Before God led Israel into the land He promised them, their inheritance, He told them how to prepare. How should Christians prepare for what is coming?
By listening to and responding by faith to the message of the witnesses, Caleb and Joshua.
Think about it. They had both been in the promised land, came back, and provided true testimony about God’s power to defeat the enemy. Had Israel originally believed their report, the generation delivered from Egypt could have entered into the promised land.
In Joshua 1, the leaders were instructed to tell the people to prepare to occupy the land. They were told they would cross the Jordan in three days:
By listening to and responding by faith to the message of the witnesses, Caleb and Joshua.
Think about it. They had both been in the promised land, came back, and provided true testimony about God’s power to defeat the enemy. Had Israel originally believed their report, the generation delivered from Egypt could have entered into the promised land.
In Joshua 1, the leaders were instructed to tell the people to prepare to occupy the land. They were told they would cross the Jordan in three days:
10 Then Joshua ordered the leaders to 11 go through the camp and say to the people, “Get some food ready, because in three days you are going to cross the Jordan River to occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Israel was to prepare food. All of us must be preparing as the Lord God Himself leads us.
While the people were readying themselves, Joshua sent two spies into the land near Jericho. Rahab told the spies that the king’s men would search for them for three days and advised them to hide in the mountains for three days, which they did before returning safely to Joshua and Israel on the other side of the Jordan.
Jesus told His disciples that at the time of the abomination of desolation, those in Jerusalem are to flee to the mountains.
The point?
God was keeping the spies safe during the time of preparation. These spies may remind us of Caleb and Joshua who provided true witness to the power of God in the face of the realities in Canaan in contrast to the ten false witnesses.
The witnesses Joshua sent promised safety not to religious leaders but to Rahab, a prostitute, because of her faith and her simple obedience in faith. She protected the spies by not revealing them to the king’s men who wanted to kill them, and she received this promise:
"When we invade your land, tie this red cord to the window you let us down from. Get your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's family together in your house. 19 If anyone goes out of the house, his death will be his own fault, and we will not be responsible; but if anyone in the house with you is harmed, then we will be responsible." 21 She agreed and sent them away. When they had gone, she tied the red cord to the window.
Rahab didn't hesitate.
The members of Rahab’s household were under the umbrella of safety because of Rahab and the scarlet rope. The blood of Jesus keeps those who believe in the power of God and have made Jesus Lord and King. There is safety for us and our families for being where God wants us to be and for doing His will.
Tomorrow, I’ll write about Caleb, the other true witness.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Feel free to comment.