Joshua 1-5 January 2, 2009
Posted by Sparky in History, Joshua.Tags: being strong, building faith, fulfilling our Godly destiny, History, Israel, Joshua
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Scripture
Joshua 3:5 - Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”
Observation
The verse in context: Joshua has taken command of the people of Israel, succeeding Moses in this post, just as they are poised to cross the Jordan river into the promised land. He’s clearly not feeling too ready for this, as both God and the members of 3 of the Israelite tribes tell him to ‘be strong and courageous’ throughout chapter 1. Chapter 2 tells the story of the spies going into Jericho and Rahab’s kindness to them, and when they bring back their report, something changes for Joshua. He is no longer worried or afraid, perhaps because he now knows that what God has done for his people in the past 40 years has got around, and the people of Jericho are afraid themselves. So before God has told him that anything amazing is going to happen, he makes this very bold statement from verse 5, declaring his total trust and faith in his God.
Application
This is not rocket science. How can we build our faith, and step into the shoes that God has laid in front of us? Well one way, which Joshua practiced here, is to hear about what God has done for you and other people, and what he has been doing in the background while things looked bleak for you. I’m guessing Joshua didn’t greatly enjoy the 40 years of wandering the desert, especially as he was someone who trusted God to give them the land the first time they were ready to go in! But what he didn’t know was that during those 40 years, God was preparing the way for them to step fairly easily into the promised land, and for Joshua to be able to be the bold and courageous military leader that Israel needed. So it’s good for us to build our faith by reading about what God did for his people in the Bible, but also what he’s doing for his people around the world today. And maybe something he’s doing for others will inspire us to become the people he has always designed us to be.
Prayer
Praise you God, for not being inactive even when we feel like things are bleak. Thank you that you made each one of us with a purpose to fulfil in this life. And please, Father, help us to achieve that goal, and build our faith in you, living in expectation of you doing amazing things in our lives. Amen.
Romans 11-12 December 15, 2008
Posted by Sparky in Epistles, Romans.Tags: doxology, Epistles, Israel, Jews, Paul, praise, Romans
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Scripture
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?”
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Observation
What’s interesting to me about this passage is less the content than the context in which Paul writes this. He has just completed a section in chapter 11 all about the Jews, how they fit into God’s plan for salvation, and how the Gentiles are not to look down on them because they havn’t yet understood the truth about Jesus. What seems to happen is Paul sort of write himself up into a frenzy of praise just thinking about the way God has planned it, and can’t help but let out this doxology. He then calms down a little and goes into how, therefore, the Gentile believers ought to live worshipfully in every way, so as to be a shining light and an example to Israel.
Application
A few things:
- I wonder whether I have ever worked myself up into praise through thinking about God’s orchestration of events, in the same way that Paul does here. Possibly I am too English and unemotional (an accusation I have heard once or twice from certain people near me), or possibly I could do with just letting some praise out a bit more forcefully now and again.
- I too, as a Gentile, need to follow Paul’s advice about not being haughty re: the Jewish faith. If it weren’t for the nation of Israel, at least as it was in the 2,000 years or so before Christ, I wouldn’t be here writing this today. I don’t have nearly enough knowledge about the current nation of Israel to try to apply the passages to that situation, and I’m not sure they even do apply – Paul is writing much more about faith than about any geographical notions.
Prayer
Help me, Lord, to praise you when I am in wonder about what you do! And help me to do it fearlessly, boldly, and unhindered – this is the maker of the Universe I’m praising, so it’s worth getting worked up! And teach me how to regard Judaism correctly, without pride or judgmentalism, but with humility and gratefulness.
