March 2nd

March 2nd -- Joshua 5:13-6:27 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%205:13-6:27&version=NIV)

Conquering the promised land and the fall of Jericho.

After the Israelites cross the river, they begin conquering all the peoples in those lands, starting with Jericho. So when Joshua reaches near Jericho he finds a man with a sword, who ends up telling him to take off his sandals because it is holy land.

So when the people get to Jericho, the gates are shut because the people are afraid of the Israelites. I'm sure most of us know this story. The Israelites walk around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they walk around seven times with the priests blowing horns. When they hear the priests they need to shout and the walls will fall down. They do this and the walls do fall down. Everything in the town was to be destroyed, save Rahab's house, and all the gold, silver, bronze, and iron was brought to the Lord's treasury. So the spies Rahab hid brought her and her family out, then the city was burned (except for what was brought to the Lord's treasury).

This curse was then put on Jericho:
"“Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:

“At the cost of his firstborn son
he will lay its foundations;
at the cost of his youngest
he will set up its gates.”

 

God was with Joshua, who became famous throughout the land.

 

I really like this story. Maybe it's just because it always makes me think of the Veggietales version of it, which I used to watch repeatedly, but I think I just love God's clear demonstration of power. Also, He doesn't just sweep in and do it - He makes it clear his people have to play their part (the marching) before He will do His (toppling the city walls). He doesn't just come in and fix our problems, but he tells us what we need to do so He will help us with them. Whether or not we do those things is up to us, but if we do our part, we know He will never fail to do His. So instead of always thinking "Oh, God will just fix it" it's important to remember that maybe we need to first do something ourselves and hold up our end of things for God to hold up his. Sometimes it may be hard (marching that much in the heat and without the same luxuries we have today would have been BRUTAL because the city was HUGE not small) but once we do it, God WILL come in and help us, and it will be ENTIRELY worth it.

Anyways, that shall be all for the day! God bless! Shalom!