Author: Norm

Feel free to leave your comments. My comments are coming soon! SCRIPTURE: Joshua 8:30-35 OBSERVATION: APPLICATION: PRAYER:

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 8:18-29 OBSERVATION: This scene sounds like it would make a great action movie. But it does not fit with the new covenant stage of God’s plan. God worked within the culture and context of the old covenant (Joshua would likely have been hung by a tree, the people burned by the Canaanites as well,…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 8:1-17 OBSERVATION: Interesting that while Jericho was defeated without battle, here a very shrewd military tactic is used to defeat Ai. In daily relationships this would be considered deceptive, but in battle it is considered clever. Not sure if there is a lesson in this. I do note that the armies of Ai were…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 7:16-26 OBSERVATION: There are times when God is amazingly patient, and times when His patience ends. Here at this crucial time in Israel’s story, being established in Canaan, God punishes Achan and his family in a violent, unsettling way. In a similar fashion we see Ananias & Sapphira drop dead on the spot at…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 7:1-15 OBSERVATION: Notice how one person’s sin affects the whole community. We may see this as unfair, but it is still a reality. One bad apple can spoil the whole bushel. Classroom privileges are revoked because of a few kids who abused them. Laws are made because of a few turkeys who make them…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 6:8-27 OBSERVATION: I agree, Jill. There is no easy way to sanitize this story. Being who I am right now, I could not have done this. But of course, the times were very different. I do think that we read this story as if the Jerichoeans were innocently minding their own business when WHAMMO,…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 5:13-6:7 OBSERVATION: Who was this man standing before Joshua, the commander of the Lord’s Army? I think of the rider on the white horse (Revelation 19:11-16), that is, Jesus. Was this a spirit, or a flesh and blood person? Was this the pre-incarnate Jesus? If He was “in the flesh”, then He would be the…

SCRIPTURE: Joshua 5:1-12 OBSERVATION: Circumcision was the symbol of their special calling as ambassadors for God bringing His blessing to the world (Genesis 12:1-2). While in Egypt they had been uncircumcised, and were not living as God called them. This ceremony renews their special calling and purpose. The Passover represents God’s care and protection as they seek…

OOPS, somehow I repeated the readings from Dec 30 and Dec 31. Oh well, enjoy reading Joshua 4 for a second time. SCRIPTURE: Joshua 4:10-24 OBSERVATION: 1. The ark (the symbol of “God with us”) is at the center of this story. Where it goes, the people go. Where it goes, the waters part. When it leaves, the waters…

OOPS, somehow I repeated the readings from Dec 30 and Dec 31. Oh well, enjoy reading Joshua 4 for a second time. SCRIPTURE: Joshua 4:1-9 OBSERVATION: The Lord has Joshua set up a memorial, a space to remember what the Lord has done, and to share that message with others. This is an evangelistic testimony, a personal experience intended…