Bible Reading Reflection from Joshua 1-6

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (SSEU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

𝕁𝕆𝕊ℍ𝕌𝔸 𝟙:𝟚

"Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel."

“Moses is dead”

The Israelites disobeyed even Moses, now, he is dead, what will they do? God slaughtered Israelites even in the shepherding care of Moses. Now Moses is dead, what would become of the people? God was angry even with Moses. What would become of a mere successor?

Well, Moses is dead, but not God. His program is not dead nor His promise. So "Arise!"

God has repeatedly told Joshua to be courageous. In the last verse of this chapter, even the people asked Joshua to be courageous! Courage is what defines a leader. As Winston Churchill says, "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities, because, as has been said, it is the quality which guarantees all others."

There's aren't many courageous men of God. There aren't many courageous leaders. How do we have the courage? Of course, by having confidence in God. By having strong conviction from the word of God (cf. v8)

RC Sproul's wife was asked recently in the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Ligonier Ministry about the legacy of Sproul she would like people to remember. She said, "Courageous" and lamented that not many people are courageous to stand up for sound doctrine. She even broke down!

I always feel the need for a regular dose of courage too, because "Moses is dead!"

 

𝕁𝕆𝕊ℍ𝕌𝔸 𝟚:𝟙𝟚

"Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth."

A good business deal! But only that she was putting everything on the table, her life, her family, her relatives, her future, her faith, her custom, her religion, her loyalty, everything. Rahab was a changed woman. Her land was utterly destroyed, her people were killed, her religion was desecrated, but she chose to take the side of Israel and Yahweh!

What other business deal can she think of? No other way. She lived in a city of imminent and inevitable destruction! She herself seemed to be the worst candidate being a harlot. Well, of course, to demonstrate the trophy of God's Grace.

And what did she do? Just hiding the spies. And what did she get? Oh! Evangelist Matthew listed here in the hall of the ancestry of Jesus Christ, the great Redeemer. The writer of Hebrews also included Rahab in the hall of faith!

Well, that's our conversion too. "Trading dirt for gold" in the words of Steve Lawson. Or in the words of Jesus, “selling everything to buy a land where a treasure is hidden!”

 

𝕁𝕆𝕊ℍ𝕌𝔸 𝟛:𝟙𝟟

"And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan."

They were told to stand still, and they stood firm. They were told to step into the overflowing Jordan River, and as they stepped in, the river bed dried, and they stood still on the dried riverbed. They were the first ones to step in and the last ones to get out.

The company of Israel would have seen them standing in the entrance of the crossing, carrying the ark of Yahweh! What a sight it must have been! The dried ground, the water on each side, the exalted man of God Joshua, and the sight of the priests faithfully standing firm with the ark of Yahweh!

The priests stood firm, while others are crossing! The priests stood firm, allowing others to cross. The priests stood firm because they are told to. The priests stood firm because that's the only means! The priests stood firm, and the nation of Israel had a successful crossing of the Jordan River!

 

𝕁𝕆𝕊ℍ𝕌𝔸 𝟜:𝟚𝟜

"That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

This is the first mention of memorial stones setting up in the book of Joshua. At least 7 memorial stones were set up. The purpose of this memorial stone is that they will fear Yahweh, their God.

I don't know why memorial stones are set up in our days!

 

𝕁𝕆𝕊ℍ𝕌𝔸 𝟝:𝟚

"At that time the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time.’"

God has the habit of asking [people] to do unlikely things! He told Abraham to butcher his son. He asked Naman to do “up-down” 7 times in the Jordan River. He asked the widow of Zarephath to give the last morsel to Elijah! Even our Lord Jesus spat on mud, pasted in the blind man's eyes, and asked him to go to the pool of Siloam! Hmm, the list goes on and on...

Even here, the Israelites had crossed the Jordan River. The battle of Jericho is about to happen. Then, God asked them to do circumcision. Circumcision is a painful thing; it takes several days to recover, heal, and be back to normal. They must be wallowing in pain. The enemies could walk in and speared all of them to death! Well, their protection is from Yahweh, not because they are strong enough to protect themselves. This indeed is one of the contrasting points.

If the Lord is allowing me to through an unlikely situation, maybe it means God is about to [do] something. Need to keep trusting, in obedience!

 

𝕁𝕆𝕊ℍ𝕌𝔸 𝟞:𝟜

"Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets."

What a ridiculous battle strategy! But the most ridiculous thing of God is more effective and wiser than the wisest plan of man!

