“Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.” -Judges 4:4 Many theologians like to claim women have no right to lead. Building on the limitations for men as elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, these types add many additional “don’t,” ranging from a woman leading music to praying to sharing a testimony in front of a church congregation. Others suggest broader principles, claiming women should not lead in government or run for... Read more
“But when they cried out to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer.” -Judges 3:9 In Judges, when the people cried out for help to the Lord, “He raised up for them a deliverer.” Repeatedly, the book reveals the cycle of rebellion, repentance, and redemption provided by God. Does the Lord still operate this way today? To some degree, the case can be made that nations that follow God are blessed by him. When they rebel, nations fade... Read more
“The people served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the Lord had done for Israel.” -Judges 2:7 When one person lives for God, a generation can be changed. In Joshua’s case, his godly life left a legacy that resulted in the entire nation of Israel living for the Lord throughout his generation and those elders who outlived him. Judges is a book that typically... Read more
“The Lord was with the men of Judah.” -Judges 1:19 The Lord had given Israel the promised land, but some enemies remained. When the time came for battle, we are told, “The Lord was with the men of Judah.” How was he with them? In fulfilling his promises and providing victory. God kept his word and he did it in this case through a military victory. We look back today and despise the idea of mixing God and war. Yet... Read more
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua 24:15 Joshua laid down the ultimate challenge to the Israelites. Serve the Lord or serve other gods. They could not do both. He also made his decision... Read more
“Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.” -Joshua 23:14 God never fails. The words Paul proclaimed in 1 Corinthians 13:8 harken back to the words of another Jewish leader from ancient times named Joshua. As he prepared to die, he felt compelled... Read more
“Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” -Joshua 22:5 War had ended. Land had been divided. Now was time for rest. Yet Joshua reminded the Israelites of one additional issue: remembrance. He wrote, “Be... Read more
“Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” -Joshua 21:45 As Joshua wrapped up his words regarding the land allotted for each tribe of Israel, we read these words: “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” After 400 years of slavery, 40 years in the wilderness, and a few years of war in the promised land, I’m certain there were times the Israelites questioned and... Read more
“Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.” -Joshua 20:9 Joshua 20 refers back to an earlier law that discussed the Cities of Refuge in Israel. The idea was that a person who accidentally killed someone would have a town to run to in order to escape the revenge of family members... Read more
“These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh in the presence of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. And so they finished dividing the land.” -Joshua 19:51 God’s work must be done God’s way. Any other equation results in human dependence and human results. Yet we often find ourselves attempting different options, such as: God’s work + our... Read more
Holy Writ
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