Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 88

Mar29
Day 84.  Reading Joshua 22 – 24. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 22.

 A BIG MISUNDERSTANDING! nearly causes war.

The war is over, the land in conquered, the eastern tribes turn toward home. They have fulfilled their promise to help their brothers. All is well.

Joshua sends them off with this word, “You have not forsaken your brothers. They have rest, so return to the land the LORD gave you.  ONLY … be very careful to OBSERVE the commandment and the law that the LORD commanded -‘to LOVE the LORD your God, and to WALK in all His ways and to KEEP His commandments and to CLING to Him and to SERVE Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ 

Then Joshua blessed them.

Then they build a big, imposing alter at the Jordan River.

WHAT?  Why?

The western tribes wanted to know too.  Were these eastern tribes turning already to worship the idols of the pagans?  If so, surely the LORD would punish them ALL.  And the whole assembly of the western tribes gathered “to make war against them.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa!   

Loyal and zealous priest, Phinehas, son of Eleazar the high priest, went to them.  “What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel? If you don’t like your portion, come back and take yourselves a portion in the LORD’s land where the tabernacle stands. Only do not rebel against the LORD by making an alter other than the alter of the LORD your God!“

“WAIT!” the eastern tribes cried.

Then they explained.  That huge alter was not for sacrifice or offerings. It was a MEMORIAL, “to be a witness between us and you and our generations after us, that we DO perform the service of the LORD in His presence.  Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away this day from following Him.”

Phinehas and the chiefs of the congregation then stood down. “It is good in our eyes.” And the good report spread to all the people of Israel, and they blessed God.  It was an alter of “witness” not of pagan worship. 

Whew!

Joshua 23.

A LONG TIME AFTERWARD,  when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies, and Joshua was “old and well advanced in years,” Joshua summoned all Israel (elders and heads, judges and officers) and spoke to them. 

The LORD has done all He promised you. “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right or the left, that you may NOT mix with these nations remaining among you, or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them, or serve them or bow down to them.  BUT YOU SHALL CLING TO THE LORD YOUR GOD JUST AS YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS DAY. Be very careful to love the LORD your God.”

Joshua knew it was his time to die.  He warns them of God’s goodness and the curses He could bring. You can LIVE, or you can PERISH.

Joshua 24.

Then Joshua gathered all the tribes together at Shechem.  There he retells the story of the people of God, from when Abraham was called out of the land beyond the Euphrates, God’s promises of a people, a land, and His presence to him and his descendants. He recalls their long stay in and rescue from Egypt, and their 40-year stay in the wilderness. He reminds them of how God helped them defeat all their enemies on the east of the Jordan, Jericho, and the westside of the Jordan River.  Now they are eating of the plenty they did not plant.

So.  And I think Joshua looked them straight in the eye to say, “If it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, CHOOSE THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE, whether the gods your fathers served in Egypt.  BUT FOR ME AND MY HOUSE —- WE WILL SERVE THE LORD”

And the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods.  “Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for He is our God.”

Then Joshua said an unusual thing. He challenges their pledge.

“You are not ABLE to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. IF YOU FORSAKE THE LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after having done you good.”

“No, but we WILL serve the LORD!”

“You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve Him.”

“We are witnesses.”

“Then put away the foreign gods that are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”

“The LORD our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey.”

And Joshua made a covenant with the people, wrote it on a large stone and set it up under a terebinth tree there in Shechem.  “Behold this stone shall be a witness, for it has heard all the words.” 

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And there at Shechem, on land that his father, Jacob, had purchased from Hamor for 100 pieces of money, THEY BURIED THE BONES OF JOSEPH which the people had brought up from Egypt. (See Genesis 50:24-25 and Exodus 13:19)   It became an inheritance of the descendants of Joseph. 

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And JOSHUA, THE SON OF NUN, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 years old. And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim.  

Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work the LORD did for Israel. (Sadly, only ONE generation.)

Then ELEAZAR, THE SON OF AARON died. They buried him at Gilbea, the town of Phinehas his son.

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 87

Mar28
Day 87.  Reading Joshua 19 – 21. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 19.

Another land distribution, with the last six tribes getting their portions.

