Joshua 3:3-5 Sanctify

 3and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, [b]bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”

5And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify[c] yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

“God required that they keep some 1,000 yards behind the ark. This was for two reasons. First, to respect the holy nature of the ark of the covenant. But also, it was to make sure that everyone had a clear view of the ark. That you may know the way by which you must go shows that the ark of the covenant led the way. Israel would accomplish this impossible task as they set their eyes upon God’s presence and followed only after His presence.” (Guzik)

Sanctify

Hebrews 2:11 Both Jesus who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [that is, spiritually transformed, made holy, and set apart for God’s purpose] are all from one Father; for this reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,

If you have been born again you have been spiritually transformed, sanctified.

You’ve become a child of God and have been welcomed into the family of Christ and Jesus calls us brothers and sisters.

Have you set your eyes 👀 upon Jesus and followed after Him today?

Blessings 

Joshua 3:1-2 Three Days!

 1Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from [a]Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;

Jos 1:11 NKJV - 11 "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess.' "

Three days!

Boy this number of days sounds familiar! 🤔

Matthew 12:40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

My great aunt had a saying: company is like fish, after three days they both begin to stink!

If we wait on the Lord for three days or for company to leave what is that in the realm of things? 

If your child is missing, three days can be a long time!

Luke 2:26 Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Three days are repetitive throughout the Bible and God only knows why HE chose three days to bring forth resolutions!

If God can wait three days, why is it so hard for us to wait on the Lord?

Blessings 

Joshua 2:22-24 Impossible!

 22They departed and went to the mountain, and stayed there three days until the pursuers returned. The pursuers sought them all along the way, but did not find them. 23So the two men returned, descended from the mountain, and crossed over; and they came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all that had befallen them. 24And they said to Joshua, “Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us.”

“The reconnaissance mission didn’t help with military strategy, but it did help in encouraging the faith of these spies and the whole nation. This was far more important than a good battle plan.

i. There was another purpose at work in sending the spies: to save Rahab. In this, we see the extent God goes to in bringing one woman and her father’s house to salvation – – someone seemingly “impossible” to save.” (Guzik)

Impossible 

I’m sure you’ve heard someone say Jesus wouldn’t save them because they’ve sinned to greatly or maybe you’ve said this about yourself?

But read the stories in the Bible about sinners, about Rahab!

Nothing is impossible for the Lord!

Remember this song? Pray for the fish 🐠 

https://youtu.be/HekUNIMTe64

Baptism is the burying of the old man and raising up the new man in Christ!

Nothing is impossible with God! The fish were jumping out of the water because of the sin that was washed off the man when he was baptized! 

Baptism doesn’t forgive sin, but Jesus does! 

I wish I could fish like that, get baptized and watch the fish jump out of the water because of my sin! 

If you believe God doesn’t want you because of your sin, think again! 

The Bible says there’s only one sin that’s unforgivable, grieving the Holy Spirit!

Lay your sin at the foot of the cross today before it’s too late!

Blessings 

Joshua 2:14-21 Scarlet Cord and the Blood 🩸 of Jesus

 14So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall. 16And she said to them, “Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way.”

17So the men said to her: “We will be blameless[d] of this oath of yours which you have made us swear, 18unless, when we come into the land, you bind this line of scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you [e]bring your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household to your own home. 19So it shall be that whoever goes outside the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we will be [f]guiltless. And whoever is with you in the house, his [g]blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20And if you tell this business of ours, then we will be [h]free from your oath which you made us swear.”

21Then she said, “According to your words, so be it.” And she sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the scarlet cord in the window.

“This was the signal to the army of Israel that the people in this home were to be spared. Despite Rahab’s desire, despite her faith, despite the promises of these spies, she would have perished unless she put her trust in a blood-red cord cast down from her window. Without the scarlet cord, she could not have been saved.”

As early as the first century, commentators such as Clement of Rome, Justin Martyr, Ireneaus, Origen and more saw this scarlet cord as a symbol of the blood of Jesus.” (Guzik)

Blood 🩸 of Jesus 

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

The blood of Jesus is sprinkled and foretold throughout the Old Testament, all we have to do is study it with the Holy Spirit to see it.

Are you sprinkled with the blood 🩸 of Jesus?

Blessings 

Joshua 2:12-13 Swear!

 12Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD that you will indeed show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will deliver us from death.”

“Rahab’s desire to see her family saved, and the length she went to save their lives, shows that her love should be noticed, as well as her faith.

This shows that Rahab longed for assurance by asking for an oath. She wanted to leave her sinful life and culture and go with God’s people.” (Guzik)

Do you need Jesus to swear and show you kindness?

John 10: 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.

Jesus will spare your life, from the 2nd death that is, unless HE returns before your earthly tent gives up the ghost!

Need more reassurances? Study your Bible and the Holy Ghost will give them to you!

Kindness and blessings to you and your family!

Joshua 2:8-11 HEARD

8Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up on the roof 9and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction.  11When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

HEARD

Rahab and the people of Jericho HEARD of the works of the Lord at the hand of Moses and their hearts melted and their courage failed!

Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

If your physical ears can hear, hear this! 

John 3: 16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and onlye Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

You’ve HEARD the truth about Jesus and now have no excuse! Have you accepted HIM as your savior? Have you taught your children and grandchildren about HIM?

Judgement is coming, will fear fall on you, will your heart melt and your courage fail? 

Will you then cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”?

Will HE say, “…..‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:23

Blessings 

Joshua 2:2-7 LIE

 2And it was reported to the king of Jericho: “Behold, some men of Israel have come here tonight to spy out the land.”

3So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they have come to spy out the whole land.”

4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5At dusk, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I do not know which way they went. Pursue them quickly, and you may catch them!” 6(But Rahab had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had laid out there.)

7So the king’s men set out in pursuit of the spies along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they had gone out, the gate was shut.

“In the culture of that day, there was a strong tradition of hospitality. If someone was a guest in your house, you had the duty to protect them and care for them. Even considering this, Rahab went much further than the respect of cultural traditions regarding hospitality. She put her own life on the line for these men.” (Guzik)

Lie

Rahab lied and the Bible doesn’t justify it. She didn’t have a personal relationship with the Lord and also lived in a culture of paganism.

Colossians 3: 9Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,

So what is your excuse?

Blessings