Joshua - Week 1
God's people are ready to enter the Promised Land! They have endured 40 years in the wilderness; they have heard Moses' sermon, reminding them of God's love and faithfulness and calling them to be a "set apart" people in this new land flowing with milk and honey.
Joshua has taken over from Moses as the leader and is immediately challenged by God to be strong and courageous (in the Lord's strength, of course). But just as Moses faced the challenge of a water barrier early on, so did Joshua as the people get to the Jordan at flood stage. What will God do? God continues to work miraculously in the lives of his people as he fulfills his promise to them. But then there's the matter of sin, as Achan and his family have disobeyed God. What will the people learn about the effects of sin on the community?
Enjoy the 2-week journey through Joshua!
Our guiding questions are these:
- What stood out to you in the reading?
- Was there anything confusing or troubling?
- Did anything make you think differently about God?
- How might what you read change the way you live?
Please post a comment below with some of your questions, comments, and reflections from this week's reading.
Some things that stood out to me in Deuteronomy
ReplyDeleteIn chapter one On how the trip across the desert could be made in eleven days but it took them forty years to make the trip.
In chapter 4 The Lord loved your ancestors. That is why he chose you their descendants. And that is why the Lord brought you out of Egypt. He was with you and brought you out with his great power. When you moved forward the Lord forced out nations that were greater and more powerful than you And the Lord led you into their land, He gave you their land to live in as he is still doing today. So today you must remember and accept that The Lord is God. He is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other God. And you must obey his laws and commands that I give you today. That everything will go well with you and your children who live after you. And you will live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving you. It will be yours forever.
In chapter 8. That The Lord was testing them. He wanted to make them humble, he wanted to know what was in their hearts and that they would obey his commands.
That their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.
In chapter 21 when the son would not obey and he was stoned to death.
In chapter 22 a women must not wear men's clothes and a man must no wear women's clothes.
Great observations, Darla! I wonder if they knew it was only an 11-day journey. Without maps and Google, they probably didn't. But to be that close...and not be able to enter. It's all about God's timing and God's plan. The entire journey through the desert was one miracle after another, if only they (and we!) would notice. I don't have any clothes that are 40 years old that are worn regularly. God led and God provided. He still does that today!
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