Bible Pathways - Mar. 21, 2009
March 21
Highlights In Today's Reading:
The 2-1/2 tribes build an altar as a memorial and witness (Chapter 22). Joshua and Caleb wholly follow the Lord and, at the end of his days, Joshua exhorts the Israelites to live holy lives and not be friends with the Canaanites. Joshua proclaims that failure to live in holiness can and will have inevitable consequences (23:15-16).
Joshua led the way and, the twelve tribes followed him. He believed God who said: Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you (1:3).
Joshua experienced about seven years of wars, during which time he won every battle. Then God allowed His faithful servant to have a period of rest. And the Lord gave them rest . . . the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand (21:44). The rest which Joshua experienced was symbolic of the believer's rest in Christ. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God (Heb. 4:9).
To the sinner, peace with God brings rest: Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1). To the Christian, it is the peace of God: Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:6-7)..
The writer of Hebrews warns: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief (of the Israelites) (Heb. 4:11).
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age. . . . Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day (Josh. 23:2,6-8).
Christians are also warned: Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them (Eph. 5:11) and: Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Cor. 7:1).
Thought for Today:
Although the world does not understand it, to be separate from this world (worldly values) brings spiritual peace to the believer: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty (II Cor. 6:17-18).
Christ Revealed:
Through the peace offering (Josh. 22:27). Our Lord offered Himself to God as our means of peace with the Father. Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1);
Word Studies: 22:9 were possessed =had acquired; 22:10 to see to =for all to see; 22:19 unclean =unfit; 22:20 accursed =banned; 22:23 require it =call us to account; 22:25 fearing =having reverential heartfelt submission to; 22:27 part =share; 22:34 Ed =witness; 23:1 waxed =grew; 23:4 cut off =destroyed; 23:7 swear =promise, make a vow; 23:9 stand before =withstand; 23:12 go in to =associate with; 23:13 shall be snares . . . unto you =shall catch you unawares; scourges in =whip lashes on; 23:14 am going the way of =will die like; 24:2 flood =Euphrates River; 24:5 plagued =afflicted; 24:7 covered =crowned; 24:17 wherein =in which; 24:20 strange =foreign; do you hurt =bring disaster on you; consume =destroy; 24:23 incline =yield; 24:33 pertained =belonged.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Government Officials: Rep. Paul Hodes (NH) and Rep. James Matheson (UT) • Country: Egypt (66 million) in northeastern Africa • Major languages: Arabic and English • Christians are not permitted to evangelize Muslims • 87.5% Muslim; 12% Christian; .5% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Have faith in the Word of God (John 4:49-53).
Optional Reading: John 12
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:16
