“You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over." Joshua 13:1. God reminds us all, that for those of us who still can, we must finish the work He has given. God is not done with us. He brings others along to put on the top-stone. He expects Joshua to count where he is. He expects all of us to number our days and present to Him a heart of wisdom. Don't lock the door yet. No bar on the door until it is locked forever. Remind yourself to rise up to the occasion to fight the good fight of faith and never dismiss the battles all around me---but I must also engage in the battle going on in me. If I don't, I'll just live in "good-enough" Christianity. We all need to know how to navigate our way through the battle within and find the true "rich fare."
By His Grace. By His Power. By His Great Love. We can do this. And we want to do our last days with those we love, as much as they will let us in. All we can do is wonder, invite, ask questions. And wait. And we have a Beautiful God Who is always waiting for us.
PHOTO: A Conference I am sitting in to learn. No bars on learning. Life has not ended like I pictured, like I dreamed. Dare I hope that the Divine is sitting right next to me, right where I work, right where I live. This is more than good enough.
2 - LEADERSHIP faithful Joshua is a second Moses - leading them to fulfill covenant obligations 3:7; 5:1-15; 8:30-35; Now, the undaunting Joshua leads Israel to cross the Jordan River on dry ground. He saw it happen once before. And that same God is with Joshua and the men from the 12 tribes.
“Be strong and very courageous.
Joshua saunters in faith across the floor of the Jordan---the place where his Redeemer will be baptized.
1 - GOD'S PRESENCE GOD is with then and fights for them 10:14. The ark is sign of divine presence 3:10; a6:6. God promises to be with JOSHUA AS HE WAS WITH MOSES 1:5, 9 3:7. BE on alert for signs of his presence. Whether you heard him in the humdrum or hurts of this day, keep your eyes open for Him.
Mark the occasion.
"What do these stones mean?" Joshua 4:21. Tell your children when they ask:
Symbols of twin promises:
Your God is all powerful.
Your God is to be feared.
3OBEDIENCE people told to arch around Jericho. no military commander would have devised. Joshua 6 is victory. . When disobey as Achan in chapter 7 God punishes them. Obedience brings blessing 23:14-16 The conflicts in the Promised Land begin. But the real conflict is within them and you and me. Within. 66 Love Letters: "Loving Me and becoming holy requires that you realize there is an enemy within you who will cause you more trouble than all the enemies outside you, than even the devil." Joshua's men couldn't defeat Ai. Was Joshua concerned for God's reputation or his own? "Maybe we should have stayed on the east side of the Jordan," said Joshua. God says: "Get up! Why are you groveling?" Purify your people. Purify yourself. Praise God that His Holy Spirit does that for us. He is so Good! Make sure you are fighting the right battles. Achan preferred "blessings to battle." Joshua 9:14 "The men of Israel looked them over and accepted the evidence. But they didn't ask God about it." Joshua even made a covenant with them to guarantee their lives. But they were enemies who happened to live next door. "Never mistake the enemies in Canaan for only those things that are wrong in the world around you...your worst enemy is in you."
4 PASS ON FAITH TO NEXT GENERATION 4:5-7;
5 PROVIDENCE Josh 1;3; 24:13 GOD PROMISES TO GIVE THE LAND IN FULFILLMENT OF HIS WORD TO THEIR ANCESTORS AND NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING THEY HAVE DONE THEMSELVES.
I love Joshua 10:12 "The day God gave the Amorites up to Israel, Joshua spoke to God, with all Israel listening: The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua at Gilgal: Don't abandon us! Help! All of the Amorite kings have joined forces against us. Joshua 10:6. Joshua gathered his best fighting men and marched up all-night from Gilgal and surprised them. But it's what the LORD says to Joshua that trumps everything: "Do not be afraid of them. Not one of them will be able to withstand you." Joshua 10:8. And Joshua read every word of the law to his people. Joshua 8:35. Every word.
Joshua 10:12 is written in poetic form---beautiful metaphors. Joshua 10:13 shifts back to the narrative. No poetic license here---just the Providential Hand of God in their lives and in ours.
And right smack dab in front of Israel, Joshua said:
"Stop, Sun, over Gibeon; Halt, Moon, over Aijalon Valley."
And Sun stopped,
Moon stood stock still
Until he defeated his enemies.
Until the nation avenged itself. Never has there been a day like this, before or since, when the Lord listened to a human being. "Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel." Joshua 10:14.
6 GOD'S FAITHFULNESS God fulfills God's promises. Central claim of book of Joshua 1:3-6; 21:43-45; 23:14
7 FAMILY
8 COVENANT LOYATY JOSH 24:15 22;10-29; 23:1-15; 24:1-28. COVENANT ENTAILS REJECTION OF ALL OTHER GOD EXCEPT THE LORD.
“You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over." Joshua 13:1. God reminds us all, that for those of us who still can, we must finish the work He has given. God is not done with us. He brings others along to put on the top-stone. He expects Joshua to count where he is. He expects all of us to number our days and present to Him a heart of wisdom. Don't lock the door yet. No bar on the door until it is locked forever. Remind yourself to rise up to the occasion to fight the good fight of faith and never dismiss the battles all around me---but I must also engage in the battle going on in me. If I don't, I'll just live in "good-enough" Christianity. We all need to know how to navigate our way through the battle within and find the true "rich fare." 
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