I was told about a man who couldn't make his crush fall in love with him. He went to his pastor for a counselling and prayer. His pastor opened the Bible randomly but prayerfully. It landed on Joshua chapter 6. So, he suggested him to march around her [crush’s] house for 6 days, and 7 times on the 7th day, and then to propose her!

He thought it was ridiculous, but it was told to him by the man of God ("pastor") so he did! And what do you think? 😂

Well, that's not how we read the Bible, nor the way to apply the narrative of the Bible! However, if God tells us to do that, sure, we should; but God has never told us to do like that!

Bible Reading Reflection from Deuteronomy 26-34

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟞:𝟙𝟘

"Now behold, I have brought the first of the produce of the ground which You, O LORD have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God."

Gratefulness shown from the heart. Grateful not only to God but being gracious and generous to others as well!

Ritualism will pay all the tithes, and maybe even more than tithes, but it takes a real grateful heart to be generous to others especially to those who will never be able to give us or help us back.

Last time, @Pastor Ezekiel was saying that he used to cry when he listened to the song, "Who am I?" Indeed, who are we that God continues to shower his mercy and grace!!!?

Lord, cast away grumbling, complaining, and dissatisfaction from my heart, and set me to be grateful with everything going on, seeing I have you as my God both in heaven and on earth!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟟:𝟙𝟞

"’Cursed is he who dishonors his father or mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’"

I always thought we loved our parents more when we are younger. Well, I don't know how children love their parents when they grew older and older [I am still not that old].

In my case, I think I loved my parents when I was a child for my selfish wants and needs, for their love. Nowadays, I am increasingly realizing how I really need to honor them and make them really joyful, which I haven't done yet!

Indeed, how stupid and how wicked is a man who does not honor his parents! And, I am afraid, I myself am not far from that!

Let's encourage one another to honor our parents!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟠:𝟞𝟛

"It shall come about that as the LORD delighted over you to prosper you, and multiply you, so the LORD will delight over you to make you perish and destroy you; and you will be torn from the land where you are entering to possess it."

There's no neutral ground: blessings or curses. There's no as it is: blessings or curses. The preaching of the Gospel is consequential too: Salvation or Damnation.

We must share [proclaim] the Gospel to our friends, to anyone in that way, that the Gospel is not an improvement to their lifestyle, but the lifeline, because destruction is coming! Get saved or you shall perish in your sins!

If that's difficult to communicate, learn from Ray Comfort on YouTube. Search his videos.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟡:𝟚𝟡

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."

This is one of the most favorite scripture portions for Bible teachers! 😂

Indeed, there are sorts too difficult for us, nay, impossible for us to understand. And there are some sorts we shouldn't even try to know about it. Knowledge is not everything.

Whatever is revealed to us, that [may it] be our delight. We must use the revealed knowledge to discern our way: to confirm obedience, and to fear of going astray. We must use the revealed knowledge to comfort us in distresses and convict us [when] in sin!

The revealed knowledge is sufficient for our existence on earth to fulfill our purpose in the most meaningful, happy, and glorious way!

May we learn to find sufficiency in God's revelation!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟘:𝟙𝟙

"For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach."

It's not easy to follow God, but not too difficult as well. God's commandments are not burdensome, says Apostle John.

If we love God, His commandments are delightful. If we fear (afraid) God, His commandments are troublesome. Even a child can and is a follower of God. His commandments are lighter than the commandments of the law and sin. It's lighter than the law of any society, land, or organization, because, God bears along with us.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟙:𝟚𝟙

"And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness (for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring). For I know what they are inclined to do even today, before I have brought them into the land that I swore to give."

Songs help us to remember certain aspects of life.

Let's learn song not because of tune or style, but because of its content! And let's sing such songs.

 

𝔻𝕖𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕪 𝟛𝟚:𝟟, 𝟞

v7 "Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you."

Moses was composing a song for the next generation to know the greatness of God (v3), how God did a mighty work to choose and preserve their forefathers (v9). And the Israelites tended to be rebellious at all times (v5-6).

This verse implies how children ought to learn from their parents. Also, how parents ought to teach and bring up their children in the fear of the Lord. However, this verse is interesting: even if the parents didn't teach, the children must ask.

v6. "Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?"

V6 furthermore implies children cannot forget or forsake their parents. It's a metaphor to express how Israelites forsook Yahweh!

This week, it impressed on my mind how my father and his siblings took great loving care of my aged grandpa in the last years of his life! Children don't forsake their parents, especially in their old age [obligation].

Well, God is not a weak old man, but the analogy of family relationships is on display here. That He is their father and His people are His children. Parents love their children, and children love their parents. That's it. And nowadays, there's not a high view of family. Everywhere, broken families.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟛:𝟙𝟛-𝟙𝟜

"And of Joseph he said, ‘Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕥 gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath, with the𝕔𝕙𝕠𝕚𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕥 fruits of the sun and the rich yield of the months.’"

