Deuteronomy 30 - Joshua 8: A harlot, a warrior angel, and life & good

- "Choose life," began one of Moses' last admonitions to the people before he died. Just before, God said this through Moses:

"Look at what I've done for you today: I've placed in front of you Life and Good [or] Death and Evil....Choose life so that you and your children will live. And love God, your God, listening obediently to him, firmly embracing him. Oh yes, he is life itself" (Deuteronomy 30:15-20).

- An amazing promise to hang on to today: "God, your God, will cross the river ahead of you..." (Deut 31:3)

- When things look terrible and you are scared out of your wits:  "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them [your enemies] a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you" (Deut 31:6)
- Historical note:  The Israelite people had been "landless" for 500 years and these words of admonition by God through Moses are directed to them just as they are about to claim the Promised Land. The land was "an unremarkable stretch of territory sandwiched between two massive and already ancient civilizations," explains Eugene Peterson. Those two civilizations were Egypt and Mesopotamia. But that piece of land, promised to Abraham and his descendants, was about to become very important through God's plan for his people.
- Angelic armies afoot:  Joshua encounters the commander of God's army--an angel, who looked like a man, holding a drawn sword (Joshua 5:13-15).
- The harlot:  Rahab, a harlot in Jericho, housed and protected two Israelite spies. As a result she was saved from destruction, along with all of her family (Joshua 2, 6). She later married an Israelite man named Salmon, and she is listed in the New Testament genealogies as one of Jesus' ancestors. Ancient literature rarely names women as they were not considered very important, but here we have the name of a common woman with great faith, courage, and wisdom. Love this story!

Elena's verse of the day:  "I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God" (Joshua 1:9).

Deuteronomy 2 - 14: Rules to live by, holy destruction, and God's cherished personal treasure (You!)

- The God who listens:  "What other great nation has gods that are intimate with them the way God, our God, is with us, always ready to listen to us?" (Deuteronomy 4:7-8). God knows your name, he loves you, and he hears you.
- Rules to live by:  Practical guidelines from chapter 4 of Deuteronomy, in a sermon given by Moses to the people:

• Stay alert
• Keep close watch over yourselves
• Don't forget anything of what you've seen
• Don't let your heart wander off
• Stay vigilant as long as you live
• Teach what you've seen and heard to your children and grandchildren

- Holy destruction:  what seems like brutality to us, as God instructed the Israelites to wipe out towns and clans, was actually God getting rid of vile and wicked nations. His actions were justice for their wicked behavior. One of the most vile things they did was burn their children in idol worship. God abhorred this.
- God the gardener:  God personally tended Israel, the Promised Land. "He's the Gardener" (Deut 11:10-12). The gardeners I know are gentle but firm as they tend their plants. They study their garden and know it intimately. They protect it and guard it from anything that would want to damage it. They water and feed it. They prune it. And they look forward to the harvest. Is it any surprise that God hated the vile things going on in his personal garden? And why he wanted to uproot the people doing those things and replace them with his own chosen people?
- You are chosen:  "God chose you out of all the people on earth as his cherished personal treasure" (Deut 14:1-2). Moses said this to the people of Israel, but this verse is for us, too. Through the redemptive work of Christ, we are grafted into the tribe of Israel, adopted as part of God's chosen people. So the promises to Israel are promises to us, as well. Hold that verse close--you are chosen as God's cherished personal treasure.

Elena's verse of the day:  "Be very careful not to forget things you have seen God do...keep reminding yourselves and tell your children and grandchildren" (Deuteronomy 4:9).