June 26, 2024, Day 4 Week 13

June 26, 2024, Day 4 Week 13

Scriptures: Joshua 5-8, Psalm 14, Luke 15

Hi and welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements New Hope Church’s Bible reading plan. Our scripture today begins with Joshua 5-8. When all the kings on the west side of the Jordan heard what God did when He dried up the river, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear. The Israelites at this time were reestablishing covenant ceremonies like circumcision. The reason Joshua had to circumcise the second generation of Israelites is because the first generation had died in the wilderness and those who were born after the exodus had not been circumcised. The First generation of Israelites had died in the wilderness because they had disobeyed the Lord and he forbid them to enter the promise land. So, Joshua circumcised their sons, and they rested in the camp until they were healed. Circumcision signified Israel’s identity as Gods covenant people. When God originally made the covenant with Abraham he had the symbol as doing away with old life and beginning new life with God most cultures at this time had circumcision symbolizing something else like entering adulthood only Israelites had it symbolizing relationship with God.

When Joshua was near Jericho, he saw a man standing with sword and hand. After questioning whether the man was friend or foe Joshua learned it was the commander of the Lord’s army. He fell to his face in reverence and asked what he should do. The commander said take off your sandals for you’re standing on holy ground. Now there are ways today that we can show reverence to God. For example how we speak to him, but mainly it’s through our attitudes and actions that we can show reverence to God in today’s world. And when I say reverence, I mean showing God the respect, honor, and glory that he deserves.

The gates of Jericho were tightly shut because they feared the Israelites, and no one came in or out. But God was with the Israelites and worked through Joshua. The plan was to walk around the city with the Ark of the Covenant and the priests in front once a day for 6 days then on the seventh day march seven times with the seven priests blowing rams horns and then have the men shout as loud as they can. The plan works and the walls of Jericho come down as the men yell and horns blare. The Israelites charged straight into Jericho. Like Last weeks episode Rahab was spared and her family Joshua tells the two spies to keep their agreement and go get her and her family in this chapter. Then the Israelites burned and destroyed everything except what they were supposed to keep to give back to the Lord. So, the lord was with Joshua and his reputation spread. Think about how through God Joshua was able to achieve what he set out to do, how his will and Gods will align. It’s an interesting dilemma to see happen on paper, now if only we can emulate it in our own lives.

Israel conquering Jericho aligned with Gods will, but Israel violated the clause of the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites. The next time Joshua sent spies to Ai and followed their report for how many men they should send which they replied no more than 3,000 they were defeated. And the courage of the Israelite army went away as they were paralyzed with fear. The elders tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed before the Ark until evening. Joshua cried out to God as well, but God answered him about the trouble someone in Israel had caused and how they must be removed. So, Joshua brought the tribes of Israel before the Lord and by tribe, clan, and family Achan was singled out and he confessed before God what he done by stealing a robe, a bar of gold and silver that were meant to be offerings to God. Then Achan and everything he had were brought out into the valley and he was stoned to death, but the Lord was no longer angry. He meaning the Lord tells Joshua not to be afraid or discouraged because he has given him the victory over Ai and this time, they can keep the plunder and livestock for themselves.

Psalm 14 ties into these last events that happened in Joshua and here King David is saying that we have all turned away from God, but he asks when will the Lord restore his people. My interpretation of things is that we all turn away from God, but God can restore us if we turn back to Him.

In Luke 15 Jesus is telling parables about lost things returning and/or being found. One is the lost sheep, the other a coin, and lastly the son. What all these stories have in common and what I want to talk about today is the theme of being singled out by God and the rejoicing and fulfillment of being found in God. In the parable of the lost sheep the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep. He has to go look for the lost one when he finds it, he will call all his neighbors and say rejoice with me. In the lost coin parable, the woman has ten coins and loses one, but she turns on a lamp and searches carefully for the one then she calls her friends saying rejoice with me. The lost son parable repeats the same theme we are seeing in its own way. The point is this we all fall short of the glory of God, and we all make mistakes, but its ok. Because God is a forgiving God, and he loves us. Let this encourage us. Just as God was with Joshua and the Israelites and King David in the Psalm we read; He is with us. I hope you all have a blessed day, keep reading, and see you again on the daily dose of hope.

The Daily Dose of Hope is a devotional intended to provide context and reflection to the New Hope Church Bible Reading Plan.  It’s our goal  to read the Bible in a year together as a family of faith.  Five days a week we read.  Two days a week we either rest or catch up.  Reading the Bible is the number one way to grow in our walk with Jesus.  We have to know God’s Word to live God’s Word.  Now for our Daily Dose of Hope… https://www.findnewhope.com