08 November 2008
Why the Wait?
So, it's unfortunately relatively normal for me to 'skim' when reading God's Word, especially when it's a 'familiar' passage of Scripture. I can't claim to have read the book of Joshua all that many times, but certainly have a few times.
That being said, it's amazing that the Lord can interrupt the reading flow, or have a Pastor comment, or somehow take the hum-drumm and breathe new life into it (I think that's why it's the Bread of LIFE, or the LIVING WORD of GOD)!
At any rate, here's Joshua 1:(10+)11
And Joshua commanded the officers of the people, "Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, 'Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving you to possess."
Seems pretty straightforward, right?
- We have followed the children of Israel as they followed a pillar of cloud/fire for the past 40ish years, and now they are actually going to enter in!
- Or perhaps this time there's a warning because, after all, there are well over a million people to prepare for the 'battle' phase of their wandering and settling?
- Maybe it's because Josh want's to do things differently than Moses, and has worked out this 'behind-the-scenes' deal w/God?
Why do I care? I suppose because the Holy Spirit felt it was important enough to put in there, so it's important enough for me to put a little time into it!
What we discover is very interesting... From vs 11 until chapter 3, vs 1 is another familiar story (I kinda like it when God does that, He's a good author, you know?).
Let me just spill it now: The reason there was a three day warning was because that's how long it would take to prepare one more soul for the Kingdom! Rahab, the Prostitute!
Humor me for a moment, and look at Matthew 1:5-6a
...and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king...
Without this three day pause, recorded in Scripture, we would not have Rahab to marry Salmon, to father Boaz, who as an older man would marry Ruth (yes, the one with the Book about her in the Bible). Ruth ad Boaz would never have had Jesse, the father of David the sweet Psalmist of Israel!
God takes three days to secure a spot for David's Great Grandmother!
Besides that, here's her verbal contribution to the story (2:9b and following, italics mine):
"I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordon, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath...".God interrupted the lives of over a million people, to impact this one woman, to impact the lives of over a million people with encouragement, and ultimately, for their salvation and ours!
Why the wait? Because God is just as interested in the one, as the million!
Blessings!
ChaplainChas.
Labels: God, Israel, Joshua, King David, Living Word, million, one person, one woman, Rahab, read the Word, Salvation, Word of God
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