Congratulations, you finally finished the first five books of the Bible. The Pentateuch (meaning five) or Torah (meaning teaching or law) contained many laws given to the people of Israel both while on their journey through the wilderness and before they crossed the Jordan River to enter the Promised Land. It was a slow read, but you will find these laws coming to mind as you read through the rest of the Bible. Perhaps you have already made some connections in your New Testament readings. We now move into the history books of the Old Testament. These tell the stories of the Israel becoming a nation.

In Joshua 1 God promises to be with Joshua just as He was with Moses. Three times God tells Joshua to be strong and courageous. God knows that Joshua will be going through difficult days and He doesn’t want him to lose heart.

Joshua tells the people to prepare to cross over the Jordan in 3 days. He also reminds the Reubenites, Gadites and half of people of Manasseh that they have already been given their land but they promised to send their warriors across the Jordan to help the others. Everyone agrees to follow Joshua.

In Joshua 2 spies are sent to Jericho to view the land. The spies stay in the house of a prostitute named Rahab. You may remember her from the genealogy in Matthew 1. The king of Jericho tells Rahab to bring them to him. She hides the spies from the king. Rahab tells the spies that she believes in the Lord. She relays how news of their conquests has already come to her people and they are afraid. She asks them to protect her family because she has helped them. They agree. Rahab lets down a rope for the spies to escape and tells them to hide in the hills for 3 days.

The spies tell Rahab to hang a crimson cord from her window and to have her family come to her home and stay there until they have finished taking the city. She agrees.

After hiding in the hills the spies return to Joshua and tell him that the land is theirs for the taking and the inhabitants are afraid.

In Joshua 3 the Israelites come to the Jordan. It is swollen from rain. Joshua instructs the Levites to carry the ark of the Covenant into the water. As their feet enter the waters from the north stood still and rose into a heap. The rest of the water flows into the Dead Sea. The people cross on dry ground while the priests stand in the middle of the Jordan on dry ground as well.

Psalm 37 could have been written for the people of Israel crossing the Jordan. David is an old man now and he tells his people to keep the law of God in their hearts. If they do they will prosper. God will take care that their steps do not slip. But the wicked will be punished.

A key line in the Psalm is in verses 23 and 24. “Our stepsare made firm by the LORD, when he delights in ourway;   though we stumble,weshall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds usby the hand. We need not fear when we stumble or struggle in this life. God is holding us by the hand. He will not let us fall.