So, the trek is finally over.
I've been a Christian for a over 20 years and this was the first time I've read the entire journey of the Israelites from start to finish. Starting before they were delivered from slavery in Egypt until the moment they stepped foot into the promised land.
I began reading my bible because I was searching. I wanted to understand more about God's love.
I've heard it taught for years:
"God IS love!"
"God loves us so much!
"God promises this, and God promises that."
"He'll deliver you!"
But I just wasn't feeling it. Oh, I believed it. But feel it? Not so much.
Most days I felt like a disappointment, falling short of what He called me to be. "He loves me no matter what?"
We live in a world of conditional love. Our love is selfish, "what can they do for me?" It's based on feelings, hormones and past experiences.
Even though I've been taught (and have read scripture to confirm these truths) that His love is unconditional it's still sometimes hard to swallow.
I believed it with my mind.
But, being only familiar with worldly love, I just couldn't feel it with my heart.
It can be a difficult thing to align your heart with your mind.
So began my journey. I started at the beginning, the Old Testemant. I figured I'd have to drudge my way through --marching ahead with my eyes locked on the New Testament...bring on Jesus!! Jesus IS love!!!
But what God has taught me about Himself and His love through these first six books in my bible has knocked my socks off!! (in the wise words of my great friend JD)
In watching Him respond to the Israelites, He's displayed a love that truly IS unconditional.
Finally! I could relate to this love! The Israelites, they were JUST LIKE ME! They've behaved, in so many ways, the way I do!
They were selfish - I tend to think about what's best for me.
They doubted - Yup, got TONS of doubts.
They rebelled - I don't like anyone telling me what to do!
They complained - I like things to go a certain my...my way.
I'm sure I could go one, but I've pretty much convinced myself that I got it covered. I'm just like 'em.
So...I waited for God to cast them away. To turn His mighty back on them! Forget about them. Move on to "better people", people that will appreciate what He does for them.
People that will be, do, serve, love, exactly the way He wants them to. But is there such thing?
We ALL fall short.
When they complained, God gave them exactly what they wanted (remember the quail story? one of my favs) until they were sick of it!
Whey they doubted, God reminded them that it was HIS battle and encouraged them to have faith!
When they rebelled, He corrected them.
When they were captive - HE delivered them through mighty miracles.
What an A-HA moment! I feel so blessed to have found out the secret to why He loves us! Finally! The "reason" I've been searching for!
There is no reason.
It's really not as complicated as I try to make it.
I finally understand that He loves me because He has decided to.
...and certainly not because of anything I do or do not do.
He loves me because that's just who He is and no matter what I do, say, think, hear, or see - I can't escape His Love.
Nor do I want to.
Joshua 22-24
I'm so excited to move on! It's done! God kept his promise, the battle is over. Now what?
Before Joshua dies, he does as Moses did and speaks to the people one last time. He doesn't waste his last days with small talk, that's for sure!
He points out that they didn't deserve ANY of what they got - land they didn't work for, vineyards they didn't plant. He's also quick to warn them, one last time, "Honor God! Serve Him! Follow His commands!"
...and he's going to follow his own advise in vs 15:
"But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."
The people agreed saying, "We would never forsake God! He's preserved us! We're determined."
So Joshua made a covenant between God and His people and for as long as those leaders that had personally experienced God's provision lived...Israel served the Lord.
Joshua 21
A chapter of victory! Although most of the chapter is designated for "who got what land" there were a few concluding verses that could possibly be the most important verses of the first six books of the bible.
Verses 43-45 (in my words)
The Lord gave to Israel ALL the land He had promised their ancestors and they conquered and settled there. God gave them rest on every side, non of their enemies could stand against them. The Lord helped them conquer their enemies. ALL of the good promises CAME TRUE!
While I read these verses with my eyes - this is what I was reading with my heart:
The Lord gave to me ALL of the desires of my heart - love, acceptance, security, faith, grace, self-control, etc. God gave me rest, peace, and no matter what situation I found myself in -my enemies could not stand against me. The Lord helped me conquer my enemies - temptation, guilt, selfishness, shame, insecurity, laziness, the list goes on. ALL of the good promises CAME TRUE!
I, too, can live as victorious as the Israelites! I am saved, by the blood of Christ, that much is true. However, God wants me to live a life of victory! I can either stay back in the desert and eat manna (yuck) for the rest of my life or I can take a step of faith - cross over to the Jordan and eat *milk and honey! (*translation: cheesecake)
I am a child of the most high God and he's going to take care of me right where I am, every day. He's promised me that.
BUT:
I can stay comfortable, sporting my "never aging" sandals, enjoying the daily cloud of shade and warming fire at night. Yes, safe and sound in my own camp, with my own people, continually blocking the sound of God's voice telling me it's time to move on.
OR:
I can stand at the edge, expecting God to part the Jordan for me every day, so I can faithfully cross over on dry land and enjoy a feast! And not to forget, while I'm feasting there's rest on everyside! Life at it's best! Everything God intended for me! What an adventure!
