great things God has done for you. Feel free to share some of those ways here and maybe it will help others.
Blessings
Pastor Kathy