Snapshots: Day 115

The Snapshot: “I will certainly hide my face in that day.” (Deut 31:18) The Lord tells Moses of the future apostasy of Israel. He knows what we are like, whether we are open to correction and blessing, or stubborn and will refuse Him. The outcome is always in our hands. His word spells it out. Some people think that God is a softie who can be manipulated but that is folly. Sometimes, because He does not seem to be doing anything, we think we can get away with wrong, but the truth is that He is simply giving us time and space to repent (see 2 Pet 3:9). Often correction appears delayed but because He loves us all, He will bring it in His way and in His time, to correct us or even to take us home (see 1 Cor 11:30) if that is the best for us (see also Isa 57:1). Trust in His wisdom.

Further Consideration: We've been recently talking about discipline and correction and we need to distinguish between apostasy and a minor failing. Apostasy refers to a real heart moving away from God. Thus the writer to the Hebrews says, “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,   who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age   and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.” (Heb 6:4-6) What I have just referred to as a ‘minor falling' is what happens when we just get it wrong as a one off, to which the apostle John declares, “I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” (1 Jn 2:1)

Our starter verse above follows God saying, “They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them,” (Deut 31:16) and so when He says He will turn His face away from them, He is saying He will turn from them and leave them to their own devices and it is clear that the destruction which comes on them, comes because God is not there protecting them. It's their own fault.

Eternal destiny virtually never comes into the records of Israel so there is little point in considering it, but when it comes to the Christian, first there is always a debate on whether the believer can lose their salvation but the key word then becomes ‘believer'. The person who has completely ‘lost' their faith or, rather, turned away from it, will have lost the reality of being in the Lord's presence to receive His resources and blessings. It's more about position and direction, and the Lord changes His when we change ours.

Snapshots: Day 116

The Snapshot: “Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said.” (Deut 34:5) What a gap in their lives there must have been when Moses went. They knew it was going to happen but that doesn't make it easier. Although some of them had often rebelled against him, yet he was a pillar of stability who had led them for over forty years – and now he's gone! How will we cope? But the bigger truth is that it was the Lord who led them, He was their protector and provider, and He hasn't left them leaderless, He has trained and raised up Joshua for them so now they have got to learn to trust him. No doubt he won't be perfect but who is (Moses wasn't) but he is the Lord's man, rest in that, he is called and gifted by God. And us? Pray for our leaders.

Further Consideration: When someone dies, and especially when it is a much loved and long-established leader, it is always difficult. But there is always a danger with a strong leader: it is that the people come to trust and rely upon the leader rather than upon God.

Israel must have come to such a position with Moses. After all, as a nation, he was all they had known as a leader. Some of the younger ones might have been able to look back and remember when he first turned up in Egypt and told the elders that God had sent him to release them all from Egypt (the older generation had now all died, so it was only those who had been young at the time who would still be alive). He had been the mouthpiece of God, the one who had instigated the judgments on Egypt, the one who had led them out of Egypt and through the desert, he had been the one who had remained with them for forty more years in the desert, he had been the one who had prevailed in prayer when the Amalekites had attacked them, he had been the one who had led them against the opposing kings as they travelled up the east side of the Dead Sea as they worked their way up to the Plains of Moab where they now were – and now he was gone!

Snapshots: Day 117

The Snapshot: “ Moses my servant is dead.” (Josh 1:2) The Lord speaks the obvious to Joshua. It's like He is saying, “He's gone Joshua, get over it, move on, you've got a calling to fulfil, let's get going.” He's not being heartless but is just stating the obvious, aware that Joshua will have a bunch of mixed feelings and will just need that nudge to pick up the baton and move on. The leadership responsibility rests with him now – but God is still with him. Moses' removal is not an act of chastising Israel, it's just life moving on and sometimes that means death. Yes, it is right to mourn but it can become an inward looking self-absorption that will prevent the ongoing blessing of God that He wishes to bring. Whatever the grief we carry, tomorrow is a new day we have to live out with God.

Further Consideration: In the previous study we considered how the people might have felt about Moses going, but when one leader goes and another steps up to lead, there are also two other areas to consider, about what the people think about ‘the new man' and what he is wondering about what is to come.

From the people's perspective, Joshua was not an unknown. He had been Moses' protégé and had gone up the mountain to God with Moses (Ex 24:13) spent much time at the tabernacle in God's presence (Ex 33:11) and years before had led the people in battle against the Amalekites while Moses prayed (see Ex 17:10), so he was both a spiritual and a warrior leader already.

