Growing in Christ to glorify God and enjoy him forever!
“He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son!” Revelation 21:7
Today we continue in Joshua and hear of Caleb’s reward.”He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son!” Revelation 21:7
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)
The readings from Joshua 10:1-14 and Matthew 15:21-28 describe pivotal moments in the stories of the Old Testament and the New Testament respectively, moments which are of great consequence for us in how we understand what God is doing in the world today.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)
Today we hear about Joshua’s trust in the Lord.
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
This week we learn about Achen’s sin.
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.” (Hebrews 11:30)
Joshua defeated Jericho when he was obedient to the strange commands given him by the LORD.
We need to learn obedience to him and trust in him, too, even when to do so seems to go against the logic of a purely earthly based perspective. Joshua and Israel did that and they were victorious. We need to do the same.
Will we look for God at work in our lives and the lives of those around us? Will we prioritise obeying God, even when it feels odd to do so? Will we live as those on the LORD’s side?
Will we look for God at work in our lives and the lives of those around us? Will we prioritise obeying God, even when it feels odd to do so? Will we live as those on the LORD’s side?
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)
Christian hope is not founded on human strength or ability but on God’s power. The book of Joshua recounts the Israelite invasion of the Promised Land. Was this just a match between two human teams? Could victory be guaranteed? Rahab, the Canaanite, was already convinced Israel would win. In Canaanite mythology, the god who controlled the waters, was the supreme god. She had already heard of the crossing of the Red Sea and concluded that the LORD their God was with them (Joshua 2:9-10). But God did it again. He dried up the river Jordan, so that Israel could cross into Canaan. This gave Israel a confident hope. It confirmed to Rahab that her decision to side with the Israelites was the right one.
As Christians, we look not to the promised land, but to eternal life. Not to victory over others, but death. How can we have a confident hope? We look to Jesus, who crossed from death into resurrected life. We trust not in human power, but in the God who has power over the waters and over death.
Hope may not be a popular word this week. The hopes of all those who had dared to dream that the English men’s football team might reach the World Cup final for the first time in sixty years – and possibly even win it – were dashed. A sustained Argentinian onslaught brought two late goals to turn an English lead into a crushing defeat. Perhaps it is better not to hope at all? Yet, Christian hope is different.
“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” (Hebrews 11:31)
Our Sermon series on Joshua continues with the story of Rahab. Rahab is one of many people under judgement. What is more she is a prostitute. Yet, she believes in the God of Israel, and she chooses to be on his side. In so doing, she wins salvation for herself and her whole family and ultimately becomes the great-great-grandmother of King David.
Who is it that can be saved? Anyone, if they will only have faith in the God of Jesus Christ and give their allegiance to him.
Who is it that can be saved? Anyone, if they will only have faith in the God of Jesus Christ and give their allegiance to him.
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate