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…
Author: Norm
Jan 16 — Joshua 7:1-15
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…
Jan 15 — Joshua 6:8-27
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,…
Jan 14 — Joshua 5:13-6:7
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…
Jan 13 — Joshua 5:1-12
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…
Jan 12 — Joshua 4:10-24
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…
Jan 11 — Joshua 4:1-9
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…
Jan 10 — Revelation 17:1-18
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 17:1-18 OBSERVATION: The great prostitute seems to be an all-powerful nation (Rome, the great city that rules all the earth)) guilty of horrific crimes and immoralities. For a time she controls the beast, but eventually (by God’s design) the beast defeats her. Keeping in mind that the original recipients did not know HOW this…
Jan 9 — Revelation 16:12-21
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:12-21 OBSERVATION: The plagues lead up to the final judgment at armageddon (har megiddo, the hill or valley of megiddo where many decisive battles were fought), symbolizing the last great battle. The date for this final, decisive moment between the Lord and His followers, and Satan and his followers in unknown, but it is…
Jan 8 — Revelation 16:1-11
SCRIPTURE: Revelation 16:1-11 OBSERVATION: At first we might think that God is cruel, inflicting this kind of torture on helpless, innocent victims. But the passage reveals that people were living wild, rebellious and cruel lives, and refused to repent no matter how many times God’s warned them through prophets. God is not inflicting cruelty, He is…