From Joshua's point of view, he must have been feeling bereft at the loss of Moses and, having watched in the background the number of times Israel had grumbled, complained and rebelled against Moses, he must have been aware that this was no easy task he was taking on. In fact with all the encouragements we will shortly consider in this first chapter of ‘his' book, it seems clear that the Lord is also clear in His understanding of the concerns Joshua must have had. When someone takes over from a ‘big' leader, it is sometimes said, “You have some big shoes to fill,” implying there is a lot that went into the ‘big man's' reputation that the new person is having to try and uphold. Such would it have been with Joshua.

Snapshots: Day 118

The Snapshot: “I will give you every place where you set your foot.” (Josh 1:3) That sounds a bit obvious but it actually means when we go to take the ‘land' that the Lord has promised us, when we take a step forward in faith and obedience, we will find the Lord is there and His blessing will accompany our progress. It is that simple. Very often life is full of apparently insoluble problems, problems we often spend much time worrying over, and we reason ways through to ‘take this land' but everything we come up with seems to fall short and then, one day without any warning, we get a glimpse of something from heaven and we take a crazy step forward only to find that the ground is firm and stable, sanctified by His presence, and suddenly all is peace.

Further Consideration: The art of life, a wise man said, is to realise that God is here with you in it, and let Him lead you in it. The ‘big picture' of the Exodus was not only about being set free from the slavery of the ‘old life', Egypt, but also about entering into the Land that God has for His people. To enter that ‘land' it is necessary to put to death, to expel, the old inhabitants whose presence resist the receiving of a new life.

Read Paul's letter to the Colossians and watch out for the words, “put to death therefore,” (3:5) which mirror what Israel had to do in the land, but for us Paul adds, “ sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,” and later goes on, “ you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (v.8) All of those things are contrary to God's design for us, how to live and enjoy the good life.

But it isn't just a life full of negatives for there are more positives than negatives to be found as Paul starts a little later, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” (v.12) and goes on to give us a long list of things to be found in the new land.

But it is a battle, for these old ways resist the new intent and where we have allowed some of these things to become habits – for example, using anger as a means of getting your own way – then those habits need breaking and that

is the point of conflict, which is where our starter verse comes in.

Snapshots: Day 119

The Snapshot: “this Book of the Law … meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” (Josh 1:8) He's an army general for goodness sake! What does he want with reading the Bible? That's what a big bunch of people have thought down through the centuries but there are whole group of other people who have sat for half an hour or so each morning with a Bible in their lap as they imbibe the sweet presence of the author of it and somehow, in some inexplicable way, the varied writings of this book, make sense or leap at you with life-giving insights, or glimpses of another world that brings life and meaning to this one, and day by day they are gently transformed. Meanwhile the others stay bored, unfulfilled and lacking. Funny old world.

Further Consideration: For Joshua, the Law that had been received forty years earlier at Sinai, was to be the foundation of his leadership. Next to being aware of the Lord, turning to Him, sharing with Him and listening to Him, this revelation, the Law, was to be the anchor that held him and kept him steady.

Yes, that intimate relationship with the Lord, that practice of contemplation, of waiting upon Him in silence perhaps, listening for the still small voice of the Spirit, that is to be the base experience of every Christian (if only it was!) but that, as a friend of mine warns me regularly, can be subjective and we have to avoid being led astray by our own thoughts and wishes, and so the check, the balance, is to be His Word that never changes. For us it is far more than just a few chapters of what became the Pentateuch, it is the whole Bible but with a special emphasis on the New Testament that testifies to the work of Christ, the implications of that work, and how it is to be worked out in our daily lives for however many years he allows us to have in this present life.

Snapshots: Day 120

The Snapshot: “do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh 1:9) Discouragement is a tactic of the enemy as he whispers into our minds, “you failed yesterday so you will fail tomorrow,” or “this problem is too great, give up now,” or “nobody loves you so give up on them,” or “this church is full of hypocrites just like you, what hope is there?” And so it goes on, words that discourage, words that are often blatant lies, or words that are sometimes half-truths, but what these words all forget is that the God who sent His Son to redeem us, and sent His Spirit to empower us, is still here with is, for us, working to bring us through into a place of victory, assurance, love and blessing. Hold the whole picture.

Further Consideration: Encouragement is a vital weapon in the armoury of God's people. A dictionary defines it as, ‘ an action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope'. When Paul taught on personal prophecy he said, “the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.” (1 Cor 14:3) One of the things that such words should do is encourage, bless, build up, strengthen, bring fresh hope, fresh confidence.

The greatest word of encouragement that I think can be brought is, “the Lord is with you.” When it comes as a word of prophecy it takes it from dry doctrine and transforms it into life-giving energy that lifts the soul and the spirit and puts new purpose into the day.

