This article was first published on our church website. READ 15 “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.” 16 The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the … Continue reading Joshua 17: Grit
Richard Foster in his excellent book Celebration of Discipline (pg 110) writes: “In some ways we would prefer to hear Jesus’ call to deny father and mother, houses and land for the sake of the gospel than his word to wash feet. Radical self-denial gives the feel of adventure. … But in service, we much experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves. … Continue reading The many little deaths in serving others
This article was first published on our church website. READ “They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people …” (Josh 16:10) THINK A throwaway line at the end of a chapter that may interest government officers involved in boundary changes but not the rest of us. Right? This apparently incidental statement about how the Ephraimites … Continue reading JOSHUA 16: THEY DID NOT DISLODGE THEM
This article was first published on our church website Read “When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken.” (v1) Think We live in days when self-fulfilment, achievement and success are powerful motivators. We are told to make our lives matter. We are encouraged to feel like … Continue reading I’m Irreplaceable!
This article was first published on our church website READ “The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel.” (Josh 11:7) THINK The story of Joshua is one of recurring themes. And one of them is “Do not be afraid”. Ten chapters earlier (or approximately 250 verses), before any … Continue reading Do not be afraid
This article was first published on our church website Yes that did say Poetry READ “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies” (Verse 12b-13) THINK I want you to think for a few moments about a word that not many of us … Continue reading Poetry
This article was first published on our church website Read 20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the … Continue reading The need for community
This article was first published on our church website READ 4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number … Continue reading Hurry
This article was first published on ourchurch website READ “Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.” (Josh 2:1) THINK By the start of Chapter 2 of Joshua, the pace of the story is picking up. The war … Continue reading Grace shines brightly in uncertain times
The following article was first published on our church website. READ “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you … Continue reading What to do when the unexpected happens