  1. Simeon – in the middle of Judah because they were small
  2. Zebulun – a small portion near the Sea of Galilee
  3. Issachar – a slightly larger portion to the south of Zebulun
  4. Asher – runs along the Great Sea and includes Tyre, with Zebulun and Naphtali on the east
  5. Naphtali – boarders Asher on the West, and touches the Sea of Galilee, then North up to Mount Hermon  (Jesus’ Galilean ministry largely took place in Naphtali. (See Matthew 4:13-17)
  6. Dan – a small territory on the Great Sea coast at Joppa and touching Ephraim and Judah. Later they lose this land and settle on the far north edge of the Eastern Manasseh territory, which they also lose except for the city they named Dan. (See Judges 1:34-36, and 18:27-29)

Then, finally and last of all, Joshua took the territory saved for him. “By command of the LORD,” they gave him the city he asked for – Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim.  He rebuilt it and settled there.

Joshua 20.

Next, the LORD told Joshua to appoint the Cities of Refuge, where any who had accidentally killed someone without malice aforethought, could flee and live in safety from the “avenger of blood,” a family member of the deceased who sought vengeance. 

The cities were equally distributed in the Land, three east of the Jordan River, and three on the west side. 

KEDESH in Naphtali, SHECHEM in Ephraim, and HEBRON in Judah were on the west. 

BEZER in Reuben, RAMOTH in Gad, and GOLAN in Manasseh were east of the Jordan. 

Joshua 21.

And lastly, special cities within the tribes were given to the Levites, so they would be closer to the people to minister judgements of the law.

  • The direct descendants of Aaron the Priest were given cities in Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin (13 cities)
  • The rest of the Kohathites got cities from Ephraim, Dan, and the western 1/2 tribe of Manasseh (10 cities)
  • The Gershonites received cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and also the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh (13 cities)
  • The Merarites received cities from Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun (12 cites)

All the cities included pasturelands. (The rest of the chapter names the cities that each clan of the tribe of Levi received, 48 in all.)

And … “Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that He swore to give their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as He had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed, all came to pass.“

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 86

Mar27
Day 86.  Reading Joshua 16 – 18. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 16.

Today’s chapters continue with the distribution of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel after the LORD helped Joshua and the armies to defeat them.

The duel tribe of “Joseph” (Ephraim & Manasseh) receives their inheritance. First Ephraim’s portion is described. It was a large section from the Jordan River at Jericho almost to the  “Great Sea.”  The last verse in the chapter says, “However, they DID NOT drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so those people lived among them. but (like Gibeon) they were made to do forced labor.”

Joshua 17.

Then the other half of Joseph’s tribe – Manasseh – was given their land. Manasseh gets a lot of land because they were a large tribe.  They already received a huge portion on the East side of the Jordan. Now, continuing on the West side all the way to the Great Sea, they received more.

Again the scripture comment is, “Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of some of the cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in the land. Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor … but did not utterly drive them out.“

(All this is setting up the tribes for trouble later. God said to drive them ALL out and He would help them. God Knew the worship practices of the Canaanites would be a strong temptation to the Jews.)

Later the duel tribes of Joseph came to Joshua saying they did not have enough land.  Joshua told them to go into the hill country/forest and clear more land, and also to drive out the Canaanites in the plains.  Okay, okay, they DID have chariots of Iron, but Joshua was not moved.  “You shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong!“

(Way to lead, Josh!!)

Joshua 18.

Now the rest of the smaller tribes were to get their portions. Joshua set up a tent at Shiloh, got out the maps.  He called three men each (spies) from the remaining seven tribes and told them to go out and write a description of the land and bring it back. The remaining land would then be divided (by lots) accordingly into seven portions.

So they went out and wrote the descriptions “in a book” and returned. And Joshua cast lots for them before the LORD.

Benjamin was first and got the prime piece of land dead center in the land between Judah and Ephraim. Nestled at the bottom of their portion, on the boarder with Judah, was Jerusalem.  This “City of Gold” now ruled by the Jebusites, would one day be Israel’s capital, with God dwelling there in their midst in the magnificent Temple that King Solomon would build.

Benjamin also got the cities of Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Ramah, Mizpeh, and Gibeah (actually, 14 cities in all). And he got a finger hold of the Dead Sea, right at the top.

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Tomorrow the remaining 6 tribes will get their allotment, and Commander Joshua will finally get HIS special land grant from the LORD. 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 85

Mar26
Day 85.  Reading Joshua 12 – 15. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 12.