Of course, some say, the Lord is always with us, He indwells us by His Spirit. Absolutely but there are different senses of meaning. When the word comes, “the Lord is with you” it brings the sense that He is here with approval and encouragement, and you have to wonder if that wasn't true why ever would there be so many times when those words were brought with such significance? (see Judg 6:12, 2 Sam 7:3, 14:17, 1 Chron 22:18, 28:20, Amos 5:14, Zeph 3:15,17, Zech 8:23, Lk 1:28)

But then some might say, why do we need encouragement? Very simply because we live in a fallen world and have an adversary whose goal is to disarm us with discouragement. If it wasn't so the Lord would never have said to Joshua, “Don't be discouraged.” The word had already come through Moses (see Deut 1:21, 31:8) and will yet come again to Joshua (see Josh 8:1) and Joshua would pass it on (see Josh 10:25) It was a word that often arose – see 1 Chron 22:13, 28:20, 2 Chron 20:15,17, 32:7) – simply because the need was there.

Snapshots: Day 121

The Snapshot: “I know that the Lord has given you this land.” (Josh 2:9) These were the words spoken to Israel's spies in Jericho by an inn-keeper-prostitute, a member of a pagan culture. She had heard what God had been doing through Israel as they had worked their way up to the entry point of the Land, and it scared them silly. When the world can see the work of God in and through the people of God, they will be moved, stirred, challenged, even fearful – what is this? who is this? how can they be like this? There IS a God! Testimony can be a powerful thing, so what is our testimony? A nice but harmless bunch of people, or an empowered and transformed bunch of sinners who are clearly now saints doing the miraculous works of God?

Further Consideration: This testimony by Rahab is quite amazing really. All she had heard was that Israel had come up from the south, peacefully working their way up the eastern side of the Dead Sea, defending themselves from those kings who sought to stop them – but triumphing over them. Others had heard the same things but had simply feared; they felt defensive. Rahab heard these things and heard of their God and believed. She believed what the whole body of older generations forty years ago had failed to believe – that God was going to give them this land.

She didn't have a written document from God like we have (the Bible) but something inside her knew that this land was destined to be cleaned up by this people with God's help. It is always a mystery why one person can believe and another can't. There's nothing rational about it apart from the fact that somehow her heart was open to hear the whisper of truth from God.

There is often discussion about whether the description of Rahab means she was an inn-keeper or a prostitute, but really her past profession doesn't matter. Where we've come from doesn't matter. What matters is the state of our heart and, as I've already said, that is always a mystery, but I do believe we can hear these things and purpose to turn our hearts to the Lord, we can purpose to wait on Him with a repentant, needing, yearning heart and call on Him until He manifests His presence and we have that ear to Him.

Snapshots: Day 122

The Snapshot: “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” (Josh 3:6) The ark of the covenant usually dwelt in the heart of the Tabernacle, the place of God's dwelling, but when Israel were on the move it always went ahead. When it came to entering the Promised Land and crossing the Jordan it was those carrying the ark who stepped into the water first and then it miraculously divided. Do we want to see miracles return to the life of the church (as Jesus' instructed – Mt 11:5, Jn 14:12, Mt 28:20)? Then ensure Jesus goes first, ensure we are ‘following' him, watching him and then doing what he wants to do (Jn 5:19). The Son is the head of the church (Eph 4:15) so let's ensure we are a responsive body that follows.

Further Consideration: “Letting Jesus go ahead sounds the most simple description of being a disciple. I mean, it was the only thing the first disciples were called to do – follow me. Where Lord? That doesn't matter, I'll show you, just follow me. And he went ahead. Lord, what do you call us to do? That doesn't matter, you'll know when the time comes and you find someone or some situation before you that I've led you to, just follow me and watch me, sense what I want to do – through you – and do it. It will be that simple, just follow me.

But I'm scared about what you might ask me to do. For example you asked Peter to walk on water. Child, realise there was only one Peter and only one instance of walking on the water. Peter could handle that so I told him to come and he did. None of the others asked and so I called none of them to do it. I know what you are capable of doing – yes, with my enabling – and I know the encouragement you personally need to step up and step out to do such things, but they will be things that are unique to you because I know what you and I can do together.

But I don't know how to heal people, deliver demoniacs or perform miracles. No, but I do and all I ask of you is your heart and your voice when it comes to it; I will provide the power that brings the change. That's what I did with my disciples, that's what I will do with you if you want me to. But of course I want you to! Do you, do you really, do you really want to experience the uncertainties of stepping out in faith and possibly failing?

Snapshots: Day 123

The Snapshot: “ What do these stones mean?' (Josh 4:6) We have said before that testimony is a powerful thing and testimony also acts as a reminder. In the years to come, anyone passing this place saw this pile of stones and was reminded of the miraculous entry into the Promised Land. When we take Communion we are being reminded of the wonderful salvation Christ has brought us. When we tell our stories we tell of the works of God in and through us and these testimonies are reminders and declarations of what the Lord has done. The Bible is full of such reminders, such declarations and testimony should be a regular expression of our lips that remind us of what we have to be thankful and tell others of what is possible.

