hurry up and wait

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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hurry up and wait

Joshua 3:1-2 (JDV)

Joshua 3:1 Joshua started early the next morning and left the Acacia Grove with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing.
Joshua 3:2 After three days the officers went through the camp

hurry up and wait

If the people had to wait three days at the Jordan, why didn’t they just stay those three days at the Acacia Grove? One of the reasons is momentum. Joshua urged the people to pick up and leave as soon as he got the favorable report from the spies. They were setting off for war, and they were to take no time to second-guess that decision.

But once they got to the Jordan, they needed the time to consecrate themselves to the task, and they needed to wait on God’s timing to jump-start their faith with a new miracle.

Lord, make us sensitive to your timing.

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faith that sees beyond

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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faith that sees beyond

Joshua 2:22-24 (JDV)

Joshua 2:22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had come back. They searched all along the way, but did not find them.
Joshua 2:23 Then the men came back, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them.
Joshua 2:24 They told Joshua, “Yahveh has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”

faith that sees beyond

It took faith for those two men to hide from their pursuers for three days, and then come back to Joshua and tell him that Yahveh had handed over the land. Really, guys! You just spent several days hiding, and now you report “We’ve got this!” ?

That was not what they said. They said “Yahveh has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.”

Yes, they had been pursued, and they were risking their lives to scout out the land. But they looked beyond that circumstance and reported the truth that their enemies were panicking because God was at work.

Lord, give us the faith to see beyond unpleasant circumstances.

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tying the scarlet cord

Posted on July 27, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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tying the scarlet cord

Joshua 2:15-21 (JDV)

Joshua 2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, because she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city.
Joshua 2:16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won’t find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.”
Joshua 2:17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear,
Joshua 2:18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father’s family into your house.
Joshua 2:19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be on his own head, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be on our head.
Joshua 2:20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.”
Joshua 2:21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

tying the scarlet cord

The scarlet cord would remind the Israelites of the sign that they placed on the doorposts of their homes in Egypt. It was a covenant of protection and rescue. Even though Rahab believed that God was going to overthrow Jericho, that belief alone would not save her and her family. She had to tie the scarlet cord to her window if she wanted her family to be safe.

Do you believe that Jesus Christ is God’s salvation? If you said yes, that is a good thing. But it is not enough to save you. Yes, salvation is by faith alone, but not faith that fails to confess. Rahab had to confess her faith by tying the scarlet cord. Have you confessed your faith in Christ? The clock is ticking.

Lord, we tie the scarlet cord to our windows, confessing that Christ alone is our salvation.

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her only hope

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

 

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her only hope

Joshua 2:8-14 (JDV)

Joshua 2:8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof
Joshua 2:9 and said to them, “I know that Yahveh has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you.
Joshua 2:10 You see, we have heard how Yahveh dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan.
Joshua 2:11 When we heard this, our heart melted, and everyone’s breath continually failed because of you, because Yahveh your God is God in the sky above and on land below.
Joshua 2:12 Now please swear to me by Yahveh that you will also show kindness to my father’s family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
Joshua 2:13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.”
Joshua 2:14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don’t report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when Yahveh gives us the land.

her only hope

Rahab knew that the Israelites were an unstoppable force, and she knew why. She told the scouts “because Yahveh your God is God in the sky above and on land below.” She knew her family’s only hope of rescue was joining with them.

My friend, if you are still considering your options when it comes to religion, listen to Rahab. She had no personal experience with God other than the stories of his impact. It is probable that the two scouts she protected were the only Israelites she knew. But she reasoned correctly that her only hope was to become one of God’s people.

Lord, draw to yourself the Rahabs of this generation. Show us how to make such an impact that people seek to join your congregation because of what you do among us.

Posted in commitment, evangelism, kingdom of God, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Rahab’s biggest fear

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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Rahab’s biggest fear

Joshua 2:2-7 (JDV)

Joshua 2:2 The king of Jericho was told, “Notice, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.”
Joshua 2:3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they came to investigate the entire land.”
Joshua 2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn’t know where they were from.
Joshua 2:5 At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don’t know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!”
Joshua 2:6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof.
Joshua 2:7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut.

Rahab’s biggest fear

We celebrate Rahab’s courage and compassion, but from the standpoint of Jericho, it was treason. Yet there was no real choice, knowing what she knew about Israel and its God.

Jesus calls us all to put our fear in the right place. At points in our lives, there will be demands on our allegiance that will force us off the fence. When those times come, we must remember that God is bigger than the king.

