SCRIPTURE: Joshua 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, then you may be sure that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares…
search me O God
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account. [Joshua 22:23] The tribes on the other side of the Jordan are accused of setting up an…
His promises come true!
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. [Joshua 21:45] I find this a good one to remember, to remind myself that when God makes a promise, He keeps it. It may not always be in the way we expect, or when we…
a place of refuge
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. [Joshua 20:2-3] The Lord set up cities of refuge so that people who found themselves in trouble…
the division of assets
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. And so they finished dividing the land. [Joshua 19:51] Another uninspiring chapter, sorry…
seeing the world missionally
”Missional leaders see the world through the eyes of Jesus and see Jesus in the world.” (Earl Creps, Off-Road Disciplines, xiv) So how do I see my part of the world, where I live, work, socialize? Or better, who do I see? What does Jesus see when He looks at the people within my present…
my food…
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. [Joshua 18:7] I had a tough time making a connection between this passage and the message of Jesus. The passage is about the mapping of the land, the selection of areas by lot,…
though they are strong
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: But Joshua said to the house of Joseph–to Ephraim and Manasseh—‘You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have iron chariots and though they are strong, you can…
followers follow
“Those who aren’t following Jesus aren’t his followers. It’s that simple. Followers follow, and those who don’t follow aren’t followers. To follow Jesus means to follow Jesus into a society where justice rules, where love shapes everything. To follow Jesus means to take up his dream and work for it.” (Scot McKnight, One Life: Jesus…
causing others to sin
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 16 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labour. [Joshua 16:10] This short chapter describes the allotment of land for the sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh. Remember that since Levi did not get any…