Further Consideration: Isaiah cried out, “to the Law and the testimony” (Isa 8:20 NKJV) Those were to be the two pillars of the belief system of the nation of Israel. Some modern versions water this down but it is a very powerful call by the prophet. ‘The testimony' is the testimony or record of God and the Bible is full of it, so full, I would suggest, that it is impossible to write it off. Anyone who takes the time to read it all and then think about it cannot just shrug it off and say the forty or so authors of the 66 ‘books' of the Bible were all confused. Imagine for a moment if 20% of the Bible was inaccurate or simply made up – fiction (it's not!). That still leaves the other 80% which is uniform in its testimony about God and His activities.

When Israel took these large stones out of the dried up Jordan and made this monument, they were simply doing something that had been and yet would still be done many times – testifying to the work of God. These stones said, ‘this is where God enabled the nation to pass through the river to enter the land – miraculously'. (Josh 3:14-17).

Snapshots: Day 124

The Snapshot: “Are you for us or for our enemies?”   “Neither,” he replied.” (Josh 5:13,14) So often we think the battle is ours and it all revolves around us, and we need the reminder that is here. The night before entering the land and going into battle, Joshua is confronted by this stranger and it was natural to bring a challenge but it was the answer that brought the right perspective. The answer is followed by, “as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” i.e. I've come to do the fighting on God's behalf. I don't take sides; I only do God's will. That brings a different perspective to our lives. When we enter conflicts, God isn't for us, He's for what is right, and if we have a wrong attitude in it, He's after that too. We do His bidding, not Him doing ours.

Further Consideration: Perspective is a strange thing. As children we were completely self-absorbed. I watch it in my grandchildren. As we hit our teenage years we change from self-absorbed to self-conscious. We start becoming aware of the person we are. Before that we just got on with own little world, thinking little about it, just being and doing it. But then our body and our mind and our thinking starts changing and we find ourselves becoming conscious of these changes in a way we had never known before.

What happens in the physical world tends to happen, I suspect, in the spiritual world. At the point of time we are convicted by the Holy Spirit and come to repentance and are saved, we become suddenly very self-aware. The world is suddenly a new place and we are new people. We had heard about God, submitted ourselves to Him and now started to learn about Him. As times goes on – and it is unique for every person - we realise He is here, actually here. For some it may take months, for many others of us years if not decades. Some never realise it, but the truth is that He is here and sometimes manifests or reveals His presence in a way that we feel and yet cannot describe.

And all the while we are learning what it means to call Him Lord. If we were guided well into our salvation we learned that Jesus wanted to be both Saviour and Lord. ‘Saviour' meant us realising he had done everything to bring about our salvation, our new birth, our conversions, as the Bible describes it in differing ways. ‘Lord' meant us learning what his will is for us and then living according to it, obeying his word and his Spirit.

Snapshots: Day 125

The Snapshot: “when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed.” (Josh 6:20) Obedience comes in various forms: “follow me” (Mt 4:19), “stretch out your hand” (Ex 7:19, Mt 12:13), “come” (Mt 14:29). Perhaps no instructions have ever been so bizarre for taking a city as Israel received here, a series of things they had to do culminated by a loud shout - and then the city would fall – and it did! God's instructions sometimes seem to defy logic or common sense but then, “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong, ” (1 Cor 1:27) which is why He chose you and me and we forget that at our peril. Why these things? “so that no one may boast before him .” (v.29) Right!

Further Consideration: In the previous study we started contemplating the wonder of the transformations that take place in us, physical, mental and emotional changes as we grow as human beings, and then changes in belief, understanding, and then behaviour, as the children of God that we came be as we turned to Christ.

But now we go even deeper into that as we face a vital truth, a double truth actually, that God knows far better than we do how life can work and, even more, He has the power to bring about things that are beyond our usual human capabilities.

And this is something more that chews at the human mind, at human pride, and that is how can God do miracles? Our old self aided and abetted by the enemy whispering into our minds, and sometimes helped along by those who belong to him, starts reasoning and rationalizing. Many years ago, in a church service, one of our people died. A nurse in the congregation confirmed her death. No pulse, no heartbeat, she knew what she was doing, she was dead. But we prayed and she came alive. The rational mind says the nurse was wrong; somehow it seems important to us to be able to explain it like that.

Snapshots: Day 126

The Snapshot: “But the Israelites were unfaithful.” (Josh 7:1) The long and the short of this story is that Israel were told not to take the plunder from the Canaanites (probably because it had links with idol worship and they were not to get into that.) Everything appeared right on the surface until they went into battle – and lost! Then they get around to asking the Lord what's happening and then they find Achan had been disobedient. Disobedience = unfaithfulness. Unfaithfulness means lack of God's blessing which means life going wrong. How often, I wonder, do Christians, like Achan think they can get away with a little sin – and are then surprised when God's blessing is not there? How foolish we are. God sees it all and will correct us because He loves us.

