Joshua 1-3
Beginning the book of Joshua, we find ourselves on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan river, outside the land of promise. To put this in context, remember that the whole Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) was building up to this moment, the moment that God would fulfill his promises to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3. Those promises were descendants, blessing, and land. Where’s the land? Answer, on the other side of the Jordan, in the land of the Canaan. Picture the Jordan river running North to South, the Israelites in Shittim on the east, and a plan to enter Jericho on the West. This was the moment that God was to fulfill his promise, and key to the promise was the work of a prostitute named Rahab. Rahab would hide the spies, providing vital intel to the Israelites while also revealing the fear of the king of Jericho. Rahab is mentioned in the genealogy we read our Savior Jesus in Matthew 1. Rahab is extoled in both Hebrews 11 and James 2. Why would God, the God of all creation, choose this uncanny character? The same reason he chooses a wall of water to rise when the priests dip their toes in the Jordan. It is the Lord who saves, no one else, and God wants to make sure that we know it. Reflect – Imagine you are the Israelites following Joshua into a foreign land, receiving intel from a prostitute, being told you have to conquer a superpower, seeing this miraculous wall of water rise out of the Jordan, and being asked to trust God unequivocally. “Be courageous, be very courageous” the Lord repeats in 1:6-7. In what ways is the Lord challenging you in your life to be courageous, trusting that he is the God who will not leave you or forsake you, even if the path is winding? Connect: Hebrews 11:31 commends the faith of Rahab, even in light of her profession Hebrews 11:30-31 - By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. - Pastor Joseph Bianco [Note: The Scripture reading for today was previously listed as Deuteronomy 32-34. If you have not already read that, please read Deuteronomy 29:1-31:8 instead. Either way, you will easily get the main idea of what this passage is talking about.]
Deuteronomy 29:1-31:18 - or - Deuteronomy 32-34 In order to complete our survey of Biblical history, we have skipped forward to the end of the Pentateuch. (The Pentateuch refers to the first five books of the Bible, all traditionally understood to have been written under the guidance of Moses.) In this section, we see two important things. First, leadership is transitioned from Moses to Joshua, and at the end of chapter 34, the death of Moses is recorded. (It seems most likely that this was not written by Moses, though theoretically he could have foreseen this. Many attributed this to the scribes whom Moses had charged to participate in this writing project.) Second, we see Moses describe a cycle of spiritual decline and renewal which will characterize the rest of redemptive history. Chapter 29 is a warning about spiritual decline which foresaw many, many spiritual declines in the life of Israel. Moses warned the people not to abandon the covenant of the LORD (Ex. 29:25). In particular, this can happen when people become complacent in their faith. Moses called it a “root of bitterness”, when people say, “I shall be safe though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart” (Ex. 29:19). He warns that God will bring destruction upon the people if their complacency leads them to reject God. Then, chapter 30 anticipates a movement of renewal. “When all these things come upon you…and [you] return to the LORD your God, and you and your children obey… then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you.” This cycle of decline and renewal has already been evident to a small degree in the book of Exodus. But, it will be particularly visible in the book of Judges and the rest of the history of Israel. There will be periods of decline, where people get comfortable and stop taking God seriously. This leads to idolatry and outright rejection and then God enters with a hand of discipline. The discipline causes people to wake up. They remember God’s covenant promises (some of them remember), and God restores their fortunes. Connect and Reflect: The NT also shows evidence of these patterns of decline and renewal. There is explosive growth in the church, followed by a period of cooling off, loss of initial spiritual enthusiasm, and then spiritual malaise. In turn, God urges his people to repent, they cry out to God and he restores their spiritual vitality. For example, Jesus warns the churches in Asia Minor (Rev. 2-3) that if they do not repent he will discipline them. This same pattern then shows up in church history. Where do you think the American church is related to this cycle of renewal? What does that say about our greatest need? How should we respond? Rev 2:4-5 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Rev 3:15-20 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. [Note: The Bible reading chart shows Exodus 31-33 as the chapters for today. If you have not already read this, it would be more helpful to read Exodus 32-34 as shown in the title.]
Exodus 32-34 - or - Exodus 31-33 Well, we are back to the story. Moses was up on the mountain top for a long time and the people got restless. (All of the discussion about the law, the tabernacle and the priests may have seemed long to you as well.) We have been hearing all of these warnings about the holiness of God and the sinfulness of the people, but perhaps the reader has been tempted to think: Are they really all that bad? This section answers the question with a big, bold, capitalized, and underlined, “YES.” While Moses is receiving the law on Mt. Sinai, all hell breaks loose below. I don’t mean “hell” in a flippant way. The rebellion of these people is a vivid picture of human sin and is a damnable offense. They flagrantly break the covenant and reject the living God for a god of their own imagination. (When they fashion this calf they are probably imitating the religious practices of the Egyptians that had shaped their religious conceptions through the years.) Even before Moses had come down from the mountain, they have broken the second commandment and probably many more in their decadent celebration. Notice, what they say about this worship, however. Aaron introduces the golden calf as “the gods that brought you up out of the land of Egypt” and declares that they will have "a feast to the LORD.” In other words, they are using biblical language, but filling it with a god of their own imagination. There are steep consequences to this rebellion. First, the Levites are directed to enact the judgment of God on their neighbors. Second, God sends a plague. However, considering that they had rejected the living God who created them, redeemed them, and sustained them in the desert, there is remarkable restraint. (The question we are meant to ask is not "why did some die?", but rather "why did so many NOT die?") Moses mediates with God (clearly this was God’s intention) and he relents from his judgment. Then the covenant is renewed, Moses receives a special revelation of God and returns to Israel with a shining face. The history of God redeeming sinful people for himself will often show just how corrupt humans can be. But God’s grace triumphs in the end and he maintains his plans to redeem a people for himself - in spite of the corruption of human sin. Reflect: We can also use religious language to cover up our rebellion. Ask God to reveal how you might be doing this. Connect: The golden calf is the prototypical OT rebellion and can serve as a warning for Christians about the pitfalls of the Christian life. But, the experience of Moses with a shining face, also can be used as an encouraging picture of how God is transforming us by his Spirit. Psalm 106:19-23 They made a calf in Horeb and worshiped a metal image. They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God, their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wondrous works in the land of Ham, and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. Therefore he said he would destroy them—had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him, to turn away his wrath from destroying them. II Corinthians 3:12-18 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. |
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April 2021
CategoriesAuthorThis blog is part of the ministry of City Reformed Presbyterian Church. Unless otherwise noted, the entries are written by Matt Koerber. This is part of a project that our church is doing as we read through the narrative sections of Scripture between early January and Easter 2020. New entries will be scheduled to drop automatically at 5:00 am on the scheduled day. |