Taking stock after the conquest.

This chapter lists the victories of Israel over the kings and city-states, as they “took” the Land God gave to them, as per His covenant with Abraham.

On the East of the Jordan River, settled by 2.5 tribes, was the land from the edge of the River Arnon, clear north, past the Sea of Galilee to Mount Herman, and eastward to the Araba.  MOSES led the conquest of this territory.

On the West side of the Jordan River, JOSHUA led the conquest, beginning at Jericho, and including 31 kings, south from the Negev, along the Dead Sea, the Sea of Galilee clear north, to Mt Hermon and westward to Sidon on the Great Sea.

This amazing conquest was all due to the LORD’s faithful help and direction.

Chapter 13.

Although Joshua and Israel took all this land, there was some territory not completely conquered (which would later lead to their big problem of idolatry).

Also, the land of the Philistines (which would be a thorn in the side of Israel as a nation) should have been conquered. It included Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.  (Remember Goliath the giant and his four brothers were from Gath, and would taunt the armies of Israel under King Saul and King David.)

And up north the land of Lebanon and eastward, that hill country should have been taken.  There were areas on the edge of the 2.5 tribes’ territory also not settled.  God Himself would help to drive these out.  God told Israel to start living in these areas anyway. 

The rest of the chapter gives details on the land Moses gave to the 2.5 tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh.

Joshua 14.

The land on the West of the Jordan River was divided up by lot by Eleazar the high priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes. (Levi received no land inheritance, but had cities scattered throughout the other tribes.)

During this time, Caleb (the other spy with Joshua who had given Moses a good report of the land 45 years ago) came to Joshua for his special inheritance in Judah.  He asked for the city of Hebron and the hill country surrounding it.  Joshua blessed him and gave it to him as his inheritance.  (This city was formerly know as Kiriath-Arba, (City of “Arba.” Arba was the greatest man among the giants.)

Joshua 15.

This chapter lists in detail the land and the occupants of the tribe of Judah, a very large land allotment. (Eventually this would represent the Southern Kingdom, after the Nation split in half after Solomon’s rule.)

Also, later, Simeon’s allotment would be absorbed into this area of Judah, as that tribe was small and weak.

But the Jebusites, who were the inhabitants of Jerusalem, could not be driven out at that time.  So the Jebusites continued on there. 

(LATER, King David would take the city from them and make Jerusalem the Capital of Israel.  The tabernacle and later the temple which Solomon would build would be in Jerusalem, the place the LORD chose to dwell among His people and put His Name there.)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 84

Mar25
Day 84.  Reading Joshua 9 – 11. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 9.

Okay. A glorious defeat at Jericho! Then a humiliation at Ai. A second attack on Ai with victory. Has Israel and Joshua learned their lesson?

Meanwhile, six kings of nation-states in Canaan hear of Jericho and Ai (#2). They gather together as one to fight Israel. Whoa! This will be all-out warfare on the battleground. Having just defeated Ai, the people of Israel are confident. But too confident?

When the people of Gibeon (the Hivites) hear the same reports, they don’t strut with bravado. They act with cunning. They perform an elaborate hoax on Joshua and the leaders, pretending to be from a far country, wanting to make peace. Joshua knows that people “outside” the Promised Land don’t have to be destroyed, just subdued. He looks at their fake old bread and purposely torn clothes, and he believes that they’ve come from far, far away. (No seeking God’s face in the matter, we notice.) A pact is made. Joshua and the leaders of Israel swear to make peace with them. 

Oops! Three days after the covenant, Israel hears that these people are their near neighbors. Israel, being more honorable (though foolish and disobedient) is honor-bound not to attack them. And the congregation murmurs against Joshua, just as they had against Moses. (This time with cause. Joshua should have sought out the LORD!!!)

Joshua called them out asking why they had deceived him. Well, duh! “BECAUSE it was told to us for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded Moses to give you all the land and destroy all the inhabitants. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. Now, we are in your hands. Do what seems good and right.”

And so, the people of Gibeon became servants in Israel from that time on.

Joshua 10.

Israel’s had a rocky start. Hopefully, it’s behind them now. Keep sin out of the camp. Don’t underestimate the enemy. And don’t be tricked by them as well. 

