Joshua
1 – 5
We are Reminded To Read Our Bibles ALWAYS!!
Joshua 1:8 reminds us of something we often forget:
Let the words
from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and
night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you
do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always
find success.
I sure did, after being away for 6 months;
this was a powerful reminder in my diligent study of the word. Sure I’d pick up
the Bible from time to time, but honestly did not do it more than a few times.
My “excuse” was I wanted to get a new version and was waiting for it to be on
sale. In reality I was just being a cheapskate and lazy. I saw it multiple
times in the store, just was not parting with my money. Ironically a few days
after buying it I was laid off, so in a real time of need I got the book I
needed most.
Joshua assumed leadership of the nation of
Israel after Moses’ death and immediately knows the importance of keeping in
God’s word. There are a few I know who have read the entire Bible over 7 times,
and keep finding new stuff. I can say the few reads I have done, new things
keep popping up and I get reminded of things I forgot. They key to living in
His promise is to just keep reading and living by the word each and EVERY day.
It was something I forgot, but am slapped upside my head once again.
Chapter 2 describes the story of Rahab, the
prostitute and her lying in verse 2:6:
She was lying,
because the two men lay where she had hidden them beneath the stalks of flax
laid out on her roof.
I have read this story over and over
without question until this last time. This is one of the most famous Jewish
stories where a person of questionable past is used for good. But this time it
bothered me that this story is exalted, but is in direct violation of the 9th
commandment. Is this God’s way of saying it is ok to “bear false witness” in
some circumstances? I have studied many “cults” that claim Christ and the way
they get around this is by justifying “the ends justify the means” and cover
themselves by muttering it’s a lie or the truth without anyone hearing.
“Honesty is the best policy” but in this
time was the lie needed? Would Jericho had fallen without the scouts or the lie
to protect them? Yes it would have, that is the key! “God’s will” shall be done
no matter how much we mess it up.
One quick translation note I have not
followed up on in verse 3:6:
Joshua told the
priests from the tribe of Levi to pick up the covenant chest and to walk
in front of the people, so the priests lifted the chest and carried it to the
front of the procession.
The “covenant chest” is more commonly referred
to as the “Ark of the Covenant” in most other translations. I will put this on
my radar, but have not found the reason it was translated this way. I do note
Noah’s Ark is translated in the Voice as Ark, so word study time will have to
happen. We will have plenty of time to get to the reason.