Made Alive and One in Christ

In this week’s study of Ephesians chapter 2, we are first plunged to the depths of the darkness of human nature before being raised by the grace and mercy of the Father into the light of his love by two of the simplest, yet most profound words of the gospel: ‘But God.’ In this we will see the past, present, and future realities of all who place their faith in Christ for salvation.  We each have individual stories, but once it’s boiled down, we who are in Christ share the same basic history and are headed together on the same path toward the same glorious destination.

To The Praise of His Glory

This week we begin our study of the book of Ephesians with a hard gallop through the entire first chapter.  Hopefully the truths in this precious chapter will be written large enough to read as we pass by.  There are deep wells of doctrine and encouragement to be found here, and we will pause for refreshment as we come to them.  So, giddy-up and hang on!

Covenant Renewal

We have come, at last, to the final chapter of the book of Joshua.  What a journey it has been!  We have walked alongside Joshua as he has followed the Lord in leading the people of Israel into their promised inheritance.  There have been many battles along the way, most with the inhabitants of the land who needed to be driven out; some with their own disobedience and the idolatry which so often lurked just beneath the surface of their obedience.  Yet through it all we have seen the faithfulness of the Lord to fulfill his promises and settle the people in the land that he promised to their forefathers.

Unpacking

Last week I went with two women, Jana and Kathy, from our church to Atlanta to attend the Presbyterian Church in America’s Leadership Training conference for women in ministry (PCALT).  We flew together, leaving the San Antonio airport at 7 am on Thursday and returning at 6 pm on Saturday.  What happened in between departure and return is still dancing through my brain like a Cuban wedding—nonstop, energetic, all over the place, and beautiful.

Joshua Exhorts the Israelites

Joshua chapter 23 is Joshua’s “farewell address” to Israel.  By some estimates there has been a twenty to twenty-three-year interval between the end of the previous chapter and this speech by Joshua.  The conquest is long over and the people of Israel have settled into their new homes and lands.  By now there are young adults living in Israel who were not alive, or at least old enough to participate, during the conquest.  Joshua led them from before they crossed the Jordan river, throughout the battles of the conquest, and into the first years of peacetime occupation of the land of their inheritance.  As he approaches the end of his life we see what is uppermost in his heart: exhorting the people of the Lord to continue to walk in obedience to their God.

Straining forward and Pressing On Toward the Goal

Self-discipline.  These words can just suck the motivation right out of me.  Why is such a positive concept cast in my mind in such a negative hue?  Discipline which comes from outside one’s self can be painful and unwelcome, but even that sort of discipline is usually aiming for a good end.  So it is with self-discipline.  When I must employ self-discipline, it is for a desirable goal. 

Going Home

Chapter 22 of Joshua opens with an air of solemnity.  The conquest is won, the allotment of lands is complete, and now the time is come for the warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh to return to their families and possessions on the East side of the Jordan River.  The first four verses of the chapter parallel and show the fulfillment of a passage from the first chapter of Joshua, where Joshua addresses these warriors before entering the land.

Every Promise Fulfilled

This week’s lesson explores Joshua chapter 21 and the allotment of the Levitical cities.  Choosing cities for the Levites was the final allotment, and it involved cities and land that had already been apportioned to the various tribes.  Before we consider the allotment, we must first go back to see why they are only given cities rather than lands of inheritance as the other tribes were given.

Division of the Rest of the Land

 

In last week’s study, we followed along as Joshua and the Israelites began dividing the promised land between the tribes of Israel.  This week we will see them finish the process.  As we re-join them in chapter 18, it seems that the seven remaining tribes have lost their momentum and need some encouragement to finish the task ahead.  Before we consider why they have stalled, we are asked why it is that they are commanded to divide the land before it is entirely conquered; how are they able to “count their chickens before they hatch,” and what does this say about God?  For help, we are referred to God’s promise to Abraham, as expounded by Paul in Romans 4:17:

“as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he (Abraham) believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.”

