Insight into Scripture - Joshua 1 - 3
The book of Joshua was written by Joshua, except for the last part which some believe a high priest wrote. Joshua was written to record Israel's conquest of Canaan; the Promised Land. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones, out of close to two million people, that saw and entered into the Promised Land.In springtime the melting snow often creates flood stages for the Jordan. These flood waters often created mudslides which could of resulted in the stoppage of the Jordan.
Today we start another chapter and another adventure. Moses passed away, Joshua has now taken over for Moses as they set poised to cross the Jordan River into the Promised Land. God has promised them "Every place where you set your foot." Will they take everything that is given to them???
Scripture Reading
Rahab and the Spies
1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. "Go, look over the land," he said, "especially Jericho." So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land." 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land."
4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, the men left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them." 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death."
14 "Our lives for your lives!" the men assured her. "If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land."
Thought for the Day
Rahab's story is an example of simple faith. The writers of the book of Hebrews made light of her faith in (11:31). Rahab had simple faith and God used and blessed her because of it.
You might say to yourself that "I could never be used by God because of the things that I have done in the past." That is just one awesome trait of God, your past does not matter, only your heart matters. All God asks for is a simple, childlike faith. You do not need to know all the ins and outs of the Bible to be used by God. Most of the greatest known characters in the Bible did not have great knowledge when they started with God, in fact some had very jaded pasts ( Saul/Paul, Matthew) but, one thing they did have in common was an open heart and mind.
Closing Prayer
Father thank You for quiet time and whispers in my ear. Father I pray that I can find it in my heart to know that You do forgive me for my mistakes I have made in the past and the ones I make daily. Father I know that Your love is more than I can even imagine, but I pray that I will feel that security every second of my life. I pray that I know that childlike faith is good and that I want to be more like You and less like me.
Thank You Father,
I love You!! In Your Name I pray, Amen.
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