The Jordan River not only flows through the land of Israel; it also flows through biblical history. Let’s pause to think carefully about this historic event. The holy ark, where God resided on earth, took its place in the river. What river? The Jordan, or Yarden, as the Hebrew has it, from yarad, meaning “to […]
As was said of the Thames, the Jordan River—for far longer and far greater—is liquid history. The spies returned across the Jordan. Rahab, not taking any chances, immediately “bound the scarlet cord in the window” (Jos 2:21). How appropriate to be in suspense about the fate of this woman. You know what suspense means—to be […]
So that’s why the spies selected Rahab’s house! It was built on the wall of Jericho! Over and out! Rahab has found a way to spare the lives of the two spies. Now how will the spies spare Rahab? After all, she was a cursed Canaanite. And to complicate things further, “her house was on […]
Jericho must fall. Israel can’t move inland while the possibility of an attack from the rear exists. The Israeli Mossad evidently has a long history! “Joshua…sent out two men…to spy secretly, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho’” (Jos 2:1). If only there had been just two spies to search out the land 40 years […]
Read More… from March 22, 2023 — A Cursed Woman In A Cursed Profession In A Cursed City
The Christian life is a fight. Courage is crucial because everything worth having must be fought for. “Be strong and of good courage.” This we read not once but four times in Joshua 1 (vv 6, 7, 9, 18). Although the words strong and courageous are related, there is a difference. I’ve seen strong men […]
Let’s hope we’re actually standing on the promises, and not just sitting in the premises. There are certain walls in a house that are designated as load-bearing because they are essential to the support of the whole structure. Similarly, we may call God’s promises load-bearing. On the foundation of these promises rests the entire plan […]
Read More… from March 20, 2023 — Promises That Hold Up God’s Universe
You’ve noticed: “Moses My servant is dead.” But it should be just as obvious: you’re not—yet! Like a great bell tolling, the name of Moses will ring more than 50 times throughout the book of Joshua. “Moses the servant of the Lord” (Jos 1:1) may be gone, but his service to God and His people […]
“Rest is not quitting our busy career; Rest is the fitting of self to one’s sphere.” —J.S. Dwight The land of Israel was to be a place of rest for the people of God, the point made by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Of course now it is not a place but […]
Read More… from March 16, 2023 — An Overview Of The Book (Part 2)
“Faith is an affirmation and an act That bids eternal truth be fact.” —Samuel Taylor Coleridge The book of Joshua is a vital link in the history of faith. The Pentateuch tells of the long process by which God called a man out of Chaldea, and then called a nation out of Egypt. The rest […]
Read More… from March 15, 2023 — An Overview Of The Book (Part 1)