Why would I want to "camp out" everynight when I can board a luxury cruise line?
That's what God wants to know....
Joshua 14
(Verses 8-13)
I just had to make a special journal entry for this small passage of scripture.
I absolutely loved reading how Caleb boasted - in the Lord. He was so thankful that he was 85 years old and in as good shape as ever! He's even talking about "driving the Anakites out of their land"!
For some reason, it strikes me funny when "characters" in the bible say or do something that makes them more "human" - in my eyes. I truly believe the bible is the inspired word of God, the living word, and I fully trust that these people existed. They were real! But, I've been reading or hearing about these people and their stories since I was little and there are some cases that they almost become "fictional" to me.
That's why I appreciate hearing an old man bragging about being as strong as he was in his youth - that he can travel and fight as good as he did before! I just just see him kicking his leg up over a chair as he said it too, just in case they didn't believe him. Grampy used to do that...
There's a powerful message in his Caleb's testimony. At first he appears to be proud - a self-reliant soldier. Although he begins by saying what he had to "do" to maintain his health it quickly becomes apparent that he wasn't tooting his own horn. He said "for my part, I followed the Lord, my God, completely."
He was simply giving credit where credit was due! He continued by saying, "the Lord has kept me alive and well."
Indeed He did. Just as He had promised.
Caleb's testimony reminded me that when we are truly witnessing, we are not talking about ourselves, but about God.
God uses our stories, but all the glory is His! Amen!
Joshua 4-13
More miracles! God parted the Jordan and His people (once again) walked on dry ground! Honestly, it's hard to believe that they are going to turn away from God again. It's just a matter of when.
As I was reading this passage, I'm embarrassed to admit that I wasn't exactly cheering for the Israelites. I was fist pumping God, excited that He showed his power again but I couldn't help but think, "They don't deserve all that God has done for them."
Wow. Self-righteous much?
But really, I couldn't help but think about how much God has done for the Israelites. I mean, He did A LOT! And it's not just what He's done for them, but how many times He's forgiven them!
And Moses has already prophesied that they are going to turn their backs on God again! "Why, those ungrateful, disobedient, sandal wearing, cloud following...."
Then the light bulb flickered.
How have I been any different? How many times have I expected God to give me HIS best, when I was so unwilling to give him MY best?
It's caused me to change the way I look at obedience. It's made me want to please God.
Even though I know that God knows my heart inside and out...there are times when I don't. I know my salvation is not about acts but I kind of like having a "tangible" way to show God that I love Him back.
Boy, it's real easy to see the faults in others, eh? Maybe I ought to take the plank out of my eye next time I look in the mirror.
Joshua 1-3
The book of Joshua was only 24 chapters so I read them over a couple of days. Most of the book is an account of the wars that were fought and what land was given to which tribe.
I found myself skimming through a lot of Joshua. However, when I went back to begin journaling what I had underlined, I realized there were quite a few things that touched my heart and lessons to be learned in this great book.
First, I loved the little "pep talk" God gave, directly, to Joshua. He tells him three times "be strong and courageous!" He also tells him not to be discouraged, or afraid, and to keep His laws. He promises to be with him just as He was with Moses!
"I will not fail you or abandon you." (1:5)
That must have meant a lot to Joshua because I'm sure he questioned his ability to follow in the steps of Moses.
The people even assured him that they would "do what he commanded and go where he sends them" and mimicked the words of their God - "be strong and courageous!"
I imagine people were tempted to "compare" Joshua's leadership to that of Moses. In fact, the bible records moments when they said to him, "the Lord instructed Moses...."
Joshua could have fallen into a trap of self doubt but instead he marched on knowing that God was with him and that he had a very specific purpose!
Both he and Moses had their own part to play and Joshua must have been able to recognize that. He understood that the nation's true leader was God and THAT never changed.
Only the instrument He used.
True to his word (was there any doubt?) God went ahead and showed them favor long before the Israelites took their first step into battle.
Joshua sent two spies into the promise land much the way Moses did, to "size up" the competition. However, this time...the outcome was very different. They ran into a prostitute and this is what she told them:
1. I know the Lord has given you this land.
2. We are all afraid. EVERYONE is living in terror.
3. We have heard the Lord has made a dry path for you.
4. Our hearts are melted in fear!
5. NO ONE has the courage to fight.
6. Your God, is the supreme God.
7. Jericho will be conquered.
Imagine!!! Knowing you are going to war and the opposition is scared to death of you! They do not have the courage to fight!
God HAS gone before you!
Just as God said, waaaaay back in Exodus, people are hearing the great things He has done for them!
In chapter 2 verse 24 the spies went back to the people and told them, "the Lord is going to give us the whole land for sure! All of the people in the land are terrified of our people!!"
Um, yeah. Hasn't God been telling them that all along?
Why is we have to see for ourselves or even hear it from someone else before we believe that what God says is true?