Further Consideration: Life and how it works is a strange thing, a thing we take for granted – it just keeps on going … until of course we die. The Bible suggests it keeps on going only because Jesus, administering his Father's rule, says so (Heb 1:3b) But God has given us air to breath, food and drink, a heart to pump blood and a brain to direct us, and so it seems we can just putter on through life doing our own thing and sometimes that works well and sometimes it doesn't. End of story.

Well not quite because the Bible is very clear that God does have a hand in the lives of His people. He tells them how to live and when they do, it all seems to work well. When they don't they get into a mess. Now this could appear mechanical, rather like a big machine just trundling through history but it's not that simple because God does have a hand in the lives of His people. How? Ah, that's the key issue.

Because He loves us, when He sees us going astray He may let us go our own way until we pull the roof down on our own heads and learn that's not the way to do things. Sometimes though He is more proactive, if He sees that is the better way, and dumps some negatives on us to bring us to our senses. We've seen it before in Deuteronomy, this thing about curses and blessings. The curses bit is the negative stuff. Sometimes that negative stuff is just Him stepping back and removing His protection or His enabling from us, as happened in Israel's case with Achan.

Sometimes that negative stuff is more proactive, like Him causing a drought or a storm, but it's all designed to make us pause up think, reassess what we're doing, and put it right.

The positive side of this, is when we are living out our lives in the manner He has suggested, yes it works, but as with the curses bit, sometimes He is proactive and acts into our situations to improve them and just make them work better. It is just that simple. That's Him blessing us.

Snapshots: Day 127

The Snapshot: “the people of Gibeon …. resorted to a ruse.” (Josh 9:3,4) Sneaky Gibeonites! Jesus once said, “the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (Lk 16:8) Rahab had already shown it was possible to join Israel and become part of them but Gibeon didn't know that so they took to worldly deception – and almost got away with it, except ended up becoming servants to Israel. The lesson, on Israel's side has surely got to be don't take things at face value (see 1 Sam 16:7) and there is a need to enquire of the Lord when confronted with circumstances we've never faced before. Failure to do that means we may end up struggling for wisdom to deal with the consequences. Fortunately it is available (Jas 1:5)

Further Consideration: In the previous study we said life and how it works is funny, not ha-ha funny but strange funny, complex funny. It's a real mish-mash of good, bad and indifferent. Sometimes people do things which leave the thinking person going, ‘Hold on, is that right?' Some of us do that about Rahab. “Is it right that she told lies to the authorities to protect the spies?” Well in this Fallen World sometimes we have to choose between the lessor of two evils. If there weren't so many wrong things going on in Canaan that God didn't need to claim it back, this situation wouldn't have arisen. Her lie means they were saved, able to report back and God's plan proceed. She ends up in the family tree of the human side of the Son of God. (Mt 1:5) Amazing.

But then we come to these Gibeonites. Bad Canaanites! Pagans! Yes, but smart Canaanites who knew which way the wind was blowing! You either get up, run and leave this land for who knows where, you stay and fight against this big nation, and probably end up dead, or somehow you plot to get them to accept you. Right, that last one sounds the most sensible!

What is interesting to ponder here is how Joshua and Israel would have responded to them if they had simply arrived and said, “We're Canaanites but we want to join you.” My guess is that Israel would have said, “Not likely! We've been told to clear you lot out, so go or be killed.”

Now there is funny thing I've noticed about Israel, running through the Old Testament (again not funny ha-ha) and it is this awareness that who they were also went along with the awareness that they were to be seen who they were by the rest of the world, so the world could learn about God. Right, but so what? So they then go over to God's side – just like these Gibeonites did! Wow, didn't see that coming!

Snapshots: Day 128

The Snapshot: “the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.” (Josh 13:1) I'm getting a bit touchy at the thought of getting old but one thing it does do is let you look back and realise – with the Lord's help – how much we have not achieved, and when that sense comes through you see afresh the need for, and the value of, the Cross. Honesty does that! But these weren't write-off words from the Lord to Joshua just a plain statement of the truth. The Lord was going to carry on with the job and Joshua still had a part to play. (And don't forget all you have achieved!!!) Let that spur you on, and don't say your role is finished until the Lord says it is – in heaven! Rejoice at whatever age. (see Psa 92:12-15). Hallelujah!

Further Consideration: It is one of those sad things that you don't realise until it involves you, this whole business of younger generations saying, “Move over you old guys, it's our turn now!” Yep, for a lot of things I am really glad about that. I've served my years putting out chairs, doing the washing up, distributing leaflets so, yes, it's your turn now. I recognise your youthful energy, zeal and faithfulness and I'm thrilled about that but, guys, you are going to have to put in a few more years before experience teaches you wisdom unless you get a special portion from above.

