Category Archives: commitment

missions and procrastination

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 18-19 The land lay subdued before them, but the Israelites took their time allotting the land.  Joshua said “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your … Continue reading →

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mission and limits

Posted on July 15, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 15 Joshua’s mission was to lead the people of Israel on a conquest of the land.  Many of the cities listed in this chapter attest to the success of that mission.  But there were limits to that success.  “But … Continue reading →

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missions and second chances

Posted on July 10, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 8 Once more the LORD challenges Joshua to take Ai. He commands him not to fear, and ensures him that he has given the city into Joshua’s hand.  In the process of following God’s call, we are going to … Continue reading →

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missions and the valley of trouble

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 7 Joshua assumed that all he had to do was follow the same game plan that had led to success at Jericho.  He sent out spies, they sent back a favorable report. He commissioned the attack. Then it all … Continue reading →

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the real mission commander

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 5 The Israelites had consecrated themselves by reinstituting the sign of the covenant at Gilgal: circumcision.  They had put their hearts and minds back onto the reality of their rescue by celebrating the Passover.  Now, they were ready fort … Continue reading →

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getting ready for missions

Posted on July 5, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 3 Joshua’s instructions to the people were “ Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”  It would have been easy to focus on the obstacles to their mission, and many still do.  Such negative thoughts … Continue reading →

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God’s sovereignty and missions

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 2 Rahab’s choice to protect the Israelite spies is an example of how our human wills work in conjunction with God’s sovereign choice in salvation.  Rahab would become an Israelite, even an ancestor of Christ (Matthew 1:5).  The LORD … Continue reading →

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a theology of missions

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Joshua 1 The book of Acts has been called the missions manual of the New Testament.  Joshua serves a similar purpose for the old covenant community.  Chapter 1 gives all the elements the Israelites needed for a theology of missions. … Continue reading →

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in retrospect: the secretly disobedient

Posted on June 27, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Deuteronomy 29:1-30:10 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV) Moses called … Continue reading →

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in retrospect: what if?

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 Moses was an old man, and the Israelites associated him with their past – which they wanted to forget.  “Well, OK”, says Moses, “as long as you learn the lessons from the past, you can concentrate on the … Continue reading →

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