Okay… Now, the king of Jerusalem was shaking in his “sandals.” He’d heard of Jericho. He’d heard of Ai, and now, Gibeon!!  Gibeon was a great city, one of the royal cities.  So this king sent to four other local kings and the five others and said.  “Let’s make war against Gibeon. 

Eek, said all the warriors of Gibeon, and they sent a May-day message to Joshua. “Come help us quickly. Save us, for all the kings are gathered against us.”

So now, Joshua and Israel find themselves fighting to save one of the Canaanite cities they should have destroyed!  This time, it seems Joshua may have consulted the LORD, for God promised him, “Do not fear for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand against you.” 

They marched all night up from Gilgal and surprised the massive army of kings.  The LORD threw them all into a panic, and Israel chased them away, striking as they went.  The LORD, had some fun too, throwing down great hailstones from heaven, so they died. There were MORE that died from the hail than the sword!!

Meanwhile, Joshua asked the LORD to make the sun and the moon stand still so they had light to fight. God answered. “And the sun stood still and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.”

(Remember, something like this happened before when Joshua and the tiny army of ex-slaves battled the Amalekites in the wilderness.  As long as Moses’ arms were held high, Joshua’s rag-tag army won. Exodus 17:10-13  Moses was dead, so Joshua asked God for the great solar ball to help him. )

Joshua and the army returned to Gilgal, while the five kings hid in the cave at Makkedah.  A scout reported to Joshua and he told them to roll stones in front of the cave’s mouth and stand guard.

Later after Joshua and the army wiped out all their enemies who had remained in the cities, Joshua returned to Makkedah.  He brought out the kings, had his leaders step on their necks, and said.  “For thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”  Then Joshua killed them and threw them back into the cave.  As for the city of Makkedah, Joshua attacked, killed every person as they had done to Jericho. 

Then it was off to more cities to wipe out. God gave Lachish into Israel’s hand, as well as the king of Gezer who’d come to help. Then Joshua led them on to Eglon, Hebron, Debir, the whole land down to the Negev (South), Kadesh-Barnea, Gaza, all the land of Goshen, and back around to Gibeon.  JOSHUA CAPTURED ALL THESE KINGS AND THEIR LAND AT ONE TIME BECAUSE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL FOUGHT FOR THEM. 

Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua 11.

After all this huge defeat of the southern area, Jabin, king of Hazor in the north, called all the northern kings clear up to Mount Herman to fight.  And they came to him, a great horde in number like the sand on the seashore, with very many troops, horses, and chariots.  They all came together at Merom, north of the Sea of Galilee.  

“Do not be afraid of them,” said the LORD, “for tomorrow at this time, I will give over ALL of them, slain, to Israel. You shall burn the chariots and disable the horses.”

So that’s what Joshua and Israel did, chasing and killing them all the way up to Sidon.  Joshua then returned and burned all the cities of the kings with fire.  They took all the spoil and livestock (except the men) as plunder.

So Joshua took all that land. He captured all the kings.  Joshua made war with them all.  There was not a city that made peace with Israel except Gibeon. They took them all in battle, for it was the LORD’s doing. 

Joshua also cut off all the giants left in the land.  ONLY in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did some remain. 

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel, according to their tribal allotments.

And the land had REST from war. 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 82 & 83 (PART 2)

Mar24
Day 82 – 83.  Reading Joshua 1-4 and 5-8. (PART 2)
 

We are diving into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 5.

Israel is in the Promised Land!  They still have a lot of work to do, but they are there.

All the kings of the Amorites and the Canaanites heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan river for the people to cross (just like had happened at the Red Sea) and “their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them.”

The first thing God told Joshua to do was, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sins of Israel.”  So Joshua obeyed.  The reason why this had to be done was because only the Israelite men who had come out of Egypt were circumcised. They were all dead, and they had not circumcised their children for all those 40 years in the desert.  ISRAEL had to do this. It was the covenant sign that they were the people of GOD.

After the days of healing, the LORD said, “Today, I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” And they called the place Gilgal (“to roll”)

Then – oh, how appropriate! – Israel observed Passover as they had when they escaped Egypt!

And the very next day, they ate of the produce of the land, with UNLEAVENED cakes.  AND THE MANNA CEASED THE NEXT DAY. 

Then it seems (like Nehemiah did centuries later) Joshua went out to assess Jericho. And there he was met by a “man with a drawn sword in his hand.” 

