Bible Pathways 03/21/05
March 21
Read Joshua 22 - 24
In Today's Reading:
Two and one-half tribes build an altar, then return east of the Jordan; civil war averted; Joshua's final proclamation
When God told Joshua: Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given to you, as I said to Moses (Joshua 1:3), Joshua did not merely "trust the Lord" that He would force the Canaanites to voluntarily give up their land. The fact is, the Israelites received their inheritance by faith; but they were to fight for every foot of land that God had promised them.
After about seven years, the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, had conquered all of Canaan. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that He swore to their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand (21:44).
However, the Israelites' greatest danger was yet to be faced. Joshua said to the people. . . . If you forsake the LORD, and serve strange (foreign) gods, then He will turn and do you hurt (bring disaster) and (if there is no repentance) consume (destroy) you, after that He has done you good. . . . Now therefore put away . . . the strange gods which are among you, and incline (yield) your heart to the LORD God of Israel (24:19-20,23). Jesus (same as Joshua in Hebrew) freed us from sin by His substitutionary death on the cross and His triumphant physical resurrection.
We too need to be reminded daily to incline our heart to the LORD. What a tragedy that so many people assume once a person has accepted Jesus Christ as Savior, he has nothing to do but "just leave everything up to the Lord." The truth is, the Lord has left it up to us. Wherefore take to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt (belted) about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench (put out, extinguish) all the fiery darts (arrows, shots) of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).
Word Studies:
22:10 to see to = for all to see (see 22:27); 22:29 meat offerings = cereal (grain); 23:1 waxed old = grew old; 23:8 cleave = remain faithful.
Christ Revealed:
Through the peace offering (Joshua 22:27). Our Lord offered Himself to God as our means of peace with the Father. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1).
Prayer Needs:
Pray for BPM Staff: Clarence Rathbone · Government Officials: Rep. James Matheson (UT) and Sen. Ken Salazar (CO) · Country: Romania (22 million) in southeastern Europe · Major languages: Rumanian and Hungarian · Freedom of worship · 70% Eastern Orthodox; 7% Protestant; 6% Roman Catholic; 1% Muslim · Prayer Suggestion: Pray and depend upon the Lord when in need for He will not forsake you (Isaiah 41:17).
Optional Reading: John 12
Memory Verse for the Week: Colossians 2:10
