anitasanecdotes

Congratulations, this is day 100 of our reading the Bible.

As Joshua 23 opens Israel has been at peace for a long time. Joshua is an old man and he addresses the people

of Israel. He reminds then that God is keeping them safe because they are being faithful to the commandments God has given them. Joshua encourages them to continuing obeying the Lord by staying separate from the nations that still reside in their lands. They should not intermarry or be involved with their gods.  If they disobey God in this manner they will kindle God’s anger and He will let them be taken by the nations He has staved off.

In Joshua 24 Joshua recounts the history of the people from the beginnings with Terah and Abraham until the present. He gives them a choice to serve the gods of other nations or to serve the Lord and says to them, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The people answer that it is the Lord who has brought them to this place and they will serve Him because He is their God.

Joshua responds that they cannot serve the Lord if they serve other gods. The people state again that they will serve the Lord. Again Joshua has the people witness that they will serve the Lord. Joshua makes a covenant with the people and puts is on a stone along with the law of God. He places the stone in the sanctuary and states that it will serve as a witness against them if they choose to disobey God. Joshua sends the people home to their inheritances.

Joshua dies and is buried in his town. The bones of Joseph, which had been brought with the people from Egypt, are buried in Shechem.

Romans 15 opens with Paul saying that those who are strong should put up with those who are weak. We must please our neighbor in order to build them up. So, who is the strong and who is the weak? I think if we understand that we are strong and everyone else is weak, then we will be certain to build up the other and not insist on our own way. Paul tells us to welcome everyone as Christ has welcomed us even in the midst of our sin.

In Joshua 20 the people appoint cities of refuge for those who have killed someone by mistake. They are kept safe in the city until a trial takes place. This fulfills one of God’s commands.

In Joshua 21 the Levites receive towns and pasture lands in each of the tribal regions. There is now a levitical presence in every region. This fulfills another of God’s commands. God protects the people of Israel. And as verse 45 states all of God’s promises are kept.

In Joshua 22 Joshua acknowledges that the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh have fulfilled their promise to help the other tribes acquire their land. Joshua blesses them and sends them back to their lands on the other side of the Jordan. He exhorts them to keep God’s commandments and to serve Him with all their heart and soul.

Before they cross the Jordan the Reubenites, Gadites and half-tribe of Manasseh build a great altar. This altar is on the side of the river that belongs to the other Israelites. The Israelites see the altar and believe that the others have turned away from God and will bring curses upon them. They make plans to go to war with the three tribes. Before they do they send Phineas the priest to them. He confronts the three tribes and asks why they have built an altar for burnt offerings which is against God’s commands. The three tribes assure Phineas that they have not turned away from God. The altar is not meant for burnt offerings, rather it is an altar of witness to show the future generations of  people of Israel that they are faithful to God. Phineas affirms that this is a good thing and tells the Israelites. The Israelites make no more plans for war.

This is a perfect example of how to handle misunderstanding and assumptions in a faith community. Often we misunderstand why a member has done something. We assume that it is for a wrong reason or that they have done it to hurt others. If only we would go and talk to the person who has offended and allow him or her to explain, we would probably find that our assumptions are not based in fact and no offense should be taken. Right actions such as these would stop many battles from occurring.

Psalm 39 is a lament Psalm. Clearly the writer is suffering. He is airing his complaint to God and asking for deliverance from his suffering. He believes he is being punished and asks God to show mercy.

Joshua 16 and 17 continue with the allocation of lands to the tribes of Israel. The descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim are many and need more land than one allotment each. Joshua encourages them to take land beyond the borders of the land they had taken in battle. They have already put some of the Canaanites into servitude, but now they are encouraged to take land by force.

In Joshua 18 and 19 the people set up the tent of meeting at Shiloh. Seven tribes still have not received their allotments. Joshua sends representatives from those tribes to survey the remaining land and determine the borders for themselves. Joshua and Eleazar the priest are given towns. The land is finally divided.