“Are your friend or foe?” cried Joshua.

“No,” came the voice of authority. “I am the commander of the army of the LORD.”  

Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped him saying, “What does my lord say to his servant?“

Then, like with Moses at the burning bush, the commander of the LORD’s army said. “Take of your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy.”

And Joshua did.

Joshua 6.

Then the Commander of the LORD’s army told Joshua the strategic plans to take Jericho.  They were very strange, but so God-like!.  And Joshua obeyed to the letter.

  • March around the city (in silence), all the men of war going around the city once a day for six days.
  • Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets, blowing them continually before the Ark. 
  • Mighty men of war were to march before the Ark, and the rear guard walked after the Ark. 
  • On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times and the priests would blow the trumpets. 
  • When they made a long blast of the trumpet, all the people were to shout with a great shout. 
  • And the wall of the city will fall down flat.
  • Then all the people shall go straight in and take the city.
  • They are to save the gold, silver, bronze, and iron and put it in the treasury of the LORD.
  • All else they were to utterly destroy. NO ONE COULD TAKE ANYTHING FOR HIMSELF!!! 
  • ONLY RAHAB and all who were in her house were to be saved alive.

And it all happened just as the LORD’s Commander ordered Joshua.  After the walls fell down they went in and captured the city, “devoting EVERYTHING alive to be killed by the sword.” Then they burned the city.

(Can you imagine the Canaanites nearby hearing that, and then seeing the great plume of smoke rising from Jericho.  Terrifying!)

The two spies went to Rahab’s house which was “protected” by the blood-red rope – that section of wall the only one left standing – and rescued her and her family.  They put them outside the camp (temporarily).  She and all her family lived in Israel after that. (And eventually she married Salmon and gave birth to Boaz, who married Ruth, whose grandson was King David.) (See Matthew 1:5 and Ruth 4:13-17)

Then Joshua cursed any man who tried to rebuild Jericho.  (See 1 Kings 16:34)

Joshua 7.

ISRAEL IS ON A ROLL!!!  Champions!!  Conquerors!!  Unstoppable! —- Until they weren’t.

The next day, Joshua and the army looked at the little town of AI, and thought they could take it in their sleep. Joshua sent spies, and they brought back the same message.  “No problem!”  So they sent only a small strike force. 

But the “easy battle” fell flat, they were soundly defeated, and 36 Israeli soldiers were killed. The hearts of the people of Israel melted now, and became like water

WHY?????

Joshua tore his clothes and fell on his face before the Ark of the Covenant. “Alas, O LORD, why did you bring us here if your are going to give us into the hands of our enemies to destroy us.  Would that we’d been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan.  We turned our backs like cowards!  The Canaanites will trash your great name!! Boo-hoo!”

“GET UP!” said the LORD to Joshua. “Why have you fallen on your face.  ISRAEL HAS SINNED AND TRANSGRESSED MY COVENANT.  They have taken some of the things I forbade you to take from Jericho. I will be with you NO MORE UNLESS YOU DESTROY THE DEVOTED THINGS AMONG YOU.  

The LORD told Joshua to present the people before Him in the morning, to find the guilty man.

So Joshua rose early and brought Israel, tribe by tribe, clan by clan, and man by man, until ACHAN was found.  “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and praise Him. Confess.”

So Achan confessed his lust and greed and covetousness for a beautiful cloak from Shinar, 200 shekels of silver and a gold bar. “I coveted them and took them.”  Sure enough, Joshua found the stash in his tent.

So Joshua and all the people brought him, and the silver and the cloak and the gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep, and his tent and all that was in it to the Valley of Achor. 

And all Israel stoned them with stones. They burned it all with fire, then piled up a great heap of stones over it all. 

Joshua 8.

Then God told Joshua to take ALL the fighting men to Ai.  “I have given you the king, his people, and all his city and land. Do to it as you did at Jericho. This time, lay an ambush behind the city.

And so Joshua led them to victory.

(Hey, obey God. Seek His face and direction in all you do. And see how it goes!!

Israel obeyed, struck them all down by the sword. They devoted all the inhabitants to destruction, only the stock and spoil of that city they were allowed to take.

Then Joshua took all Israel to Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim and put half of the people on one, and the other half on the other, with the Levitical priests and the Ark of the Covenant in the middle. Then they read the curses and blessings to each other, as Moses instructed. 

