Tag: Faith

Bible Studies

“Total Commitment” Conquering New Territory: The Book of Joshua (….through faith, courage, obedience, and devotion to the Word of God)

Loring Schultz

“So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them.” Joshua 3:14 NLT

            A major cause in failing to succeed in conquering new territory is the failure to make a total commitment to see it through. There may be legitimate reasons for the hesitation such as; being in new territory you haven’t been there before, there is a reluctance to leave your current comfort space, and fear of the unknown ahead of you are some reasons to take a step back and not totally commit. Unfortunately some new territory we are to conquer is beyond our control and we need to do our best to conquer it. Certain life situations will not allow us the luxury of putting off the change that is necessary in our lives. We need to act, making the commitment to see it through until completion.

            The good news is we do not need to do it alone. As Christians we have the Holy Spirit to guide us along the way. The Lord God will lead us into our new territory. There is nothing that takes God by surprise. He is aware of everything that comes into our lives, and in fact is a part of His sovereign will. If the Lord has new territory for us to conquer according to His will, we can be sure He has already put in place the necessary means to conquer it.

            The children of Israel had new territory to conquer in entering the land God had promised them. Not only would they face battles in capturing each city, but the first battle they faced was to cross the Jordan River at flood stage. Once across the Jordan, there would be no easy retreat back from the armies of the major cities. The time had come for all Israel to make a total commitment of faith to the Lord God. Israel did just that under Joshua’s leadership. After the spies returned with a good report, Joshua wasted no time in preparing to continue on with the Lord’s plan. We read in Joshua 3:1, “Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia Grove and arrived at the banks of the Jordan River, where they camped before crossing.”

            Along the Jordan River for the next three days Joshua and his officers instructed the hundreds of thousands of Israelites in the procedure of crossing over. They were to follow the Levitical priests who would be carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, following at a distance of a half mile behind so all would be able to see it. The Lord would be leading them for they had not travelled that way before. Joshua also commanded them to purify themselves, an outward cleansing and an inward devotion to God. This was a solemn occasion and they were about to see the Lord God do miraculous things.

            Israel witnessed the great power of God that their fathers saw forty years earlier when they witnessed the parting of the Red Sea. The Lord commanded the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant to step into the Jordan River and upon descending from the river banks the water started to back up upstream twenty miles away in the city of Adam. The nation of Israel then crossed the Jordan River on dry ground. The Lord God was aiding Israel in their venture of conquering their new territory. The nation totally committed by faith, obedience, courage, and devotion to God the plan in bringing them into the Promised Land. 

            Whatever new territory we are in or about to enter, let us learn from the example of Joshua and the nation of Israel. The Lord desires that we be totally committed to Him and the plans He has for us. He always has our best interests at heart and nothing in His plans are designed to hurt us but for us to be successful and to grow spiritually in Him. Paul writes in the book of Romans encouraging words for us as we totally commit to God in conquering our new territory, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Read Joshua 3 Total Commitment, The Israelites Cross the Jordan: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+3&version=NLT

Bible Studies

“Rahab: An Unlikely Ally” Conquering New Territory: The Book of Joshua (….through faith, courage, obedience, and devotion to the Word of God)

Loring Schultz

“For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” Joshua 2:11b NLT

            Conquering new territory in your life is not something you try to achieve on your own, although many have tried and failed. For Christians, we are to trust God and follow His leading wherever it leads us, and to whomever He assigns to help us. The nation of Israel had an unlikely ally in helping them secure sensitive information about the city of Jericho and its surrounding territory. Joshua sent out two men on a covert operation to spy out the land they were about to conquer with their first stop the city of Jericho. Jericho was the key city of the entire southern Jordan valley. Their mission was to survey the scope of the land, food and water resources, and the military strength of Jericho.

            When the two men entered Jericho they went to house of Rahab, a prostitute, and spent the night there. An overnight visit to a prostitute would not incur suspicion concerning their mission. Rahab’s house was also on the wall providing an easy escape if found out. The two spies realized early on how the Lord led them to Rahab’s house. The king of Jericho found out that spies from Israel had come into Jericho. Rahab hid the spies in her home and protected them from capture as she was questioned as to their whereabouts. God had used the most unlikely person in the carrying out of His will by protecting the spies, Rahab the prostitute.