I look back and I look around and I see a generation who pioneered stuff, seriously apostolic and prophetic stuff, guys who travelled the globe sacrificing family time, guys who have stood out the front week after week pouring out the truths of God, being up in the middle of the night for the crying flock, being there in hostile communities, and so on, and I see them in retirement today unappreciated by the flock who knew little or nothing of these things, who don't realise the long paths these people have walked, and it makes me sad.

Snapshots: Day 129

The Snapshot: “here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.” (Josh 14:10,11) What an incredible testimony, claim and challenge from Caleb to his old compatriot who had been with him all those years back when the two had returned full of faith from spying out the Land. Our call, of course, is not physical warfare but spiritual, but how many Christians know of such things today? When was the last time you heard a sermon on spiritual warfare, on battling in the heavenlies against spiritual enemies, of using the armour of God (Eph 6) and the weapons of our warfare that have the power to destroy strongholds (2 Cor 10:4)? Perhaps we have much to claim back.

Further Consideration: Two old men, Joshua and Caleb, the only two of the twelve who had come those forty-plus years back with a good report after spying out the Land, a report that was faith filled. Caleb had been a leader in Judah (Num 13:6), the one who had silenced the others in their unbelief (Num 13:30) and together with Joshua had spoken against the people's disquiet (Num 14:6-9) and was commended by the Lord (Num 14:24,30) and thus survived (Num 14:37,38) when the other ten died of plague. A faith-filled warrior, what a combination!

So when we look at his declaration above, at the age of eighty-five, it is not just the bragging of an old man, it is a statement of faith that he is still as able today to do the Lord's will in clearing the land as he had been all those years back.

So it doesn't really matter what age we are now but can we ask very gently, have we maintained that same level of love and faith and zeal as we exhibited when we were younger? There is always that terrible challenge to the church at Ephesus that we find in Revelation, “You've lost your first love.” (Rev 2:4) and the equally bad challenge to Sardis who were told to wake up (Rev 3:2), that warn us that it is so easy to lose what we once had. Oh, I'm too busy, (and if we're aging) I'm not as strong as I once was, things keep going wrong with me, you can't expect us to be full of energy like we once were! Read those words alongside the words of Caleb and he shames us.

Snapshots: Day 130

The Snapshot: “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” (Josh 15:19) Caleb's daughter is just settling down to married life and comes back and makes this request of her father who has oversight of this part of the land. The Message Version expands on it: “When she arrived… Caleb asked her, “What would you like?” She said, “Give me a marriage gift.   You've given me desert land; Now give me pools of water!” Smart girl. Yes, the land is great but to flourish we need water, lots of it! Sensitive children of God realise their new life is great but there is yet more to come – we need water, we need the Holy Spirit, in abundance, we need to be immersed in Him, filled with Him, if we are to flourish. Ask and you will receive (Lk 11:13). How many live thirsty lives because they don't ask, “Give me a blessing … give me also springs of water”? (Jn 7:38,39)

Further Consideration: Wisdom sometimes comes from unlikely sources. Here we are focusing on the ‘big people' like Joshua and Caleb and then suddenly up pops Caleb's daughter, ‘a chip of the old block' as the saying goes, and she comes and makes this seemingly simple request. Caleb is a leader in Judah and so her land is in the south. Apart from the (Mediterranean) coastal plain much of Israel is hilly. The further south you go the lower the rainfall tends to be and to the far south of course is desert. Thus in the records, wells and springs are important sources of water in the land. The different between the two is that a well was man-made and tended to need to have water drawn by rope and bucket, while springs tended to be natural, mostly constant (except in drought times) outpourings of regular supply. She is looking for living water as against well water (ponder on the difference in Jesus' talk with the Samaritan woman – Jn 4).

Snapshots: Day 131

The Snapshot: “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge.” (Josh 20:2) This is civilization in the making, the people of God in the making. This is the recognition of the Lord God of Israel that mankind struggles with sin in its various forms. The ‘cities of refuge' were first a recognition that upsets happen and in the midst of upset things get said and then done that shouldn't, even death, then regret. But that is only one side of the story. The other side is the onlookers, the family whose loved one has been killed. An eye of an eye, a life for a life!!!! Not when it was an accident. Killer, flee to a safe place to give them time to cool down! This is the God who seeks to cool tempers, bring peace, prevent further conflict, then and now.

Further Consideration: I am always amazed that the Law of God is not only full of practical care but also the grace and mercy of the Lord. It reveals to us a God who not only understands us but recognizes and provides for our failures. On Day 110 we considered Deut 21:1 “If someone is found slain…. and it is not known who the killer was…” which again was a recognition of sin in the people and yet which also provided a way for that to be recognised, acknowledged and dealt with appropriately.

