February 21 - Joshua 5-8
Before the fall of Jericho the people follow the Lord by circumcising the younger generation before the occupation of the Promised Land. Circumcision was a sign of the Old Covenant. It was a physical way to make sure the people knew the covenant with God. Then, they kept the Passover feast to remember the Exodus again. These are two powerful spiritual experiences to draw the people to trust God completely. Also, the manna stopped, because they were in the Land, and they could eat from the produce there. That was God's way of saying that He had been faithful to meet their needs in the wilderness, and now they were in the land flowing with milk and honey.
The fall of Jericho is always a lesson in trusting God even when His instructions are not logical. No human would choose this battle plan, but God did. It worked perfectly because they followed Him completely. That is how it is with us today.
The the sin of Achan and the defeat at Ai show how quickly we can fall into sin and defeat. It also shows how the sin of one person effects many people. The sin had to be removed before the blessing of taking the city could be given. Then, Joshua wisely renewed the covenant with the Lord and read the Law again, so the people would not fall into rebellion again.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 9-11.
The fall of Jericho is always a lesson in trusting God even when His instructions are not logical. No human would choose this battle plan, but God did. It worked perfectly because they followed Him completely. That is how it is with us today.
The the sin of Achan and the defeat at Ai show how quickly we can fall into sin and defeat. It also shows how the sin of one person effects many people. The sin had to be removed before the blessing of taking the city could be given. Then, Joshua wisely renewed the covenant with the Lord and read the Law again, so the people would not fall into rebellion again.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Joshua 9-11.