Good morning! Please read Joshua 18, and Joshua 19:1-48. What are you thinking about this morning?  Is the Lord impressing anything on your heart?

Joshua asked the people how long they would put off taking possession of the land God had promised to them –

“Joshua addressed the People of Israel: ‘How long are you going to sit around on your hands, putting off taking possession of the land that God, the God of your ancestors, has given you?’ ” 18:3 MSG

Isn’t it funny that they haven’t taken possession already? After years in the wilderness, I’d think they’d be motivated to go! Sometimes the end of a project/mission/journey is a time where I might be tempted to “lose steam” too – all the little details seem tedious, or maybe the people think “what’s the rush, it’s ours already”…. That’s the moment we need to keep moving forward, finish strong!

P.s. my apologies to Leviticus and Numbers for trying to skim through laws and (well) numbers always seemed tedious. The wars and dividing up of the land have been a little tedious too – but I’m still reading every name, paying attention to details…. there is a reason that God had these details recorded! Confession: sometimes I have to read it twice, lol!

Please read Joshua 15:20-63, Joshua 16 and Joshua 17.  Try not to “skim”! 🙂 How about circling or making note of the names you recognize as Joshua goes about dividing up the territories, just to keep you engaged?  What “tricks” do you use to stay alert during these long passages?

The people received lots based on their size (and as we see with the tribe of Manasseh and the people of Joseph), their lot might increase as God increased them. Do you think the same principle works for us today?  If we prove trustworthy with what we are given, we might be entrusted with more? (Luke 12:48 says, “Much will be expected from the one who has been given much, and the more a man is trusted, the more people will expect of him” Phillips).

“God commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our kinsmen.” And Joshua did it; he gave them, as God commanded, an inheritance” (17:4 MSG)

We continue to see Joshua being obedient. I like reading these names and thinking; “Hey – I know that guy! We read about him when….” 🙂

Good morning!  Please read Joshua 12:7-24, Joshua 13, Joshua 14, and Joshua 15:1-9. 

When Joshua had reached a venerable age, God said to him, “You’ve had a good, long life, but there is a lot of land still to be taken” (12:1 MSG)

I love how the tribe of Levi’s inheritance is God Himself.

“Levi was the only tribe that did not receive an inheritance. The Fire-Gift-Offerings to God, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, just as He told them” (12:14 MSG)

God always provides for us, and a lot of times we have an abundance, but to be satisfied with God alone is a gift. We haven’t gotten there yet, but it makes me thinks of when Paul writes in 1 Tim 6:6: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain”. 

Please read Joshua 10, Joshua 11, and Joshua 12:1-6. Busy day!  Let’s visit – here’s what I am thinking this morning:

I had forgotten about this war – how difficult this must have been for Joshua and the people. I notice that Joshua prayed aloud in front of everyone, so all could hear. 

“The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening:

Please read Joshua 7:1, 1 Chronicles 2:7, Joshua 7:2-26, and Joshua chapters 8 and 9. Lots happening today, but as always, I’m just here to hit a few highlights.  What stands out to you today?

“God said to Joshua, “Get up. Why are you groveling? Israel has sinned: They’ve broken the covenant I commanded them; they’ve taken forbidden plunder—stolen and then covered up the theft, squirreling it away with their own stuff. The People of Israel can no longer look their enemies in the eye—they themselves are plunder. I can’t continue with you if you don’t rid yourselves of the cursed things. So get started. Purify the people. Tell them: Get ready for tomorrow by purifying yourselves. For this is what God, the God of Israel, says: There are cursed things in the camp. You won’t be able to face your enemies until you have gotten rid of these cursed things” (Joshua 7:10-13 MSG)

The people committed a sin, so Joshua went to God (that was right!).  I notice God’s response the most – “so get started, purify the people”.  God wasn’t done with them because they made a mistake – He is long suffering toward all.  He commanded them to purify themselves and move on.  His response to our sin is the same – repent and receive forgiveness, and then move forward with Him (1 John 1:9).

“but they didn’t ask God about it” (Joshua 9:14 MSG

Moving forward without consulting the Holy Spirit – that’s a mistake every time. There are consequences (meant to train us, not stop us).  1 Corinthians 15:57 says that God will always lead us to victory.