And the whole (entire) book of the Law of Moses was read to the people. “There was not a word of all that Moses commanded” that Joshua did not read before the assembly of Israel, including women, little ones, and the sojourners among them. And he built an alter to the LORD, the God of Israel.

Had he learned his lesson? 

I don’t think so………………….

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 82 & 83 (PART 1)

Mar24
Day 82 – 83.  Reading Joshua 1-4 and 5-8. (PART 1)
 

We are diving into the History of Israel – post-Moses. 

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

 

Joshua 1.

Immediately God spoke to Joshua, Moses’ “assistant.”

“Moses my servant is dead. Therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all “this people” into the land that I am giving them.  Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon, I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses.  NO MAN SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND BEFORE YOU all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, I will be with you.”

“Be strong and very courageous.  This book of the LAW shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night. so you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it…for then your way will be prosperous and you will have good success.? 

“Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

And so Joshua took the leadership.  1) “Prepare your provisions,” he said to the people, “for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in and take possession of the land that the LORD YOUR God is giving you.”

And to the 2.5 tribes with land already on the East of the Jordan, he said, 2) “Remember the word that Moses commanded you.  All the men of valor among you shall pass over armed BEFORE your brothers, and YOU shall help them until the LORD gives rest to your brothers.”

Joshua 2.

Next Joshua (once a spy of the land himself) sent two men ahead. 3)  “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.”

They did and came upon the house of one Rahab, a prostitute. It was built between the two massive walls of Jericho.  

They must not have been very secretive because it was soon told to the King that they were there. He sent men to Rahab and demanded she turn them over.  Through God’s sovereign plan and work on her heart, Rahab had hidden them under some stalks of flax on her roof.

“I don’t know where those men went,” she lied to the King’s men. “Pursue them quickly for you will overtake them.”  They pursued all the way to the Jordan River but did not find them.

Meanwhile, Rahab went up on her roof and made a deal with the spies. “I know that your God has given you this land.  All the people are terrified of you. We heard how your God dried up the Red Sea so your people could escape out of Egypt.  And now, we’ve heard how you decimated Sihon and Og.”

“Wow,” thought the spies.

“I know that the LORD your God is God of the heavens above and on the earth below.  Now… please swear to me, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a SURE SIGN that you will save us alive and deliver us from death.”

The spies answered in the affirmative. “If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land … we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

And they made a pack, with the “sure sign” being a crimson rope to be hung out her window to mark the place that the army of Israel was to save.  Only those in the house with the blood-red rope would be saved alive.   (WOW!  Doesn’t this remind you of the Lamb’s blood on the Jew’s doorposts in Egypt preserving them from the Angel of Death??)

The spies returned and reported it all to Joshua, ending with, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of this land WILL MELT AWAY before us.”

Joshua 3.

Israel led the people early the next morning to the brink of the Jordan River and camped there for three days. Then Joshua sent elders to the people to say, 4) “As soon as you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out and follow it (about 1,000 yards behind it).”

Then Joshua said, 5) “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”  And then to the Priests, 6) “Take up the Ark of the Covenant and pass on before the people.”

God said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with YOU.  Now, when the priests step into the river, you shall stand still in the Jordan.”

And so, when the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the Ark touched the water …. the water stopped its flow from above and stood “in a heap. And ALL OF ISRAEL quickly crossed the Jordan on dry land, just as the older generation crossed the Red Sea on dry land.

Joshua 4.

But one more thing was needed. Joshua called the twelve men that he had appointed, a man from each tribe, and said, 7) “Each of you, take up a stone on his shoulder for each tribe of Israel.” They were for a memorial. Later, before the waters returned, Joshua set them up in the Jordan Riverbed where the priests had stood. 

“When your children ask in the time to come, ‘What do those stones mean?’ you are to tell them of how the LORD stopped the water so they could cross into the Promised Land, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and you may fear the LORD your God forever.

Then the Ark and the priests came up out of the Jordan, and when the soles of their feed were on the dry land of Canaan, the waters of the Jordan returned and overflowed their banks as before. 

And on that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.

And so, the people camped at Gilgal, on the border of Jericho. 