The cities of refuge were a similar provision recognizing that in this fallen world, men act badly towards each other and if that wasn't bad enough they might accidentally end up killing each other – but it was an accident, it was not intentional. But this provision cares for those on both sides of this. On the one side the family of the dead person are likely to be very upset, so much so that they seek revenge, they seek to take the law into their own hands, i.e. they seek the kill the other antagonist. But it was an accident and the Lord wants to both protect him and keep the other side from doing something that drags them down and become guilty of what would then be murder. Thus there were these cities of refuge.

When the fleeing man reached the city, he was to explain to the city elders what had happened and if they accept his story they are to give him protection (20:4) but then there is to be a trial in the city where the case is properly examined (20:6) and if found innocent he can stay on there. Thus both sides are saved from worse ongoing conflict and feud.

Snapshots: Day 132

The Snapshot: “the Lord gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors.” (Josh 21:43) An amazing – and very surprising description! Yes, the Land has been taken but there are still pockets of the old inhabitants still there. So, yes, the Lord's will, described in those early days of Exodus to Moses has been fulfilled. But it is a challenging analogy. When we come to Christ there is a new ‘land' to be taken, a new life to be lived, having left the old one (Egypt, the place of slavery) behind. And as we go in to take this new ‘land' that Christ has earned for us and the Spirit empowers us to take, there is much from the past to be considered dead, much to be put to death (see Rom 6:11-13, Col 3:5,8,9, Eph 4:22-32), the battle for a godly & righteous ‘land'.

Further Consideration: This is God who, in this fallen world, tolerates imperfection in us. The fact that Israel had not cleared out every single Canaanite from the Land did not mean that the plan of God was thwarted, it just means (as we've seen again and again) He realistically works with the imperfect and incomplete.

It is an amazing challenge both for those atheists who foolishly say that God is harsh and vindictive, and those legalists who say that God is holy and therefore judges all wrongdoing. Well, for the latter group, that is true but He does it through the Cross; Jesus has taken the punishment for every wrong deed. If he hadn't, not one of us could stand, everyone one of us would be living in fear, waiting for the hand of destruction to fall on us.

And so Israel ‘possess' the land but there are still pockets of the old inhabitants around and the Lord knew this and said He would leave them as a challenge to Israel to test them. Every time Israel fell into disobedience, these enemies rose up and attacked them. It was a funny form of discipline, it wasn't God hitting Israel with a big stick, but God allowing Israel to be disciplined by their own failure to deal with their enemies outright.

Snapshots: Day 133

The Snapshot: “For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites.” (Josh 22:3) Loyalty and faithfulness. The tribes who had wanted to stay east of Jordan (see No. 96 & Num 32) had come and helped the others and fought and helped them take the land. Now it was time to go and take their own inheritance in the east. But instructions follow – be yourselves but remember you are still Israelites, God's people. Live like it! There are times when we need to be ourselves but that is never to be at the cost of the body of Christ. Reclaiming ourselves means becoming more the person God has designed and called us to be. Faithfulness trumps individuality and selfishness.

Further Consideration: The struggle, for the Christian, is always between being yourself and being a member of the body of Christ. As an individual, if you are like me, you crave for time and space, for peace and an opportunity to be refreshed, to do what you as a person do. But then there is a world out there that God loves and, even more, there is the church, God's people, the family of God, the body of which I am a part.

It is a body in need and there are those I can care for and encourage and pray for, but then I am part of this body that serves and so I have given myself to being a servant within it that calls on my time, calls on my energy and calls me to pray; I am no longer just mine. But that is healthy for self-centredness can generate so many wrong thoughts and feelings. Ah, and there is another reason; I need to be with this body, recognising its presence and being part of it, for I need feeding, challenging, instructing, by them; I dare not exist just on my own for it is so easy to lose perspective, fall of the rails and be less than I am called to be.

We were never designed to be alone and when we come to Christ we find an existence, an identity that lifts us and makes us something so much more than we were when we were alone. The Reubenites and Gadites (Num 22:1) had clearly been prosperous, they “had very large herds and flocks,” and the land to the east of the Jordan was just right for them and it was natural to want to stay there but they gave up that right to fight alongside their brothers.

Snapshots: Day 134

The Snapshot: “they said to them: “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this?” (Josh 22:16) This is all about accountability to the body. Collectively, we as the body of Christ, the Church, are to be a testimony to one another to help keep one another on the right track (which is why the trend to stop going to church is so dangerous!) James understood this (Jas 5:19,20) with a reference to drawing back the one who wanders from the truth and save them. Pray for the prodigals, don't criticize them, pray for them, love them, love them, be there for them, always with arms of welcome (Lk 15:20). But yes, let's keep tabs on one another; we need it.

