Category Archives: dependence upon God
ministry and conflict #1
Joshua 10 The massive acquisition of the Southern Canaan territories came about as a result of responding to a plea for help by the Gibeonites. The kings of those lands had determined to punish Gibeon for its alliance with the … Continue reading
missions and common sense
Joshua 9 The lesson the Israelite leaders learned from the Gibeonite deception was an important one. Whatever they did, they needed to seek the LORD’s guidance first. Although God was withy them, and promised to give them the land, he … Continue reading
missions and the valley of trouble
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
our missions–his victories
Joshua 6 Most of us are used to reading Joshua 6 as a Sunday School story – one that encourages believers to stay in line and shout when we’re told to (or something like that). Another way to read it … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, discernment, faithfulness, kingdom of God, missions
Tagged Joshua 6
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the real mission commander
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
getting ready for missions
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
Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, discernment, missions, preparation
Tagged Joshua 3
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God’s sovereignty and missions
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
in retrospect: the end
Deuteronomy 34 Why did God not let Moses cross over the Jordon to set foot in the promised land before he died? Partly it was because of his sin, but there is more to it than that. Moses’ life serves … Continue reading
in retrospect: no empty word
Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47 Moses’ retirement speech was not a series of platitudes and celebration of the past. He shared a warning for the generations that followed. God is not like the gods of the nations that the Israelites are about to … Continue reading
Posted in dependence upon God, enemies, ethnic Israel, judgment, plan of God
Tagged Deuteronomy 31, Deuteronomy 32
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in retrospect: what if?
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
Posted in commitment, dependence upon God, discernment, faithfulness
Tagged Deuteronomy 28
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Devotions 