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To be continued in PART TWO. Joshua 5-8.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 81

Mar22
Day 81.  Reading Deuteronomy 32 – 34, Psalm 91. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn NEW about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 32.

Today, there is singing (psalms). 

The first is a history lesson in song that Moses wrote and taught to the assembly of Israel. He’s quite a songwriter. (see Exodus 15). I wonder how long it took them to memorize what is 43 verses in our Bibles. The melody must have been very catchy.  

The song he wrote is God’s words to Israel, telling them who He is, what He’s done for them, the ways they will fail Him, and how much He actually loves them. 

Moses tells them to praise God. “For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God!  The Rock, His work is perfect, all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness, without iniquity, just and upright is He.”

But of Israel, “They have dealt corruptly with Him; they are no longer His children because they are blemished, a crooked and twisted generation.”

But the LORD’s portion is His people, Jacob, His allotted heritage.   He —

  • found him in a desert land and a howling waste of wilderness,
  • encircled him, cared for him
  • kept him as the apple of His eye.
  • made him ride on the high places of the land
  • suckled him with honey out of the rock, fed him curds and milk from the flock, fat of lambs, the finest of wheat, and wine from the blood of grapes.

But “Jeshurun” (a name for Israel meaning “upright” but said sarcastically) grew fat and kicked and forsook the God who made him. He scoffed at the Rock of his salvation, and stirred Him to jealousy with strange gods, abominations, and sacrificing to demons. 

“You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.”

And so the LORD saw it and spurned them and hid His face from them.  And God vowed —

  • I will make them jealous of those who are no people; 
  • I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
  • I will heap disasters upon them
  • I will spend my arrows on them
  • They will be wasted with hunger, devoured by plague and poisonous pestilence
  • I will send the teeth of beasts against them with the venom of snakes.

And God said he would have done more against his people, but the enemies would misunderstand and think that THEIR hand had been triumphant and not the LORD at all. 

But – and thank You, LORD – He vows, “I will vindicate my people and have compassion on my servants, when I see that their power is gone. and there is none remaining, bond or free.”     

“Rejoice with Him O heavens; bow down to Him, all gods, for He avenges the blood of his children and takes vengeance on His adversaries. He repays those who hate him, and cleanses His people’s land.”

And so Moses ended the song in the hearing of the people, he and Joshua.  He told them to “take all the words to heart and teach them to your children.

And THAT VERY DAY, God told Moses, “It’s time.”  “Go up this mountain, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho and VIEW the land I’m giving to Israel.  And die on the mountain, as your brother died on Mount Hor.  You shall SEE the land before you, but you shall NOT GO THERE.”

Deuteronomy 33.

Then, before Moses went up to die, he blessed the tribes of Israel, much like Jacob/Israel had done before he died.

  • Reuben, shall not die, but will be few.
  • Judah,  LORD bring him in, with Your hands contend for him, be a help against his adversaries.
  • Levi, LORD, give to Levi your Thummin and Urim, who denied his father and mother and brothers and children, but observed YOUR Word and kept YOUR covenant. They will teach Jacob Your rules and law, and worship and sacrifice to You.  Bless, O LORD, his substance and accept the work of his hands. Crush his adversaries.
  • Benjamin. The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long.
  • Joseph, Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven, with the choicest fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months, etc. A first-born bull — he has majesty. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.
  • Zebulun & Issachar, rejoice in your going out and in your tents. They draw from the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.
  • Gad, Blessed be he who enlarges him. He crouches like a vicious lion. He chose the best of the land for himself, for THERE, a commander’s portion was reserved. With Israel he executed the justice of the LORD and his judgments for Israel.
  • Dan, is a lion’s cub.
  • Naphtali, sated with favor and full of the blessing of the LORD, posses the lake and the south.
  • Asher, Most blessed be sons of Asher, the favorite of his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil. As your days, so shall your strength be.

There is none like God, O Israel, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in His majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people save by the LORD!

Deuteronomy 34.

Then Moses climbed up Mount Nebo. And the LORD showed him all the land; Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western sea, the Negev, and the Plain, the Valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees.

“This is the land I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.  I will let your see it, but your shall not go over.” 

So Moses died there. He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab, but no one knows the place.  Moses was 120 years old. His eye was undimmed and his vigor unabated. 

And Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom, so the people obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. 

“An there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to the land, and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of Israel.” 

