R³ Devotional - Day 82

As the book of Joshua opens, the Israelites are camped along the east bank of the Jordan River at the very edge of the Promised Land, and they are completing the mourning period for Moses, who had just died (Deuteronomy 34: 7-8).  Thirty-nine years earlier (after spending a year at Mount Sinai receiving God’s law), the Israelites had an opportunity to enter the Promised Land, but they failed to trust God to give them victory.  As a result, God did not allow them to enter the land but made them wander in the wilderness until the disobedient generation had all died.  

• During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites obeyed God’s laws.  They also taught the new generation to obey God’s laws so that they might enter the Promised Land (also called Canaan).  As the children grew, they were often reminded that faith and obedience to God brought victory, while unbelief and disobedience brought tragedy.  When the last of the older generation had died and the new generation had become adults, the Israelites prepared to make their long-awaited claim on the Promised Land.  

• Joshua succeeded Moses as Israel’s leader.  What qualifications did he have to become the leader of a nation?  (1) God appointed him (Numbers 27: 18-23).  (2) He was one of only two living adult eyewitnesses to the Egyptian plagues and the Exodus from Egypt.  (3) He was Moses’ personal aide for 40 years.  (4) Of the 12 scouts, only he and Caleb showed complete confidence that God would help them conquer the land.

  

• Because Joshua had assisted Moses for many years, he was well prepared to take over the leadership of the nation.  If everyone had tried to conquer the Promised Land his own way, chaos would have resulted.  In order to complete the enormous task of conquering the land, everyone had to agree to the leader’s plan and be willing to support and obey him.  If we are going to complete the tasks God has given us, we must fully agree to His plan, pledge ourselves to obey it, and put His principles into action.  Agreeing to God’s plan means both knowing what the plan is (as found in the Bible) and carrying it out daily.  

• As we look at Chapter 2 we ask, why did Joshua send the spies secretly?  As far as he knew, he would be attacking a heavily fortified city using conventional warfare tactics.  He needed strategic information about the city for the upcoming battle.  But he also knew that this might draw criticism from the other leaders.  After all, the last time spies were sent, the report they brought back caused disastrous problems (see Numbers 13: 1-14; 4).  While he did not want to move ahead without information, he also did not want to cause the people to stumble and question his wisdom and ability to lead the nation.  

• Why would the Israelite spies stop at the house of Rahab, a prostitute?  (1) It was a good place to gather information and have no questions asked in return.  (2) Rahab’s house was in an ideal location for a quick escape because it was built into the city wall (2: 15).  (3) God directed the spies to Rahab’s house because He knew her heart was open to Him and that she would be instrumental in the Israelite victory over Jericho.  God often uses people with simple faith to accomplish His great purposes, no matter what kind of past they have had or how insignificant they seem to be.  Rahab didn’t allow her past to keep her from the new role God had for her.  The spies were able to hide amongst the flax that had been harvested and stacked on roofs.  
  
  
• Many would assume that Rahab – a pagan, a Canaanite, and a prostitute – would never be interested in God.  Well, quite the contrary.  Rahab was willing to risk everything she had for a God she barely knew.  We must not gauge a person’s interest in God by his or her background, lifestyle, or appearance.  We should let nothing get in the way of our telling people the Good News.  
  
  
• Rahab recognized something that many of the Israelites did not – the God of Heaven is not an ordinary God!  He is all-powerful.  The people of Jericho were afraid because they heard the news of God’s extraordinary power in defeating the armies across the Jordan River.  Today we can worship the same powerful, miracle-working God.  He is powerful enough to destroy mighty, wicked armies, as He did in Jericho.  He is also powerful enough to save us from certain death, as He did with Rahab.  
  
  
• Chapter 3 is concerned with the Israelites crossing the Jordan River and the care of moving the ark of the covenant.  The Ark of the Covenant was Israel’s most sacred treasure.  It was a symbol of God’s presence and power.  God had chosen the springtime to have the Israelites cross the Jordan River.  God chose this time as the river was at its highest, to demonstrate His power – parting the waters so that the entire nation could cross on dry ground.
  
  

Finally, we see in Chapter 4, after the people safely crossed the river, what would be next?  Conquering the land?  Not yet.  First, God directed them to build a memorial from 12 stones drawn from the river by 12 men, one from each tribe.  The memorial of 12 stones was to be a constant reminder of the day the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.  Their children would see the stones, hear the story, and learn about God.  

Real, relevant, and ready.
 
Do you have traditions – special dates or special places – to help your children learn about God’s work in your life?  Do you take the time to tell them what God has done for you – forgiving and saving you, answering your prayers, supplying your needs?  Retelling your story will help keep memories of God’s faithfulness alive in your family.