Receiving The Inheritance

We are now zooming through the chapters of Joshua, taking three whole chapters in lesson 12, as much in them is concerned with real estate boundaries, and we will be focusing more on the people involved.  We begin by reviewing the subject of the book of Joshua and how chapters 15 through 17 contribute to the theme.  The theme can be summed up in two verses.

The Promised Inheritance, Joshua 13 and 14

Alrighty now.  The holidays are behind us and we have returned for our first week of Bible study, and so it’s time for the weekly summary of our study lesson.  Let’s see if I can remember how to do this!

Remember P2R!

When I have a new project before me, all shiny and full of good intentions, I dive right in with all the wonder and excitement of a Kindergartner opening a new box of crayons.  Soon, however, I find that any discipline required is slippery, and after an enthusiastic start the wonder fades and I am left with the discipline of plugging away at the project each day until I finish it, or I abandon it altogether.  

If God is For Us, Who Can be Against Us?

Last week (I'm a week behind) we read Joshua 10, which covers the battle in which Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still, the five Amorite kings who were captured and executed, and the conquest of Southern Canaan.  That’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive right in! 

The Treaty with the Gibeonites

This week we are reading chapter 9 of Joshua, wherein the Israelites, fresh off their victory against Ai, are duped into making a covenant with the Gibeonites.  We began our study by looking at how the Canaanites’ attitude toward the Israelites has changed.  In chapter 5 the Canaanites were paralyzed with fear at the invading Israelites, to the point that they do not attack them, even when the Israelites are staying in camp to perform religious ceremonies which leave them rather vulnerable.  This fear has now worn off and the Canaanites are banding together to fight the invaders of their land.

Learning Obedience

In chapter 8 of Joshua the Israelites return to the field of battle against the town of Ai, but this time they are following the command and lead of the LORD.  Right off the bat, verse 1 opens with the LORD saying to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed.  Take all the fighting men with you and arise, go up to Ai.  See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.”  (Joshua 8:1) God then proceeds to give Joshua a rather detailed battle plan. 

Sin In The Camp

Last week we learned about the fall of Jericho, God's gracious gift of a mighty victory to his people, who watched in faith and obedience as the Lord carried out his covenant promise before them and the unbelieving world.  Chapter six ends with, "So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land."  How glorious.

And then we read the very next verse:

"But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel."  (Joshua 7:1)

The Fall of Jericho

This week's study covers Joshua 5:13-6:27.  We began by looking at Joshua's encounter with the commander of the army of the LORD.  Our first question was, who is this?   As James Montgomery Boice points out without equivocation, this is:

"...none the less than Jehovah speaking here in a preincarnate manifestation of the second Person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Consecration and Covenant

In Bible study this week we looked at Joshua 5: 1-12.  After briefly reiterating the point that the Canaanites were quaking in fear at the miraculous crossing of the Jordan by the Israelites, we considered God's command to circumcise the sons of Israel.  We looked first at his wording of the command in verse 2, to "circumcise the people again."  

There's a Running Metaphor For That....

Now and then someone will ask me if I pray while I run, and I answer, "Sometimes."  Really though, when I pray I prefer to really focus on what I'm praying.  When I run, I have found that trying to focus on anything other than the running doesn't work.  Not that I am "focused" on every step I take, but, I get myself going, and while my body is focused on the running I allow my mind to wander here and there, free-association-style, bringing it back to the activity at hand when needed.  Sort of rambling through my "thinking" so my main energy can go to what I am "doing."

Even so, it is not time wasted.  For instance, as I ran this morning, here is where my mind rambled...

Crossing the Jordan

This week, in our third lesson studying the book of Joshua, we covered chapters 3 and 4, in which Joshua and the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised land.

We dipped our toes into this subject by considering the conditions in which this crossing was made.  According to Joshua 3:15 the river was overflowing its banks, which, for an army, might not be a reason to cancel the expedition, but for approximately two million people wishing to cross with women, children, baggage, flocks and herds, it was an overwhelming proposition.  Furthermore, they were within sight of the enemy's walled city.  Their enemy was, as we found out in our last lesson, quaking in fear, but still, an army preparing to attack its enemy gives away no battle plans or movements.