Chapter 3: verse 3-4... follow God, obey God, honor God, revere God, then you will know your direction and have His guidance for your life's path.... even though we have 'never been this way before'. verse 5... if we want God to do 'amazing things' among us, then we need to consecrate ourselves... we need to prepare our hearts and minds, get ourselves ready to be used by Him... we must set ourselves apart and declare our allegiance and desire to God... I know I wouldn't want to do something amazing among people that were only half-heartedly interested in the idea, even if I could... God's probably the same, maybe? verse 6... let God go ahead... it's His plan anyway, and besides, how can He lead, if we try to push ahead of Him?! verse 7... yes, men in Chapter 1 verse 17, God IS with Joshua as He was with Moses... let the party begin :) verse 8-17... reminder of God's power and a sign of His authority being placed with Joshua... similar to the same thing God did for Moses and the people in the parting of the Red Sea (in Exodus 14)... I like the termonology used that the water stood/piled into a 'heap'... funny to think of liquidy water piled into a solid sounding thing like a 'heap'... but with God, who made all things, all things are possible... if He can make water flow, He can certainly make it stand in a 'heap'... ok, I just like saying 'heap'... I'm done now. :)
oh... some study note thoughts that are good... verse 9-13 makes an important note about the correlation between word and deed/miracle.... also, it is interesting to note that God chose the most difficult time to make this happen, since it was during the flood stage (verse 14-17)... not just a way of getting the people across something standing in their way... more meant to be a sign to the people of God's trustworthiness and power in the times to come.... do we realize this when God is doing it in our lives? probably one of the reasons why God tells us to be thankful during all circumstances (even the hard ones)... because if we truly believe that God is working for our good in all things, than even the hard times are part of a good thing for us... even the 'flood' stages are bringing us into a deeper appreciation and relationship with God.
Interesting NOTE: the study notes say that the town of Adam, hwere the river was cut off (verse 16), was located 16 miles up river from Jericho, and has experienced a dry river bed on two other occassions, AD 1266 adn 1927, due to landslides.... when we hear these things it may cause us to want to doubt the miraculous power of God, but then we have to remember, who formed the river to begin with? who created mud? who had the idea to give mud the ability to 'slide'? who was able to make these things happen at will? who could stop the water with and/or without mud?... when put in this perspective, we really can see that dispite the circumstances, God is completely awesome... there is no need to doubt, only additional reasons to stand in awe of His power.... also, I bet those subsequent 'dry spells' served as a reminder to God's awesomeness for those who remembered the awesomeness of God.
Chapter 4: verse 2... I just got thinking about how there were 12 tribes in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, Jesus chose 12 disciples... was it becasue Jesus was starting over with the 12 tribes thing?... like those who came to Christ because of Peter are now considered part of the 'tribe' of Peter, and those from John are part of the 'tribe' of John, etc?... just wondered if that had anything to do with the significance of the 12 apostles, especially since they had to replace the 12th person when Judas died... anyway, doesn't really have to do with anything in this Chapter of Joshua, but I thought I'd share it since I thought of it... mostly so I'd remember it and look into it at a later date... any theological insights into this?... I'd say it was a random thing, just a coincidence, but I'm starting to feel like God is just a random God of coincidence, so I'm going with the idea that there must be a reason for the whole thing somewhere. :) verse 6... we need to have signs in our house that illicit questions in our children and remind us all to look at God and worship Him.... what could that be in my own life? probably not a stone, but something... also, everyone should have a part in building the memory and keeping it (see verse 5 and 7-9) verse 10-11... our job is not done until all the people are safely on the 'other side'... until all people have been brought into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ... also, people will be watching us as we do this... good to know in advance, as it can come as a surprise if you didn't expect the attention. verse 12... promise remembered and upheld... good men... solid character verse 14... the only reverence due us is that which is granted and orchestrated by God, so in reality the reverence, all of it, is only due God... be humble and remember the source of the power... it is not by our hand that we have or are verse 18... even though sometimes God says to wait, it is not because He can't act faster verse 24...God did this whole miracle for not only the people there, but also their children, their children's children, their enemies, the people of the land now and in the future, and even all the peoples of the world forever... sometimes we think that what we do (or what we let God do in and through our lives) is only about the 'now'... God doesn't just work in or see the 'now'... God is focused on the 'all times'... kind of cool to think, but also a reminder to make the most of the 'now' because the 'all time' reflects/is dependent on it.... and give God due respect and honor and praise because of it. Much Love, sandJ
The IDEA: Romans 1:12-That we may be mutually strengthened, encouraged, and comforted by each others faith. Have you ever read the whole Bible before? We have never done it. We want to share God’s Word, but how can we if we do not know it.
The PLAN: Ecclesiastes 4:12-One person is easily overcome, but two can stand together and conquer. Three is even better, though, as a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. With each others help we can succeed-So, let us team up and read the Bible in a year.