In Romans 14 Paul addresses some of the quarrels that have broken out in the fellowship. He encourages them not to judge the practices of others. All are doing what they are doing for the Lord and that is all that matters. He encourages them not to think about themselves but rather about the other and to try to live their lives without putting a stumbling block in their way. When they are together they should try to live in a way that will keep another’s faith from being injured. He says that the faith they have, they have as their own conviction before God. If they approve of what they do in faith then it is a blessing, however if they have doubt about certain acts feeling that it is not faithful then those same acts are sin to them.

Paul asserts that Jesus says that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for an individual if he or she believes it is. Belonging to the kingdom is not determined by those things that we do but by the righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. One who serves Christ is acceptable to God and should have human approval. But we should pursue what brings peace to the community and building up of others. Those who are struggling with the behavior of others should try not to judge. Those who are doing the activity should try to refrain when in the others presence so as not to be a stumbling block.

This is an attitude that is a struggle for those of us who live with the concept of individual freedom. We all want to believe that we should be able to do and believe what we want. Unfortunately, many of us are not as accepting of others doing and believing what they want. Paul is encouraging all of us not to judge the activities of others but on the other hand to try and think about what others think when in their presence to keep peace.

Joshua 12, 13, 14 and 15 speak of the kings who are defeated by Joshua and how the land is allotted by both Moses and Joshua to the people of Israel. Of note is the distribution to Caleb (Joshua 14). When he spied out the land of Canaan while the people were in the wilderness, he and Joshua were the only ones who believed that God would prevail. Moses promised Caleb the land he had spied. Joshua gives him this land and blesses Caleb because he followed the Lord. The Jebusites who live in Jerusalem cannot be driven out so they live with the people of Judah who inherit the city.

In Romans 13 Paul encourages Christians to be subject to governing authorities and to pay their taxes. He asserts that if they are doing what is right then they will not get into trouble. Paul’s reasoning for this is that authorities are instituted by God. Disobedience to them is actually disobedience to God.

This is not a statement about the linking of the church and the state. Of course, at the time of Paul the Caesars were in power in Rome. No one would have confused them as being pro-Christian. What he is encouraging is good citizenship. Also what he is saying is that God is in control even when government is bad. Suffering under oppression brings strength of faith. One should still comport oneself well so that there is no good reason to be punished. Being punished while doing good becomes a strong witness.

Paul also encourages believers to love one another and gives a description of the kind of life this life of love embraces. Again, our aim is to put on Christ and not to gratify our own desires.

In Joshua 10 and 11 the kings of the Amorites gather their forces to attack Gibeon because the Gibeonites made a treaty with Joshua. Joshua brings his warriors to Gibeon with the promise from God that He has already handed them over. Joshua and his warriors surprise the Amorites and they flee. God throws huge hailstones down on them and the Amorites die. Joshua asks that the sun stands still so they can finish their conquest. The sun remains in the sky for a whole day. The Lord fought for Israel.

Joshua finds out that the kings are hiding in a cave. He imprisons them there while he leads his people in destroying the towns. After he is finished Joshua kills the kings.

Joshua and his warriors continue fighting and defeat the whole land: the hill country, the Negeb, the lowland and the slopes. No one is left alive just as the Lord commanded. Joshua and the Israelites return to the camp at Gilgal.

Other kings gather immense forces together to fight the Israelites. But God is with the Israelites and they conquer all their enemies. The fighting lasts a long time. After the conflicts Joshua gives the land to the Israelites as an inheritance just as God had promised to Moses. And the land rests from war.

God is interested in ridding the land of all those who follow other gods. Joshua and the people are obedient to the Lord and the Lord blesses their efforts. The Promised Land now belongs to the people God has chosen.

Psalm 38 is a psalm of repentance. David has sinned and because of his iniquity he is suffering physical pain and affliction. David confesses his sin. He asks God not to forsake him and bring his help.

As Joshua 8 opens the people have been forgiven for their disobedience. Now God gives them the city of Ai. Joshua sets up an ambush for the men of the city. When Joshua and the elders come up to the city walls the men of Ai chase them toward the wilderness. Joshua’s army takes the city and burns it to the ground. The army of Ai sees the destruction and turns to go back but they are trapped by Israelites on all sides. All the people of Ai are killed except the king. The livestock and spoils are taken as booty by the Israelites, just as God commanded. Joshua burns Ai to the ground and hangs the king.

