Joshua 1 – 5
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.