The book of Joshua is about the second generation of Israelites who take possession of the land God had promised them. It is a book of warfare, diplomacy, and espionage. In chapter two, there is an interesting story about a woman who becomes an ally of Israel, Rahab. Rahab is a resident of the great walled city of Jericho, which was one of the first major obstacles for Israel to overcome in possessing the Promised Land.
Joshua sends two spies to infiltrate Jericho to gather intelligence for the upcoming battle. The king of Jericho hears of this and begins a search for the spies. However, Rahab hides them in her house, in exchange for the safety of her family when Israel invades Jericho. The reason Rahab gave for doing this was because of the reputation of Israel's God. Rahab testified, "the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath." At that moment, Rahab became a follower of the one true God.
If you do not know the story of Rahab, you may be surprised at what she did for a living - she was a prostitute. However, upon hearing of the greatness of God, and given the opportunity to believe, she did, and her life was transformed.
What may be more surprising about Rahab, is that she became an acestor to a great lineage of descendants. After the battle of Jericho, the Israelites allowed Rahab and her family to become part of their community, and she eventually married, and had a family of her own. Her impressive list of progeny include Ruth, Jesse, David, and Jesus. That's right, a one-time pagan prostitue was an ancestor of our Lord!
The story of Rahab is a great lesson that God can use anyone, in spite of whatever background or lifestyle one had. The Bible is full of unlikely heroes whom the world dismisses, but God never gives up on. Maybe you feel unworthy of God's love, or there is nothing you can offer to God. If that is your feeling, just remember, one of Jesus' great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, grandmother's was a prostitue.
Suggested Reading:
*Joshua Chapter Two
*Matthew 1:1-17
*Hebrews Chapter Eleven (notice verses 30-31)
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Lessons From Joshua: "Be Strong and Courageous"
Beginning in June, I will begin a series of messages at Community from the book of Joshua. In preparation for that series, I have begun reading Joshua and reflecting upon it personally. Each Monday, I will share a thought from the sixth book of the Old Testament, and suggest some readings for the rest of the week. The first one is from Joshua chapter one.
The book of Joshua is about the people of Israel inhabiting the land that God had promised them upon their release from slavery from Egypt. Moses had just died and God placed Joshua as leader of Israel. Because of Israel's lack of faith and disobedience, a generation of people had to die off before God gave them permission to enter "The Promised Land" and it was now time. Only two men from the first generation were allowed to enter the land, Joshua and Caleb. They were the only two of the twelve spies, in the book of Numbers, who had faith that God could deliver the land to them. They were not only men of faith, but men of courage.
It should not be suprising to us then that four times in chapter one (verses 6, 7, 9, and 16) Joshua tells the people of Israel to "be strong and courageous." Joshua reminds this new generation that God will provide what he promised and when given the plan for possessing the land the people responded, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go (1:16)."
Joshua could encourage the people to be "strong and courageous," because he was strong and courageous. He had built up enough "leadership capital" that when the time for action came, the people believed in their leader. Joshua had proven to be a man of great faith, and this encouraged the people in their faith.
I once heard that "courage is not the absence of fear, but action in the presence of fear." Perhaps you are facing a major decision or action this week that requires a great deal of courage on your part. Maybe you are fearful of making a wrong choice and you are tempted to not do anything. The reason we are talking about Joshua today, 3,000 years removed from his death, is because he was a man of courage who found his strength in the Lord. If you are crippled by your fear, turn it over to God, and be empowered by God's strength. He has enough for all of us!
Suggested Reading:
*Numbers Chapters 13 & 14
*Joshua Chapter 1
The book of Joshua is about the people of Israel inhabiting the land that God had promised them upon their release from slavery from Egypt. Moses had just died and God placed Joshua as leader of Israel. Because of Israel's lack of faith and disobedience, a generation of people had to die off before God gave them permission to enter "The Promised Land" and it was now time. Only two men from the first generation were allowed to enter the land, Joshua and Caleb. They were the only two of the twelve spies, in the book of Numbers, who had faith that God could deliver the land to them. They were not only men of faith, but men of courage.
It should not be suprising to us then that four times in chapter one (verses 6, 7, 9, and 16) Joshua tells the people of Israel to "be strong and courageous." Joshua reminds this new generation that God will provide what he promised and when given the plan for possessing the land the people responded, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go (1:16)."
Joshua could encourage the people to be "strong and courageous," because he was strong and courageous. He had built up enough "leadership capital" that when the time for action came, the people believed in their leader. Joshua had proven to be a man of great faith, and this encouraged the people in their faith.
I once heard that "courage is not the absence of fear, but action in the presence of fear." Perhaps you are facing a major decision or action this week that requires a great deal of courage on your part. Maybe you are fearful of making a wrong choice and you are tempted to not do anything. The reason we are talking about Joshua today, 3,000 years removed from his death, is because he was a man of courage who found his strength in the Lord. If you are crippled by your fear, turn it over to God, and be empowered by God's strength. He has enough for all of us!
Suggested Reading:
*Numbers Chapters 13 & 14
*Joshua Chapter 1
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