No I didn't get the title of the movie incorrect, rather its the story of Israel as they enter into the Promised land God gave them. The story of the Bible is a story that is not filtered to be a "G" rated movie. It is told as it happened...truthfully even though it sometimes is difficult to read. I'm speaking of the next part of the Bible's story - Joshua, Judges, Ruth.
I was planning on teaching these last Sunday, but instead our Church celebrated its 10th anniversary. Frankly, teaching Joshua and Judges is fraught with all sorts of difficulties. I keep reminding myself that everything in God's word has it's purpose.
The children of Israel are at the edge of the Promised land as Joshua opens. God's word to Joshua reminds him that the key to their success is not their military might, or his leadership genius, but instead in his obedience to God's word. It's a word that is relevant for us today:
Joshua 1:6-9
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
At this point all is good. Joshua leads them to victory after victory and yet they did not completely secure the land, and as Joshua comes to the end of his days, Israel has yet to complete their task of claiming ALL of the land.
That word ALL is crucial. As Judges opens, the next generation is tasked with that job...and they fail miserably. Probably no book in God's word is more of a struggle to read than Judges. I'ts Ugly. It's a tragic tale of unfaithfulness and disobedience. The key to understanding the purpose of the book lies in the 4 time repeated phrase: "in those days there was no King in Israel and every man did that which was right in their own eyes." Judges is Ugly.
Still, the page turns, and we find ourselves in the book of Ruth. It's a book that occurs - according to it's 1st verse - "In the days of the Judges". Still, instead of the ugliness of the book of Judges the book of Ruth is filled with Love, Redemption, and Hope.
It reminds me, us, that even in the midst of the ugliness of the world around us, God is not idle. As Joshua heard back in Joshua 1, "your God is with you wherever you go." We have to learn from the Ugly stories in Scripture too. Paul writing to the Corinthian church says this:
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness...
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Peace to you.
I was planning on teaching these last Sunday, but instead our Church celebrated its 10th anniversary. Frankly, teaching Joshua and Judges is fraught with all sorts of difficulties. I keep reminding myself that everything in God's word has it's purpose.
The children of Israel are at the edge of the Promised land as Joshua opens. God's word to Joshua reminds him that the key to their success is not their military might, or his leadership genius, but instead in his obedience to God's word. It's a word that is relevant for us today:
Joshua 1:6-9
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
At this point all is good. Joshua leads them to victory after victory and yet they did not completely secure the land, and as Joshua comes to the end of his days, Israel has yet to complete their task of claiming ALL of the land.
That word ALL is crucial. As Judges opens, the next generation is tasked with that job...and they fail miserably. Probably no book in God's word is more of a struggle to read than Judges. I'ts Ugly. It's a tragic tale of unfaithfulness and disobedience. The key to understanding the purpose of the book lies in the 4 time repeated phrase: "in those days there was no King in Israel and every man did that which was right in their own eyes." Judges is Ugly.
Still, the page turns, and we find ourselves in the book of Ruth. It's a book that occurs - according to it's 1st verse - "In the days of the Judges". Still, instead of the ugliness of the book of Judges the book of Ruth is filled with Love, Redemption, and Hope.
It reminds me, us, that even in the midst of the ugliness of the world around us, God is not idle. As Joshua heard back in Joshua 1, "your God is with you wherever you go." We have to learn from the Ugly stories in Scripture too. Paul writing to the Corinthian church says this:
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
1 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness...
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Peace to you.
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