Further Consideration: This was a strange situation. Reuben and Gad had returned to their land to the east of the Jordan after the conquest of the land, but then they appeared to do something terrible – they build at altar at the Jordan. The rest of Israel jumped to the conclusion that they were setting up their own false religion, to offer sacrifices on an unauthorized altar. How easy it is to jump to wrong conclusions.

Israel sent a deputation led by Phineas (Josh 22:13,14) with ten leaders to confront them and they challenged them. The answer is heartwarming. Far from wanting to divide off from the rest of the nation, this altar was not for sacrifice but for testimony (22:27) to all future generations. Their fear was that being on the other side of the Jordan valley, separated off from the rest of the nation, there was the danger in the days to come that first of all the rest of Israel might disclaim them (22:24,25). Similarly their own descendants might similarly forget and so this altar was to be a call to them as well to remember their past. (22:28) It was to be a testimony to both sides.

As we said above, how easy it is to jump to wrong conclusions. The modern classic illustration of this is in sending e-mails where it is impossible to sense the tone of voice of the sender. But it can be many other times as well, when people can jump to wrong conclusions about your intent or your motivation. Very often we can, as psychologists say, reflect what we feel and see it in the other person, attributing a wrong intent. I have had it – painfully – people attributing criticism when I was simply writing principles of truth, not intending to ‘aim' it in any direction. We respond like this when we are feeling defensive, unsure of ourselves, unsure of our own identities and thus we attribute the same things to others. The only way to prevent this happening is to determine that you will see the best in others, you will only attribute good to them, or if there is bad, there is a cause that needs your love. Try it and see what a difference it makes.

Snapshots: Day 135

The Snapshot: “Joshua, by then a very old man… said to them: “I am very old.” (Josh 23:1,2) You never need to tell an old person that they are old, they know it already. Old age doesn't creep up on you quietly, it makes you aware of it. Joshua calls the nation to him, fulfilling his leadership role he calls them to go on following the Lord (23:6-8), warning them of the perils of disobedience (23:12,13), reminding them of God's faithfulness and discipline (23:14-16). It is the role of an elder (the wise leader), the Pastor (the shepherd of the flock), the overseer (the protector), and it continues right into old age. He is being faithful to his calling right to the end and as such he challenges each of us as we grow older, will I keep going to the end, able to echo Paul? (2 Tim 4:7)

Further Consideration: The temptations along that way that the enemy uses include, as we've noted previously, to bring discouragement but there are more things that he focuses on. When we are younger, he tells us that our job is all-important and we shouldn't feel bad about short-changing our family in respect of time, the business needs me. But as we get older we start feeling the aches and pains and get tired more easily and so say the Lord doesn't need me, other people don't need me, and in these various ways he undermines our self-esteem, our very relationship with the Lord even.

To make it worse he points out the young people around us who are full of energy and we find ourselves looking at them with a measure of envy. But the truth is that we can't turn the clock back, we are what we are and we need to confess it with thanks – yes thanks that He has brought us to this point, whatever it is, however old you are and however limited you might feel you are, but you are still the person He called all that time back, His love for you has not diminished and He is blessed you have remained faithful through the ups and downs of life, through the struggles and turmoils that life in the fallen world brings.

Snapshots: Day 136

The Snapshot: “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Josh 24:15) Testimony to the end! Again, as we saw, Joshua calls the people to himself and he reminds them of their history (24:2-13) and challenges them to keep following the Lord (24:14) reminding them that their calling was to forsake the world around them, the idol-worshiping of their neighbours. There are always two options – do what the rest of the world are doing, or do what God calls you to, two very different lives. So he challenges them to choose which path they will follow. That is always the call of the Christian leader to his people, but with it comes the personal testimony – whatever anyone else does, we're going to stick with the Lord. Leaders challenge, provoke and testify. Do it.

Further Consideration: Perhaps we take for granting the preaching and teaching that goes on every week in church, but it is foundational to the Christian life. The apostle Paul wrote words that many of us are so familiar with: “All Scripture is … useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim 3:16), so familiar sometimes that we tend to forget what it is saying. The Bible is not for entertainment, it is for teaching and when we let it do that we will find that sometimes it ‘rebukes' us, scolds us for the what we have been doing or what we have been thinking. It corrects us, shows us what should be, it trains, instructs, shows us how life can be, and in all these things it shows us there are two ways to live – God's way found in the Bible or the way of the world, a way of self-centred godlessness – and we have to choose.

Nice, happy platitudes, nice pious thoughts, little heart-warming homilies, are not what build the Christian and the Christian community, but words which, although they may comfort, support and encourage, will always have a slight edge to them as they call us to action, to bring change, to bring commitment, to reaffirm our faithfulness.