Joshua builds an altar to the Lord and they offer burnt offerings and sacrificial offerings of well-being to God. Joshua wrote the law of Moses on the stones of the altar. He read the entire law to the all people of Israel: men, women, children and resident aliens.

Many died in the first rout against Ai because they did not obey the law of God. Joshua wanted to make certain that everyone knew the law so they would not be disobedient again.

In Joshua 9 the kings of the rest of the Promised Land hear about Jericho and Ai and gather to fight against Joshua and Israel. But the people of Gibeon trick the Israelites instead of fighting them. They pretend that they have come from far away; wearing worn-out clothes and bringing moldy bread, and want to become Israel’s servants.

Instead of consulting with God they believe the Gibeonites and make a treaty with them. The treaty ensures that they will not kill the people of Gibeon. Three days later the Israelites find out that in fact Gibeon is close by. The Israelites could not attack them because of the treaty. Instead they make them their slaves. When Joshua asks them why they had tricked him they respond that they were in fear for their lives.

Romans 12 is one of the most well-known passages in the letter. Paul has confronted the issues facing the Jewish and Gentile believers, stating that none are righteous by themselves, all need the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Now he encourages them to become living sacrifices to God. Both the Jews and Gentiles are familiar with the meaning of sacrifice for atonement and in thanksgiving. Paul is saying that we should be the sacrifice through confession and service. He exhorts us to be transformed in our minds, not being driven by our selfish desires as those in the world, but being driven by the will of God.

We should recognize the gifts that each one of us has been given. We should live in community with one another with love, compassion, and service. None of us is better than the other and all deserve our care.

These words are good standards by which to judge our motives and actions. As we consider doing anything: whether inside the community of faith or outside in the world; it would be good for us to check to see if we are following these guidelines. They will help us to discern God’s will for our interactions with others.

In Joshua 6 and 7 the people of Israel come to the walls of Jericho. The city is locked up tight. God tells the people to walk around the city with the Ark of the Covenant in the lead followed by seven priests with seven trumpets, the warriors from the twelve tribes and then all of the people. For six days the people walk silently around the city one time each day. On the seventh day, the people walk around the city seven times. After the seventh time the priests blow the trumpets and the people give a loud shout. The walls of Jericho crumble. All of the citizens of Jericho are killed except for Rahab and her family. They are spared because Rahab hid the spies went they checked out the city. The people loot the city of all the gold, silver, bronze and iron and are to put it into the treasury of the house of the Lord.

Unfortunately Achan a member of the tribe of Judah keeps the items he looted. God is angry with the Israelites for his disobedience. Joshua sends spies to the next city, Ai. The spies report that it should be easy for them to win the battle. But the Israelites lost the battle with the army of Ai. Joshua falls down and asks God why he allowed the people to fail. Now the Canaanites will conquer the Israelites and demean God’s name. But God tells Joshua to stand up. He tells Joshua of the people’s sin. They have broken the covenant God established with them. He says the only way to reestablish the covenant is if the people sanctify themselves by destroying the items they stole from God. God has all of the tribes come before Him. He selects out the tribe of Judah from the twelve tribes as the one that has sinned. Then He narrows down the guilty party by clan, family, household and individual until He chooses Achan. Joshua has Achan confess his sin to the Lord. Achan admits his guilt and tells Joshua that the items are buried in his tent. Messengers bring the items to Joshua. Joshua and all of Israel take Achan and his loot away from the campsite. They stone Achan and burn him and his loot because of his sin. God is no longer angry with the people. The place where Achan was killed is known as the Valley of Achor which means “trouble.”

We might wonder how it can be that Achan would forget the covenant so soon after Moses declared it to them. They had just heard all of the laws: the blessings and the curses. They knew that there would be grave consequences for disobedience. And yet when Achan saw the beauty of the loot he had taken, he couldn’t resist the temptation. How many of us would be in his shoes? We worship God on Sunday and sin on Monday. How quickly we forget.