Lord, thank you for being our biggest fear, and our source of courage.

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a pair of scouts

Posted on July 24, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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a pair of scouts

Joshua 2:1 (JDV)

Joshua 2:1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there.

pair of scouts

Joshua had been one of the original twelve scouts sent by Moses to get a sense of the task before Israel and report back. He and Caleb had given the minority report, and encouraged the people to obey God and possess the land without delay. But they had been overruled by the majority which had expressed fear and doubt.

Now it was Joshua’s turn to send out a party, and he chose only two scouts. Everyone knew about the past failure, and nobody wanted to repeat it. If either of the two spies had come back with a negative report, it would be Joshua who would have the final say.

One of the frustrating things about news is that people tend to take it seriously, and one negative comment can do a world of damage. Yet, we are hard-wired to expect bad news. It takes courage to look beyond the superficial facts and trust God in challenging circumstances. Even if what you and I are facing will take a miracle (Jericho did) we should be ready to face it. God does miracles.

Lord, give us the courage to face the facts, but still keep going in the direction you send us.

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encouraging our leaders

Posted on July 23, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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encouraging our leaders

Joshua 1:16-18 (JDV)

Joshua 1:16 They answered Joshua, “Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go.
Joshua 1:17 We will obey you, just like we obeyed Moses in everything. Certainly Yahveh your God will be with you, as he was with Moses.
Joshua 1:18 Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!”

encouraging our leaders

Good leaders are supposed to encourage their team, but it sure feels good when the team also encourages the leader. That is what is happening here with Joshua.

As we go about reaching the nations for Christ, let us show our appreciation for those the Lord has called to lead us in the task, and commit ourselves to submitting to their leadership.

Lord, thank you for those leading the charge to make disciples. Make us people eager to encourage them.

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our most capable

Posted on July 22, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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our most capable

Joshua 1:12-15 (JDV)

Joshua 1:12 Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh:
Joshua 1:13 “Remember what Moses Yahveh’s servant commanded you when he said, ‘Yahveh your God will give you rest, and he will give you this land.’
Joshua 1:14 Your wives, dependants, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But your most capable soldiers must cross over in battle formation ahead of your brothers and help them
Joshua 1:15 until Yahveh gives your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they too possess the land Yahveh your God is giving them. You may then go back to the land of your inheritance and take possession of what Moses Yahveh’s servant gave you on the east side of the Jordan.”

our most capable

Even though God’s intention was for all the Israelites to find rest, their most capable soldiers from the 2 1/2 transjordon tribes had to leave the land that they possessed to make sure that the other tribes could possess theirs.

Under the new covenant, the land we possess is the minds and hearts of the peoples of the nations to which God will send us as missionaries. Are we giving the most capable of our sons and daughters to this task? I think we can do better. We still need to invest our most capable until the whole work is done, and Christ’s name is named in every nation.

Lord, give us capable sons and daughters, and give us the courage to give them back to you.

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provisions for possessing the land

Posted on July 21, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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provisions for possessing the land

Joshua 1:10 -11 (JDV)

Joshua 1:10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people:
Joshua 1:11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get provisions ready for yourselves, because within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land Yahveh is giving you to inherit.'”

provisions for possessing the land

When I was harvesting blueberries in Maine (many years ago) I would prepare for the next day’s work by making the meals I would eat, and freezing water overnight in a gallon jug so that I could drink from the jug as the ice melted. There were no stores I could go to out on the blueberry barrens, so that all had to be done the night before the harvest.

Good leaders don’t just let things happen — they prepare their team for what is coming next. If our mission is making disciples in our hometown and in other nations, we need to be organizing the troops to make that happen. We need to be preparing for the next harvest.

Lord, give us the wisdom to prepare for the work of leading people to Christ.

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sources of strength and courage

Posted on July 20, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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sources of strength and courage

Joshua 1:6-9 (JDV)

Joshua 1:6 “Be strong and courageous, because you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.
Joshua 1:7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully keep the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.
Joshua 1:8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. You see, then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.
Joshua 1:9 Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, because Yahveh your God is with you wherever you go.”

sources of strength and courage

Joshua is told to be strong and courageous numerous times here, but where will he find that strength and courage? Let me suggest three sources: the presence of the Lord, the promises of the Lord, and the revelation given to us in God’s word. These are all we need to get stronger and more courageous as we follow his mission.

Lord, give us the wisdom to seek our strength and courage from your sources.

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