The choicest man of Israel blessed the choicest son of Jacob with the choicest blessing! 🙂

No wonder, apart from the tribe of Judah, Ephraim (Joseph's son) is one of the most prominent tribes among the 13 tribes! The northern kingdom, Israel is sometimes referred to as the “Ephraim”.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟛𝟜:𝟟

"Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated."

As someone who has poor eyesight, every time I read this, I feel like the Lord has withheld blessing/grace from me. 😬😅 And the worst feeling is that God ought to let it be this way because even with these eyes, I often fail to use them to the glory of God.

A ray of hope against this is that Apostle Paul had bad eyesight! Ridiculously Comforting! 😅😎👍

Bible Reading Reflection from Deuteronomy 20-25

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day] 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟘:𝟙𝟡-𝟚𝟘

"When you besiege a city a long time, to make war against it in order to capture it, you shall not destroy its trees by swinging an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man, that it should be besieged by you?  Only the trees which you know are not fruit trees you shall destroy and cut down, that you may construct siegeworks against the city that is making war with you until it falls."

@__________ will like this passage being a student of forestry 🙂

Cutting down of trees is permitted for construction of a siege wall, but not fruit trees, even for that [for a siege wall at war time].

Respect the fruit trees of anyone, even of your enemies, hmm! All because you can eat the fruits. Not because of anything!

The rules of war described in this passage are very impressive. Gideon obeyed this principle. But the Israelites massacring the people of Jabesh Gilead in Judges 21 clearly portrays the failures of Israelites!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟙:𝟙𝟝-𝟙𝟞

"If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him sons, if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then it shall be in the day he wills what he has to his sons, he cannot make the son of the loved the firstborn before the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn."

Very interesting passage. Moses (God) gave counsel to even fallen sinners so that their sins will not multiply on and on.

Having two wives has been already sinful, God knew how the Israelites will stumble in sin; and instead of forsaking them, God still planned out to save them from utter wickedness.

And I see here the [righteous] Law of God is greater than the [romantic] Love of humans. Law says, "firstborn," Romantic Love says, "my love."

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟚:𝟙

"You shall not see your countryman's ox or his sheep straying away, and pay no attention to them; you shall certainly bring them back to your countryman."

When I and my friends were children, we would sometimes imagine, fancy, and wonder what a lot of money means. We would ask, "What will you do if you find a bundle of money fallen in the road?" The question assumes that it's like winning a lottery, it's yours, you own it. Hmm! Moses didn't think like that! And BTW, I never found a bundle of money, not even a 1-rupee coin! 😬😂

God wants us to be helpful (loving). This is not only about neighbors. Look again, it says "countryman." What a sinful city we are in, Delhi! Full of cheating! I read a news article not long ago about some people selling fire extinguishers duping the uneducated as oxygen for a covid patient!

Loving one another extends to all relationships: even to their donkeys and garments! (v2-4)

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟛:𝟙𝟜

"Since the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp to deliver you and to defeat your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy; and He must not see anything indecent among you or He will turn away from you."

The dominant theme, idea, picture we see from this chapter is: God is holy; we cannot do as we like before Him. There's a proper way to worship Him, and a proper way to live as His people.

Nowadays, people’s attitudes are: God should be okay with whatever makes me comfortable. That's why they come to church for worship any time they like, dressing anyway they like, talking anything they like, singing any song they like.

They wake up anytime they like. They read and pray and skip anytime they like. There's no discipline.  There's no piety. They think, "God's must be so good to accommodate all my lifestyle."

Sadly, it just shows that worshippers are greater than the One who is worshipped!

And Deuteronomy 23 is basically saying, "You fool, No!"

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟜:𝟚𝟙-𝟚𝟚

"When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this thing."

In short, be kind and considerate towards the poor and the underprivileged. Israelites knew they once were such in Egypt; their experience must be used to uplift such people.

There will always be poor people, but we must always strive to reduce poverty. God commands the rich, strong, wise, powerful people, skilled people to uplift the rest of the society.

Is it an accident that we were born in a poor society? Maybe like the Israelites, we will be delivered from poverty, and then when we become more stable and civilized someday, we must do so for others who aren't!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟚𝟝:𝟝

"When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her."

Bible teaches us a high view of family, a high view of marriage, a high view of children.

These days, full of broken families: parents living separately, not talking to others, children not talking to parents, etc. God designs people to love their family members more than anyone outside their family members. Nowadays, no love in the family, no family values.