            Some may question and rightly so, didn’t Rahab sin by lying to the king’s servants by admitting they were there but now gone. (Jos. 2:3-5) Yes, lying is a sin, but note, Rahab was not commended for her sin, but for her faith. (Heb.11:31) Also in the Oriental custom of that day, guarding a guest in your home was held as one of the highest virtues of hospitality.

            Rahab had come to know the true God. Her confession to the spies leaves no doubt saying to them, “For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.” (Jos. 2:11b) She had made known to them how all her people heard of God’s miraculous works in bringing Israel out of Egypt and that they were destined to inhabit their land. Fear and terror had succumb to every individual in the land. While all her people feared Israel and the Lord God, Rahab had faith in God and His mercy having the courage to protect the spies from the authorities of her city. 

            So certain was Rahab that God is the supreme God capable of giving Israel their land, she asked for safety of herself and her entire family when Israel came to take over Jericho. The spies agreed to protect her and her family providing she would not betray them. She let down by a scarlet rope along the outside wall of her house for their escape instructing them to hide in the hill country for three days until the pursuers give up the search. God’s providence in protecting the spies is seen all through Joshua chapter 2. The hiding place the Lord provided for the spies was in a mountainous region with limestone cliffs 1,500 feet high with many caves. These were actually the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered centuries later.

            The scarlet rope has significant meaning both for Rahab and for us today. The scarlet (red) rope hanging from the outside of Rahab’s window symbolizes the lambs blood sprinkled on the doorposts providing safety and protection of the first born of Israel. We see it today as the atoning blood shed by Christ on the cross of Calvary for our sins. Both needing protection from the consequences of our sin by the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God.

            The Lord God used Rahab, an unlikely ally, to be used by God in helping His people in conquering their new territory. Don’t dismiss those in your life God may using in aiding you through the tough terrain.

Read Joshua 2, Rahab: An Unlikely Ally: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+2&version=NLT

Bible Studies

“Be Strong and Courageous” Conquering New Territory: the book of Joshua (……through faith, courage, obedience, and devotion to the Word of God)

Loring Schultz

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.” Joshua 1:6 NLT

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

            The Old Testament book of Joshua is an excellent source of reference when starting any new venture in life. Transition periods can be overwhelming and even frightening even if you are convinced it is the way to go, after all you are conquering new territory and you haven’t been this way before. Joshua was chosen by God to be Moses’s replacement in leading the nation of Israel into the Promised Land. Wandering in the wilderness desert for forty years, those about to conquer new territory only knew a life of wandering. Perhaps becoming complacent they would now be faced with the responsibility of overtaking an entire land and destroying their enemies who occupied the land. No doubt they needed to be strong and courageous, but from where will they get the strength and courage needed to be successful. The source of their strength, as we will see, is also our source needed to conquer new territory; faith, courage, obedience, and total devotion to the Word of God. So let us begin.

            Our first insight is to see that God always keeps His promises. He promised that Israel would become a great nation and that He would lead them to the Promised Land. The Lord made this promise to Abraham in the book of Genesis, “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others…….Look as far as you can see in every direction—north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.’ (Gen. 12:1-2, 13:14-15 NLT) The promise to Israel is about to be fulfilled. God always keeps His promises and you can be sure He will provide the necessary means for you and me to accomplish what He has promised us as He promised and provided for Joshua and the nation of Israel.

            The Lord gave Joshua four specific orders to carry out in his commission to service. Joshua was to go over the Jordan River with Israel, which was at flood stage at that time of year. He was to be strong and courageous. Joshua was to lead the people in conquering and possessing the Promised Land, and he was to obey all the Law of God as Moses had instructed him. The nation of Israel was about to embark on conquering new territory. Joshua was about to experience new territory as a leader for the first time. Both had the assurance that God was with them for He said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Jos.1:9 NLT)

            Life is filled with new challenges to overcome. Many of us have new territory to conquer due to family situations, health concerns, aging, financial needs, parenting, employment, and many other unexpected life events. The Lord is aware of our situations and concerns. He specifically knows of the new territory you need to conquer, and the first thing He wants us to do is to trust Him and ‘be strong and courageous.’ The phrase ‘be strong and courageous’ appears four times in the first chapter of the book of Joshua. The Lord wanted to make His point to Joshua, Israel, and to us to ‘be strong and courageous.’ We do not need to conquer new territory on our own. The Lord God is with us giving us the strength and courage we need when trust Him as He lead us and we are obedient to His Word.

             “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous!” (Jos. 1:8-9a NLT)

Read Joshua 1, Be Strong and Courageous: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+1&version=NLT