In Romans 11 Paul continues his thoughts about the fact that so many Jews have rejected Jesus and now are not saved. He entertains the question “Has God rejected his people?” Paul says emphatically, “No!” To Paul’s thinking it is necessary for the Jews to stumble so that the Gentiles may be reached. As the Gentiles are reached the Jews become jealous and may come to know Jesus.

The fact that the gospel is open to the Gentiles is not something they should boast about, that they now have something that was promised to the Jews. If they turn away, they too, risk punishment. Also when someone who has turned away comes again, they are welcomed back with open arms.

Paul believes that Israel has been hardened so that the full number of Gentiles will be included. When this is complete all of Israel will be saved. God will keep His covenant with His people. “God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that He may be merciful to all.”

So often we limit God because of our limited understanding. We believe that we have a handle on God’s judgment and God’s mercy. But our God is greater than any of our imaginings. His love is deeper, His grace is greater than any we can conceive. We are his children whom he calls “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Joshua 4 begins with the people of Israel crossing the dry Jordan riverbed. Joshua tells a member of each of the twelve tribes to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan where the priests stand with the Ark of the Covenant. They are to bring the stones into camp with them. The stones will serve as a reminder to future generations of what God has done.

God exalts Joshua in front of the people and they stand in awe of him. God commands the priests to bring the Ark of the Covenant out of the Jordan. As soon as their feet touch the dry ground the river waters begin to flow again. Joshua sets up the stones in Gilgal and tells the people to tell their children what the stones mean when they ask. God dried up the Jordan for them to cross over just as He had done at the Red Sea.

It is important to have reminders of what God has done in our lives. In church we see empty crosses, baptismal fonts, the table with bread and a cup…reminders of what God has done. Do you have any reminders in your home that can prompt you to tell the story of how God has worked in your life?

As Joshua 5 opens the kings of the Promised Land hear that the Israelites have crossed over. They are frightened by the prospect.

God commands Joshua to circumcise all the males who have been born during the journey through the wilderness. None of them were circumcised on the journey. While they are waiting to heal the feast of Passover takes place. They are able to use the grains produced by the Promised Land for the unleavened bread. On this day the manna ceased to be produced. The people no longer need God’s special provision of food. The land will provide.

Later Joshua sees a man with a drawn sword standing in front of him. He asks if the man is one of their enemies. The man replies that he is the commander of the Lord’s army. The commander tells Joshua to remove his sandals because he is standing on holy ground, just like God said to Moses at the burning bush.

In Romans 10, Paul attests to the fact that the Jews who do not believe in Jesus have a zeal for God but they are not enlightened to the truth. Christ is the end, that is, the completion of the law. Righteousness comes no longer from keeping the law, but from belief in Jesus. Now all who believe are saved.

Paul says that the only way to believe is to hear the word. To hear the word someone must proclaim it. Some may ask if the Jews have heard the word. Paul responds that the word is being proclaimed. There is no excuse, but as Moses and Isaiah prophesied, God has held out His hand to Israel and now is turning to others as well.

While belief in Christ comes from the heart, it does not happen magically. God is revealed in His creation; Christ is revealed in the word proclaimed. Take time this week to be the one who proclaims the good news of Jesus to someone who needs to hear.

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.

In Deuteronomy 33 Moses blesses the Israelites. He gives each tribe God’s blessing and encouragement to follow the commandments.

In Deuteronomy 34 Moses climbs Mount Nebo and the Lord shows him the Promised Land. God tells Moses that this is the land He promised to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and not he is fulfilling His promise.

Moses dies on Mount Nebo. The people mourn him for 30 days. Because Moses had laid his hands on Joshua as the new leader the people follow Joshua and do as Moses commanded them.

Moses is considered to be the greatest of the prophets of God. He spoke directly to God and God knew him face to face. He performed many miracles and spoke for God to the people.

In Romans 9 Paul mourns the fact that so many of the Jews do not believe that Jesus is the chosen Messiah. But he acknowledges that although God made his covenant with the patriarchs, not all of their children were counted as God’s chose people. He accepts that even though Christ came for the Jews first not all of them will believe. God will choose those on whom He will show mercy. Paul recounts the history of the people of Israel: that only a remnant of them was saved.  Jesus is the way of salvation but also a stumbling block to some.