joshua 1-8.

--old testament understanding--

copied from previous post:

so, joshua 1 introduced us to israel's new leader...who accepted the challenge with strength and courage. joshua was enabled to lead the israelites on the mission to bring them into the land. i love verse 13, "...'the Lord your God gives you rest (reminds me of david crowder* band's last cd :) ) and will give you this land.'" chapter 2 records rahab's part in the story of their conquest...here in jericho. her talk with the israelite spies clues us in to the respect for the israelites and their God that the people had...they had heard how God had moved/how the waters of the red sea had moved for them/how they had just defeated the two amorite cities.... she said when they heard about how they wiped out these cities that their "hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer."

picking up at chapter 3 following rahab's heroic acts in chapter 2:

so, when the "soles of the feet of the priests...rest in the waters of the jordan, the waters of the jordan will be cut off" (v 13). chapter 3 records the israelites' crossing of the jordan river. definitely steps of faith for these men of faith carrying the ark of the covenant. :) chapter 4 records their placement of memorial stones to remember this miracle when the waters stood still for them. chapter 5 records that the israelites were circumcised (these were of the generation who were born in the wilderness and had not been circumcised). i love verse 9 which states, "then the Lord said to joshua, 'today i have rolled away the reproach of egypt from you.'" this was a new start and a new beginning for the nation of israel.

as the conquest of jericho is recorded in chapter 6, looking back to the spies' conversation with rahab gives perspective. this city was fearful of the israelites and would fall easily. chapters 7 and 8 record israel's initial defeat and later conquest of ai. in chapter 7, achan was made an example before israel as he was stoned for his crimes.

--personal thoughts---

you are loved. :)