The DATE: We will start Dec 26, 2009 - Dec 26, 2010.
The FYI: We will read 3-4 chapters each day, starting in Genesis, and post thoughts daily. If you do not have a Bible, you can access many translations at www.biblegateway.com. You can also download an audio for each chapter at: http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
Read it. Will comment later.
ReplyDeletesandJ
Chapter 3: verse 3-4... follow God, obey God, honor God, revere God, then you will know your direction and have His guidance for your life's path.... even though we have 'never been this way before'.
ReplyDeleteverse 5... if we want God to do 'amazing things' among us, then we need to consecrate ourselves... we need to prepare our hearts and minds, get ourselves ready to be used by Him... we must set ourselves apart and declare our allegiance and desire to God... I know I wouldn't want to do something amazing among people that were only half-heartedly interested in the idea, even if I could... God's probably the same, maybe?
verse 6... let God go ahead... it's His plan anyway, and besides, how can He lead, if we try to push ahead of Him?!
verse 7... yes, men in Chapter 1 verse 17, God IS with Joshua as He was with Moses... let the party begin :)
verse 8-17... reminder of God's power and a sign of His authority being placed with Joshua... similar to the same thing God did for Moses and the people in the parting of the Red Sea (in Exodus 14)... I like the termonology used that the water stood/piled into a 'heap'... funny to think of liquidy water piled into a solid sounding thing like a 'heap'... but with God, who made all things, all things are possible... if He can make water flow, He can certainly make it stand in a 'heap'... ok, I just like saying 'heap'... I'm done now. :)
oh... some study note thoughts that are good... verse 9-13 makes an important note about the correlation between word and deed/miracle.... also, it is interesting to note that God chose the most difficult time to make this happen, since it was during the flood stage (verse 14-17)... not just a way of getting the people across something standing in their way... more meant to be a sign to the people of God's trustworthiness and power in the times to come.... do we realize this when God is doing it in our lives? probably one of the reasons why God tells us to be thankful during all circumstances (even the hard ones)... because if we truly believe that God is working for our good in all things, than even the hard times are part of a good thing for us... even the 'flood' stages are bringing us into a deeper appreciation and relationship with God.
ReplyDeleteInteresting NOTE: the study notes say that the town of Adam, hwere the river was cut off (verse 16), was located 16 miles up river from Jericho, and has experienced a dry river bed on two other occassions, AD 1266 adn 1927, due to landslides.... when we hear these things it may cause us to want to doubt the miraculous power of God, but then we have to remember, who formed the river to begin with? who created mud? who had the idea to give mud the ability to 'slide'? who was able to make these things happen at will? who could stop the water with and/or without mud?... when put in this perspective, we really can see that dispite the circumstances, God is completely awesome... there is no need to doubt, only additional reasons to stand in awe of His power.... also, I bet those subsequent 'dry spells' served as a reminder to God's awesomeness for those who remembered the awesomeness of God.
Chapter 4: verse 2... I just got thinking about how there were 12 tribes in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, Jesus chose 12 disciples... was it becasue Jesus was starting over with the 12 tribes thing?... like those who came to Christ because of Peter are now considered part of the 'tribe' of Peter, and those from John are part of the 'tribe' of John, etc?... just wondered if that had anything to do with the significance of the 12 apostles, especially since they had to replace the 12th person when Judas died... anyway, doesn't really have to do with anything in this Chapter of Joshua, but I thought I'd share it since I thought of it... mostly so I'd remember it and look into it at a later date... any theological insights into this?... I'd say it was a random thing, just a coincidence, but I'm starting to feel like God is just a random God of coincidence, so I'm going with the idea that there must be a reason for the whole thing somewhere. :)
ReplyDeleteverse 6... we need to have signs in our house that illicit questions in our children and remind us all to look at God and worship Him.... what could that be in my own life? probably not a stone, but something... also, everyone should have a part in building the memory and keeping it (see verse 5 and 7-9)
verse 10-11... our job is not done until all the people are safely on the 'other side'... until all people have been brought into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ... also, people will be watching us as we do this... good to know in advance, as it can come as a surprise if you didn't expect the attention.
verse 12... promise remembered and upheld... good men... solid character
verse 14... the only reverence due us is that which is granted and orchestrated by God, so in reality the reverence, all of it, is only due God... be humble and remember the source of the power... it is not by our hand that we have or are
verse 18... even though sometimes God says to wait, it is not because He can't act faster
verse 24...God did this whole miracle for not only the people there, but also their children, their children's children, their enemies, the people of the land now and in the future, and even all the peoples of the world forever... sometimes we think that what we do (or what we let God do in and through our lives) is only about the 'now'... God doesn't just work in or see the 'now'... God is focused on the 'all times'... kind of cool to think, but also a reminder to make the most of the 'now' because the 'all time' reflects/is dependent on it.... and give God due respect and honor and praise because of it.
Much Love,
sandJ