(A postscript by Joshua)

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Psalm 91.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
 will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the LORD, My refuge and my fortress, 
my God in whom I trust. (vss. 1-2)

"Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation." (vss.14-16)

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 80

Mar21
Day 80.  Reading Deuteronomy 30 – 31. 
 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn NEW about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 30.

This chapter brings good news. 

IF Israel sins against the LORD by not loving and obeying Him, and afterwards returns to Him and obeys Him with all their heart and soul, THEN the LORD will restore their fortunes, and have compassion on them and again gather them from the people where the LORD scattered them.

The LORD will also “circumcise their hearts” so they will love him totally. He will make them prosperous and delight in them again. And He will put all the curses on their enemies.

Then Moses encouraged them. “This commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither too far off. The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and your heart, so you can do it.”

Then Moses challenged them. “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. IF you obey the commandments of the LORD your God, by loving  Him, walking in His ways, and keeping his commandments and statutes and rules, THEN you shall live and multiply and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curs.  CHOOSE LIFE!  So you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for HE is your life and length of days.

Deuteronomy 31.

Moses then reminded the people that he was now 120 years old and he could not enter the Land with them.  But that the LORD Himself will go in with them. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Then Moses brought Joshua before them and commissioned him. “Be strong and courageous, for YOU shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.”

Then Moses gave the whole law, which he had written at God’s command, to the priests. He commanded them to read it every seven years at the Feast of Tabernacles when all Israel came to appear before the LORD. They were to read it before all Israel, men, women, children, and stranger in their towns… that all may hear and learn to fear the LORD they God and be careful to obey all the words.

Then God told Moses. “It’s time for you to die.  Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting that I may commission him.” 

God told Moses that after he died, the people would turn and whore after foreign gods in the land and that His anger would be kindled against them.  AND SO, Moses was to write a song and teach it to the people. He was to put it in their mouths, that it would be a witness for God against them..”

So Moses wrote the song the same day and taught it to the people. (We will read it tomorrow in chapter 32.)

Then the LORD commissioned Joshua, the son of Nun. “Be strong and courageous, for you SHALL bring the people of Israel into the land I swore to give them. I will be with you.”

Then Moses gave the entire book of the Law to the Levite priests, who were to put it beside the Ark of the Covenant. It was a witness against them. (For God knew how rebellious and stubborn they were.)

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 79

Mar20
Day 79.  Reading Deuteronomy 28 – 29. 

Read today’s scripture.

What do you learn NEW about God’s goodness?

Who can you share that with today?

Deuteronomy 28.

Moses offers blessings and more curses to Israel, depending on their heart for God.

“If you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments that I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall be upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Blessings for them and their families anywhere they live, and in whatever they do, with the defeat of all their enemies are promised.

“The LORD will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you.”   ” All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.”

Prosperity, rain in season, so much wealth that they will loan to other nations, all promised for their faithfulness.

BUT IF…. they turn aside from God…curses in the form of the OPPOSITE of all the above will come on them.  No prosperity, no protection from enemies, and every pestilence and disease will come. The heavens above will be BRONZE, the earth below IRON  with “rains” of powder and dust for them.

And not only that, but the boils, tumors, scabs and itch from Egypt will come. And madness, blindness, confusion of mind will descend on them. They will be continually oppressed and robbed. They will become a “horror, a proverb, and a byword among the nations.”

“All because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God…. because they did not serve the LORD their God with joyfulness and gladness of heart.”

“If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that is written in this book that you may fear THIS GLORIOUS AND AWESOME NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring EXTRAORDINARY afflictions, severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting.”

Deuteronomy 29.

Whew!

“These were the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant He made with them at Horeb.”

Moses described how God took care of them in the wilderness.  But so far He has not given them a HEART to understand, or EYES to see, or EARS to hear.

NOW, ALL of them, from the heads of tribes to the one who draws water and chops wood, ALL are there to ENTER INTO THE SWORN COVENANT OF THE LORD THEIR GOD that He is making with them that day.

BEWARE lest there be any among you whose heart is turning away from the LORD to serve other gods.

BEWARE lest the be any among you, who says “I will be safe though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.” 

NO. The LORD will not be willing to forgive him. The LORD will blot out his name from under heaven.

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Serious stuff, this!

But it gets wonderful in the next chapter tomorrow.