Lord, help us to turn to You first, always!

Please read Joshua 3, 4, 5 and 6 today.  Joshua has been anointed to take the lead – let’s see how it works out for him and the children of Israel!

“God said to Joshua, “This very day I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all Israel. They’ll see for themselves that I’m with you in the same way that I was with Moses” (3:7 MSG)

Do you remember Joshua leading the people across the Jordan?  God split the waters again and they walked across on dry ground. Amazing!

Joshua called out the twelve men whom he selected from the People of Israel, one man from each tribe. Joshua directed them, “Cross to the middle of the Jordan and take your place in front of the Chest of God, your God. Each of you heft a stone to your shoulder, a stone for each of the tribes of the People of Israel, so you’ll have something later to mark the occasion. When your children ask you, ‘What are these stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’” (4:4-7 MSG)

Taking a cue from Moses, Joshua builds a memorial in front of all the people, and give God the glory.  Today, we also read about the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6).  Big day!

Please read Deuteronomy 33-34, and Joshua 1-2. Another book completed – you are doing great!  Let’s keep going strong!

It’s so precious that God buried Moses Himself – such an intimate thing, such a beautiful picture, especially considering their close relationship.  I like that no one but God knows where his bones are.

“Moses died there in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of God, just as God said. God buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor. No one knows his burial site to this very day” (34:5-6 MSG)

It also strikes me how Moses never displaced his anger – even though he wouldn’t receive the land promised through his ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses uses his last words to bless the people. (Would you have blamed him for saying something like, “Y’all were really awful, disobedient, caused me daily stress, and yet here you are: about to enter the promised land without me, thanks alot.”). Moses didn’t have to displace emotion or lay blame – God was his inheritance.

“No prophet has risen since in Israel like Moses, whom God knew face-to-face. Never since has there been anything like the signs and miracle-wonders that God sent him to do in Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land—nothing to compare with that all-powerful hand of his and all the great and terrible things Moses did as every eye in Israel watched” (34:10-12 MSG)

Now it’s time for Joshua to take the lead. Let’s continue this journey!

Please read Deuteronomy 31:30, Deuteronomy 32, and Psalm 90. I love Moses’ psalm!

Isn’t Psalm 90 all the more precious, now that we have spent so much with Moses?

“God, it seems You’ve been our home forever; long before the mountains were born, Long before You brought earth itself to birth, from “once upon a time: to “kingdom come” – You are God” (Psalm 90:1-2 MSG)

“It seems you’ve been our home forever” – isn’t that meaningful?  Moses did not need to enter the promised land – God was his home.  The Lord is all we need!

Please read Deuteronomy 29:2-29, Deuteronomy 30, and Deuteronomy 31:1-29.  Lots going on, Moses is starting to wrap things up here.

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (29:29 NKJV)

God will take care of the hidden things. However, what is revealed is our responsibility.  If we know what is right, we must do it!

Deuteronomy 30 is a balm to my spirit after those rough words on disobedience a few chapters ago:

“God, your God, will restore everything you lost; He’ll have compassion on you; He’ll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, God, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back” (30:3-4 MSG)

God will always restore, always bring us back home, always remember us if we only turn back to Him.  We are never too far for His hand to reach us. That’s my favorite ❤

Please read Deuteronomy 26, 27, 28 and 29:1. Does anyone else see a theme developing as Moses is teaching the children of Israel?  Obedience, obedience, obedience!  He is about to send them into the promised land on their own, after 40 years together. I imagine he feels a great deal of responsibility toward them.

The blessings of obedience are many! The opposite, though….

“Among all the peoples where God will take you, you’ll be treated as a lesson or a proverb” (28:37 MSG)

God can use our lives, whether or not we are in obedience.  If we are obedient, God will use us as a lesson or example to other of what to do.  If we are disobedient, God will use us as a proverb or warning to others of what not to do.  (Remember? Nothing is ever wasted by the Lord – but we could waste our lives in disobedience). Thankfully we live under grace purchased for us by the Blood of Jesus – but even still, disobedience carries heavy consequences.