Saturday, July 30, 2011

What I Learned from Joshua - Reading the Bible in 90 Days

As you know I have started reading the Bible. I have 90 days to complete it and I am reading it with hundreds (1200+ to be exact) of other women. Each week (and even day to day) we check-in with each other on our progress, to pray for each other, and to share our thoughts. How cool is that?


So, I thought I would take each Book of the Bible and share my thoughts, verses, or people that stood out or spoke to me on that particular day. I have been doing most of my reading in the mornings when it is quiet, but some days I have to finish up in the afternoon or evening..or even the next day! The key is to get it done. If you get behind, you keep at it....catching up in chunks each day. The readings have been manageable and I am still praying it stays that way for me.

So, here are my thoughts from the Book of Joshua:

After Moses has died, Joshua is the new leader of God's chosen people to the Promised Land.  This Book shares the final leg of their journey. 

Joshua 1:5 As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:11 After all these years of travel, hardship, and miracles - finally in just 3 days they will be crossing into the Promised Land.  The people had to be so excited. 

Joshua 3:15-17, 4:18 Another miracle of God parting the waters so the people could cross.  Then as soon as they had crossed, the water was let loose again to flow freely. 

Joshua 4:24 He did this so all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.

Joshua 6:25  I was so touched and inspired by Rahab's great faith.  I loved the lesson that God chose an unexpected woman to remind us that anyone can choose a life with God.

Joshua 7:19-26 A reminder that sin - small or large- can have great consequences.

Joshua 10:12:14 Another example of God's great power - stopping the sun in the middle of the day and keeping it from setting. 

Joshua 11:23 So Joshua took the entire land, just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal divisions.  Then the land had rest from war.

Joshua 21:43-45 So the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.  The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.  Everyone of God's promises were fulfilled.  But they were fulfilled in His time, not the Israelites time.   But the promises DID come true.  What a hope that brings and a comfort that is.

Joshua 22:5 Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.

Joshua 24:14 Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.

Joshua 24:15 ...But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

There was so much violence and killing in the Book of Joshua.  But, it was all done in the fight for Israel, God's chosen people, and to fulfill his ultimate promise.  It was a tough book to read through, but still some awesome messages in it. 

Now, on to Judges.....

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I love the story of Rahab! Such a great reminder that with God, our past doesn't matter. Our identity is found in HIM, not in our mistakes.

I'm about to finish up Deuteronomy, since I'm reading chronologically! Love it!