God commissions Joshua. He said, "Arise, and go over
Jordan" (Josh 1:2) God also told him to be strong and of good courage,
that He was with him and would not leave him or forsake him. He said to
meditate on the Book of the Law day and night.
We have to keep God’s Word on our mouth, for it brings life. If
it is difficult for you to study the Bible, pray for God to open it up to you
and He will. He will give you a love for the Word. He is looking for
those who are hungry.
Joshua told the people to sanctify themselves and they would cross the
Jordan. When the priests stepped foot into the Jordan, God held back the
current 30 miles away. Joshua packed up an entire nation and marched
straight into a raging river. (Josh 1-3)
Have we sanctified ourselves? We must actively pursue a life of
holiness and righteousness. David prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my
heart…my thoughts” (Ps 139) God may be working on your behalf a great distance
away and you can’t see what He’s doing- you have to step out in
faith. People today don’t see rivers parting because they stand on the
river bank in fear.
Once they were in the Promised Land, there were still battles to
fight. Joshua was ready to take the land, in doing so they had to rise up
against the people that lived there. The first battle is with Jericho.
Joshua sent spies to Jericho.
They come to the home of a prostitute named Rahab. She feared
God and realized that He is the God of heaven and earth. She protected
the spies and spared their lives and in turn they spared her and her family
when they marched against the city. She hid the men and then let them escape by
hanging a scarlet cord from her window- (symbolic of the blood of
Christ). This cord was the means by which she and her family were saved.
Rahab married a man from the tribe of Judah. She became the
great-grandmother of David. Her name is listed in the lineage of
Jesus. She’s also listed in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11.
A woman with a past- actually, a present-one that few would take the
time to save…but, she meant something to God. My eyes fill with tears at this
story. God looks beyond our faults- our mistakes- our weaknesses. He
throws to us the scarlet cord of grace- the blood Jesus shed on Calvary- and we
no longer bear the guilt of sin.
God told the Israelites to not make any treaties with the Canaanites.
They were tricked by the Gibeonites who pretended to be from far away. After
they realized their mistake, they made the them their servants. Some time
later, the Gibeonites sent word to Joshua to help them in fighting 5 nations.
God told Joshua they would be victorious. They marched all night and fought all
day. Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to stand still, and they did for almost
the length of another day. They won against all 5 nations. (Joshua 9-10)
There will be times in our life when we may have to march all night
and go right into a fight in a 48 -hour day. The odds were 5 to 1 against
Joshua, but God gave them the victory. He could’ve handed the enemy into their
hands quickly, but He didn’t. It may have seemed unfair. How you
ever felt your life was unfair?
There are many areas that we battle in life- our marriage, finances,
physical or emotional issues-
Have you ever fought a battle that, like Joshua, was the result of
your own stupidity?
You can’t stop fighting-
There will be times when God demands everything we’ve got- when we
can’t even think about tomorrow as we try to make it through today. During
those times- keep fighting- keep your trust in God.
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