Marriage is till death separates. Nowadays, multiple marriages, divorces for all kinds of stupid reasons. God designs marriage to be a lifelong covenant, nowadays it has become a contract they can call off anytime.

Nowadays, children are worthless as dungs, they can abort them anytime they want. It has become evil to have children, they protest; children are evil to them.

This verse, Deuteronomy 25:5 reminds us of a high view God has of family, marriage, and children.

In the context of Israelites [then], it was even more, because it included the inheritance, promised land, and lineage, which is not that applicable to strangers like us now.

Bible Reading Reflection from Deuteronomy 13-19

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (KD), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟛

Kill anyone and everyone who tries to lead you astray in worshiping a false god. Hmm!

God is serious that He is only the one to be worshipped. There is none like Him.

May we be serious about "the seriousness of God"!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟜:𝟚

"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."

Chapter 14 contains the don'ts of the Law. The reason is they are different. They belong to God.

We want to be famous like the rest of the world. We want to be rich to eat the delicious foods of the world. We want glory, power, honor and to be able to go to all the places of the world and be held in awe by all. We want many great things for ourselves. We really love ourselves. We really do everything for ourselves. We really serve ourselves. We really idolize ourselves! We are our own god.

God wants the Israelites to live for Him. He gives them all things but asks them to avoid a few things for His name's sake. God gave Adam and Eve everything and asked them to avoid only one tree for His name's sake.

Every time, God is the same. He gives everything for us, allows us to do everything, but with few exceptions.

If I were God, I would send everybody to hell, and I will put myself in the first batch!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟝:𝟙𝟙, 𝟜

v11. "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’"

v4. "However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess"

No poor in the ideal plan. Yes, poor people are everywhere in reality. Obedience and disobedience!

Well, the poor must not be despised but be cared for. And poverty must be reduced as much as it can be

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟞:𝟚𝟘

"Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, that you may live and possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you."

In a society, justice is a top priority to pursue. Leaders are to be a man of principle—justice.

Our leaders of nation, state, district, town, village are hardly known for justice. They are known for corruption, bribery, VIP culture. They are known for opportunism, slander, and nepotism!

Let's look out for just people! Let’s elect just people for the leadership.

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟟:𝟙

"You shall not sacrifice to the LORD your God an ox or a sheep which has a blemish or any defect, for that is a detestable thing to the LORD your God."

I am 100% confident that when I grew up in my grandma's home, my grandma and all the villagers offered the best products of their labor (fields, cattle) to God (church). I would often hear, "This is so good, this has to be brought to Church."

I also grew up seeing people giving the best and cleanest note (money) in the hour of offering. Indeed, what a commendable practice! There's a warrant for this practice based on this verse1 of Deut. 17.

However, we failed in many areas. We must consider such thing as well: Have we given our best time to God (early morning or whatever time you think is best)? Are you serving God in the best days of your life? Or are you waiting for the days of your gray hairs?

BTW, I also saw some families who had many sons, proposing to send at least one of them for the work of Christian ministry, which is commendable. Only that they didn't send the first son or the best child.

BTW, I also saw people putting on their best dress on Sunday, when they come to church Sunday morning to worship God. Nowadays, people are so casual!

God wants the best! There is only one perfect man in the universe. And God used that person for a sacrifice. God demands His life. He was offered up to God for a pleasing sacrifice, Lord Jesus Christ!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟠:𝟚𝟚

"When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."

There are lots of people in Manipur who are prophesying and predicting this and that thing to come in the name of the God of the Bible. Let me be very clear:

They are doing so by the leading of the spirit of Satan, who transformed himself into an angel of light. Or at best, they are being deluded, being biblically uneducated, ill-informed, and ill-taught. To them the saying is appropriate, "Better to be untaught than to be ill-taught!"

According to the Scriptures, the test of a prophet is not: how many of his prophecies/ predictions are true? The real test is: is any of his prophecies found to be false?

The standard is: even if he is 99% correct, if it's not 100% correct, he is not of God. He is a presumptuous prophet. Remember this verse Deuteronomy 18:22.

I dare say, all of them are presumptuous prophets. Lucky that, our generation doesn't have the guts to stone them to death!

 

𝔻𝔼𝕌𝕋𝔼ℝ𝕆ℕ𝕆𝕄𝕐 𝟙𝟡:𝟚𝟙

"Thus you shall not show pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot."

This is legal justice! Well, we don't want justice when we are the guilty party. We want mercy. We look for excuses, forgiveness, leniency.

But when we are the victims, we want to repay them exactly, actually doubly! 😬

It looks that our cry for justice is often driven by selfishness.