July 6th

Joshua 8     Jeremiah 2     Psalms 139     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

What a difference following God makes!

This time Joshua first takes very clear instructions on military strategy from the Lord. He obeys them precisely and this time Ai is defeated. Symbolically Joshua holds out his javelin, a reminder of Moses lifting up his hands while the battle rages in Ex 17:11. Joshua then copies and read out all the words of the book of the Law of Moses to everyone. I am sure that took a long time! Everyone included men, women, children and the foreigners we are told (Josh 8:35). Pray for those at Christ Church teaching God’s word to our children, for men’s and women’s ministry and the work of International Visitors.

Beware disobeying God’s law, for Jeremiah condemns the house of Jacob and all the clans of house of Israel for disobeying God’s law. They defiled the land and unlike Joshua, they didn’t say “where is the Lord?” (Jer 2:8.)

We must search after and follow God and obey him. Psalm 139 reminds us we can’t escape from God’s presence. I like this question/answer response.

Question: Ps 139:7 Where can I go from your Spirit?     Where can I flee from your presence?

Answer: nowhere!

 So like Joshua, Joshua 8:1 Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Today, simply follow God’s instructions, in his written and spoken word. If in doubt, go back to his word and read it out loud as Joshua did, (Josh 8:34).

(crèche helper)

July 5th

Joshua 7     Jeremiah 1     Psalms 137-138     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Tears of weeping:

Do you, like me, remember Boney M’s hit in 1978, by the rivers of Babylon? A top selling single based on the words of Psalm 137.By the rivers of Babylon, where we sat down, there we wept, when we remembered Zion. The psalmist wept whilst in exile remembering the past, the destruction of Jerusalem.

We weep in Joshua 7:5 at the senseless loss of 36 lives as the assault on Ai fails. Joshua weeps, tears his clothes and falls face down all day long.

We weep at Achan and his family suffering for his sin of disobeying God’s clear instructions, (Josh 6:18) as he sneaks devoted things into his tent (The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them). They poison and corrupt his whole household who pay the terrible price of his sin.

In Jeremiah 1 there is a prophecy of judgment coming from the North on Israel as God declares his judgment for those forsaking him. The word weep or weeping comes 12 times in the book of Jeremiah.

Do we take our sin seriously? Achan’s sin had huge effects, not just on him, but his family and livestock. Disobeying God’s clear commands is wrong and will bring judgment. Sin is seriously not good for your health.

We must weep over our sin and the sins of our world. So we can leave the valley of Achor or trouble behind. Reflect on your sins and weep.

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

(crèche helper)

July 4th

Joshua 6     Isaiah 66     Psalms 135-136     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Our God is greater, our God is stronger. Even thick stone walls can crumble!

Round and round they marched, look out your window, and imagine a large group marching round and round your house, solemnly, silently day after day. Imagine hearing the trumpets sound and seeing the Ark of the Covenant carried around. Finally on the seventh day, they encircled seven times, blew the trumpets and SHOUTED – and the thick strong stone walls crumbled instantly –amazing!

God is in charge. God is the commander. Israel simply followed his clear commands. Everything inside is destroyed except Rahab, the prostitute, of Josh 2:1, and her family. God keeps his promise to her, made by the two spies, to protect her. Jericho is still in ruins today, it has never been rebuilt, (Joshua 6: 26).

In Psalm 135:5 we sing, I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.

Remember the chorus we sing at church, why not sing it out loud?

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is healer

Awesome in power our God our God

Yet this great strong powerful God , who can destroy Jericho’s walls is the same one in Isaiah 66:12 who dandles or bounces us like children on their mother’s knees and comforts us like a mother cuddles her child. Praise God!

Why not memorise this verse today?

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.  His love endures for ever.

(crèche helper)

July 3rd

Joshua 5     Isaiah 65     Psalms 132-134     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

A new start, a new beginning:

Israel has at last entered Canaan; a new start is marked by three signs. First, a physical sign, all males are circumcised (a reference back to Gen 17:8 where the promise of land is given to Abraham and marked by circumcision). Secondly, it is marked by a change in diet, the manna, which they had been relying on (Joshua 5:12), stopped overnight, as they could now eat locally grown barley grain. Thirdly, Joshua had a vision, a divine commission for the task ahead.

