In Joshua 10-12, we see God continually battling for Israel.
Joshua 10:10-11: LORD threw them [the men of Gibeon] into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them... the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
He was always there. He did more than the sons of Israel could do!
Joshua knew full well what the Lord was capable of for in verse 12 he said:
"Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
And no day has been like that since! The Lord then fought for Israel.
And so Israel defeats the Southern Kings, Israel kills the Five Southern Kings, and defeats the Northern Kings and also East and West of Jordan.
Moving on to Luke, the Lord sent out seventy two disciples, in pairs, to all places he planned to visit. They were sent (Luke 10:3) out as lambs in the midst of wolves. It was made clear that some towns would welcome them, feed them, & offer hospitality and they would be blessed. Of course, in some town's the disciples would not be welcomed with opened arms. Then they were to say (Luke 10:11) We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.
And so all those that accepted the message the disciples were sharing, would in turn be accepting Jesus. Those who reject them, would reject Jesus, and would reject God...
And after all seventy two came back with good reports that even demons obeyed them, Jesus told them that they would have a place in heaven!
What wonderful joy to hear first hand that indeed! You are going to heaven! Yes! You have passed and have earned your treasured place there.
In Luke 10:21-24 Jesus is filled with joy of the Holy Spirit. He thanks the Father for the Lord has (Luke 10:21) hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. And tells the disciples (Luke 10:23-24) "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
The disciples were His children, His little children. They were taught by the greatest teacher Himself. They saw and heard what most want to see and hear. I believe this is what Jesus calls all of us to do. To be His disciples. To learn from the Master Himself. Then we will hear. And we will see. And our place at the end of this temporary world will be in Heaven.
Tomorrow's passage: Joshua 13-15; Luke 10:25-42
5 comments:
I think what really stood out for me today was Jesus' teaching about the price of rejecting Him. It almost seems like He's saying if could just reject me, it wouldn't be so bad, but because when you reject me you also reject God, THAT'S where you're going to run into serious problems. Hearing that the residents of Tyre and Sidon would fare better on Judgment Day than those who met Jesus and rejected Him must have been an incredible shock! For centuries, these two cities have been used as an expression for utter depravity, the baddest of the bad, and yet Jesus clearly says rejecting God's Word is worse.
I can't help but feel a little bit like I need to call up my best non-Christian friends and warn them to take this seriously!! So many people don't seem to know that knowing ABOUT Jesus does not a saving faith make.
And I feel for those people who've been led astray by pastors and so-called Bible teachers who say doctrine and theology are unnecessary because what's important is to "just live like Jesus." Yes, Jesus was a wonderful example of how we should live ~ the BEST example! ~ but He clearly indicates here and several other times that He cannot be separated from His Father. Just like you cannot reject one without rejecting the other, you cannot accept the one without fully accepting the other as well.
Great post! I don't know why the story of the sun and moon stopping for a full day never makes the list of frequently told Bible stories! Oh wait, perhaps it's all the violence that went along with it. But really... what an awesome display, not only of God's omnipotence, but also of the power of prayer.
Great thoughts on the Luke passage as well.
I love the miracle of God stopping the sun for a full day - incredible!
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Great post. I was thinking the same thing as Miriam that I had never heard about the God stopping the sun for a whole day and that it should be told as an example of His power..but I guess the violence that accompanies the story makes it more R rated.
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