Even Those Who Don't Know Him...Know Him!

Joshua 1-3
Such an encouraging passage. Repeatedly Joshua is told to 'be strong and courageous.' But God doesn't just leave us to figure out how to be that way without a foundation. Repeatedly Scripture say that God is with them. How cool is that? Moses has just passed away, but they are told that they are not alone...God will still be with them through Joshua.

Along comes Rahab...the harlot. Immediately Rahab picks her side...she trusts the God of the Israelite spies. She not only preemptively hides the spies, but tells them how they are feared by those who live in Jericho. Why would Rahab be so ready to believe in God...to put the life of her entire family into His hands?

I never thought about this before...but why a harlot? I mean, okay...God loves us all, no matter our past. It just seemed like 'one of those things.' But she knew about the exploits of God before they ever showed up. About the Red Sea, the kings of the desert, etc. Who told her of those things and that the God of Israel could be trusted? It had to be the travelers...those who had sought her out because she was a harlot. The others in Jericho may have been in fear of Israel and their God, but they weren't ready to trust Him to save their lives. Rahab was. She'd probably seen the conviction in the eyes of those who told her about the things beyond Jericho...and she was astute to know who to believe.

Not only did she put her faith in the God of Israel, but she knew the behavior of the government of Jericho and its armies. She knew to hide the spies, when and where to send them out of the city and for how long...and honestly, she was known enough that they came to her looking for the spies. Of all the harlot's on the wall, the spies were led to Rahab. That can't be a coincidence. Not only was Rahab ready to believe, but we will see soon if her family was ready to believe as well. Again...just my thoughts.

How amazing is God? He tells us to be strong and courageous, that He is with us, then He takes us to the right place, at the right time, for His purposes to be fulfilled.

Father in heaven, help me to be strong and courageous. Not because I'm so tough...but because You are with me! Because if it is part of Your plan for my life, You will have gone before me to make things ready. And if it's one of those things that is my choice, You are right there with me...even when the choice is wrong...You promise to not leave me. You will walk through this life with me. Be with me Lord to be strong and courageous, knowing that God is with me...and help me seek You first and to hear Your voice so my choices are not mine...but Yours. In Jesus' name. Amen

There's Power In His Word

Genesis 1-3

The mighty power in the Word of God is evident in chapter 1. I love the visual from The Message:

• God spoke: “Light!” - And light appeared.
• God spoke: “Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!” - God made sky.
• God spoke: “Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place; Land, appear!” - And there it was.
• God spoke: “Earth, green up!” - And there it was.
• God spoke: “Lights! Come out!” - And there it was.
• God spoke: “Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life! Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!” - God saw that it was good.
• God spoke: “Earth, generate life!” - And there it was
• God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image,” - God created human beings.
• Then God said, “I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth.” - And there it was.

Does it not seem beyond reason to question the power of His word? He spoke...it happened. Why is it so easy to then question not only His Word, but the power behind His Word. Eve was deceived into believing that God's word was fallible/not trustworthy. 

How did He go from being the expert in all things to being 'corrected' by Satan? For one thing, Eve noticed only the fruit's looks (saw it was good for food). I do the same thing...I see what's 'happening' around me and often find myself looking to myself to try to "fix" things.

Before God set everything to order...it was chaos. Yet when He spoke order into the world, the sky, land, and waters came into being.

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Dear Father, As I progress today and this week, I ask that Your Word set right what is chaos in my life. Help me to follow You as You speak into my life. It may be done one item at a time like in Your creation. Help me to follow Your Words and not be deceived. Your Word holds as much truth and power today as it did in the beginning. Amen

Fulfilled, fulfilled, and fulfilled - WOW!!

Matthew 1-2

How many times is it that Scripture says Jesus fulfilled a prophesy? I don't know, but there are several just in Chapter 2.

• Born in Bethlehem 
• Called out of Egypt 
• Called a Nazarene 

Not to mention the short notice pronouncements by the angels.

I don't know if there were more that were fulfilled by his birth...I've heard that something like 353 prophesies were fulfilled by Jesus over His lifetime.

If it were even half that many...that is mind blowing. That one person could fulfill that many prophesies. What's more...I don't hear the Nay-Sayers pointing out prophesies that He did not fill...not even one.

Thank You Father for Jesus' life. None of His days here were by accident. None of what happened to Him was something You were not aware of and had not foreseen. Would you have 'preferred' that man would turn to You and not need the redemptive work of Jesus...sure...but we didn't. Thank You Father for Jesus...for His redeeming grace...and Your unending love. Help me embrace Your unending love, mercy and grace today. Help me be what You call me to be today. Like Mary and Joseph, help me know what You want 'today' and then help me to do it...today.