How can we mark a new start in our life? We could mark it right now by living in unity with our Christian brothers, Psalm 133:1 and praising the Lord by lifting up our hands, Psalm 134:2. We also look forward to the new heaven and new earth described today by Isaiah, Isaiah 65:17.  The valley of Achor in Isaiah 65:10 is so named in Joshua 7:4 as a place of trouble but it will be a place of hope.

Think about what signs you can show today that you have entered a new life in Christ. What diet does your mind and body feed on? Do we bear outwardly the name of Christ? Do we look forward to that new heaven and earth? Finally how can we live in unity with our fellow Christians?

(crèche helper)

July 2nd

Joshua 4     Isaiah 64     Psalms 129-131     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

Remember, remember what God has done for us.

Imagine a whole nation, over half a million people crossing safely over the River Jordan. The Lord tells Joshua to set up a stone memorial so they take 12 boulders from the river bed and set up a memorial, like a cairn in Scotland on mountain tops. This is to remind them of God’s faithfulness in bringing Israel across the Jordan to the Promised Land.

It is interesting that already in Joshua 4:6 the reason was to be a sign, not just for the people but for their children and future generations. Do we have any physical signs, a picture, poem, painting or special place? Where we can be reminded of what God has done. Some people keep a journal, then you can reread of what God has done.

It might be a reminder of forgiveness given, Psalm 130:4, of waiting for the Lord, of his unfailing love, verse 7. In Isa 64:8 we are reminded we are like clay, but God is the potter who shapes and moulds us.

Look again at Joshua 4:24, may we be able to point out God’s deeds to others “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” What will your memorial to him be?

(crèche helper)

July 1st

Joshua 3     Isaiah 63     Psalms 126-128     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

The Lord will do amazing things.

Crossing the Jordan –at long last – is a key moment in Israel’s history. Shittim is 850’ below sea level, the river Jordan flows south into the Dead Sea through a deep gorge there. In Spring it is a raging torrent of water filled by snow melt and fed by the early rains. Joshua gives very precise instructions, verse 5 ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.’ The crossing mirrors the crossing of the Red Sea 40 years previously. The Ark of the Covenant goes first, and then the people follow. Did you notice the river only stops flowing just as the priests’ feet touch the edge of the river, (verse 15); literally they were stepping out in faith?

In Psalm 126:2 we are reminded the Lord has done great things for us. In Isaiah 63:11 his people recall the days of old and of God who has done many good things for Israel, Isa63:7.

Let us step out in faith today, remembering to follow God as Israelites did. Psalm 127:1 says

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

The Lord will do amazing things among us, Joshua 3:5, as we consecrate and prepare ourselves to follow him today right to the water’s edge.

(crèche helper)

June 30th

Joshua 2     Isaiah 62     Psalms 123-125     (Click on the Reference to go to the passage)

What a woman!  We talk of “Godly women” and cardigans, cup cakes and demure might come to mind! But here we have a woman who completely destroys that stereotype … her story challenges me to ask: “Would I have been so courageous, so daring, knowing that aiding these men, and being found out, would probably result in my death?” I am not so sure.

In this passage we have Rahab a well-known prostitute and gentile being a key player in God’s plan as the Israelite spies carry out their reconnaissance. It strikes me that Rahab had a keen sense of her “King” – deceiving the King of the land and acknowledging the God of the Israelites as “Lord”. Her fear was not of any earthly ruler but of the God over the heavens and the earth. She was prepared to take massive risks because she feared the Lord’s wrath, He who destroyed “the two kings of the Amorites” (verse 10). Yet balancing this fear was an understanding of God’s mercy and compassion, experienced by Rahab through the spies reciprocal kindness – Rahab was kind to them, they would be kind to her when they invaded offering her a place in their Promised Land.

She was resourceful – hiding the men in her roof and lowering them down by rope – and confident – negotiating with the spies to ensure the safety of her family and friends. Her faithfulness is rewarded as the spies guarantee their safety if they do not betray them: “’Our lives for your lives!’ the men assured her” (verse 14).

We have all fallen short, broken vessels* like Rahab, none of us fit on our own to serve God, but by God’s grace and through His Son we can do all things.

(member of a homegroup)