Read Joshua 1:1
Highlights:
God chooses Joshua to lead this great multitude. See the miracles as the feet of the priests touch the water. After 40 years, the two million children of the adults who were delivered from Egypt enter their promised land.
Joshua was born into Egyptian slavery but, during the desert trials, he became a coworker with Moses. Joshua's faith in God and His promises almost caused him to be stoned to death when he urged the nation to advance into Canaan about forty years earlier (Num. 14:6-10). Now the Lord spoke to him: Moses My servant is dead . . . arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them. . . . I will not fail thee . . . Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid . . . for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest (Josh. 1:2,5,9).
To be brought out of Egypt was one thing, but it was altogether another thing to go over this Jordan (1:2) and, thus, become committed to battle against the powerful Canaanites with their chariots of iron, walled cities, and armies of giants. A similar situation will face all of the redeemed. There must be once and for all an abandonment of self to the will of God — making Him Lord of our lives so that, from that point on, the will of God will be first in every decision.
Jordan must be crossed by all of us. Jesus died once for all sin and by His death we may receive Him as our Savior. By virtue of His atonement, sin has no more dominion over us. Under His leadership we can, by faith, defeat the spiritual enemies of lust, hate, jealousy, and fear. We must follow Him through the Jordan River; that is, we too must die to sin and rise again unto righteousness. The river separated the wilderness from the promised land. Our "river" is an eternal boundary between our condition by nature and our condition by grace. The waters of Jordan are likened by some to the waters of baptism, whereby we who have been baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. . . . that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:3-4). By the power of God alone we are changed from wanderers and outcasts into the covenant people of God when we present your (our) bodies a living sacrifice. . . . not conformed to this world (12:1-2).
Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
Thought for Today:
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom (Ps. 145:12).
Christ Revealed:
Through the scarlet line in the window that saved Rahab and her household — symbolic of the blood of Christ (Josh. 2:21; Heb. 11:31; James 2:25). The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7).
Word Studies:
1:1 minister assistant; 1:4 coast territory, boundary; 1:15 rest peace; sunrising fast; 1:17 hearkened unto obeyed; 2:17 blameless free, released; swear promise under oath; 2:19 on our head our responsibility; 2:20 quit free; 3:16 Salt Sea dead Sea; against opposite
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Government Officials: Gov. John Hoeven (ND), Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (LA), and Rep. Alan Grayson (FL) • Staff: Pam Pendergrast • Country: Albania (3.1 million) in southeastern Europe • Major languages: Albanian and Greek • Newly opened to evangelism • 41.5% Christian; 39% Muslim; 18.5% non-Religious/Other; .2% Baha'i; .01% Jewish • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that God will enable you to be a generous, cheerful giver to Him (II Cor. 9:6-7).
Optional Reading: John 4:1
Memory Verse for the Week: 1 Peter 1:1