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06Jos002.mp3
Commentary
Joshua 2
The fear of the Lord is spread abroad, throughout all the land. His fame has reached to every corner of the world. The inhabitants of the Land of Promise are sore afraid, because they fully understand by now that the Israelites are coming to take what God has given them. From out of Egypt to the river Jordan, God has brought the People through some extraordinary circumstances with extraordinary power. The woman, Rahab, did make reference to the parting of the Red Sea. Rahab did acknowledge that the hand of God leads the People, and that none can withstand Him. It was well in choosing to aid the two Israelite spies, but specifically in the name of the Lord. The oath is binding, that which the spies had made with her in exchange for her alliance and involvement. Her hiding the two spies had placed her own life in great peril. Now she will need the protection of God, as the People have with Him.
This agreement between Rahab and the two spies of Israel has put her in a covenant relationship with God's Chosen People, and is subject to any manner of supernatural protection as is with the People. When God is in something, it must be held in the highest regard, above all else, to be holy; set apart for God, clean and pure, undefiled by the desires and ambitions of the flesh. God will not be mocked. He is perfect in power, in love, in mercy, and in justice. None can overcome Him, neither can anyone try to overcome Him or His, with any real ambition of success. The only thing the enemy can hope for is to draw us out from under the protection of God. To do that, the People must be enticed to sin. Then, after being enticed, the People must partake of the enticement, because if they successfully resist, God will reward them for their faithfulness.
His reward for the faithful includes, but is not limited to peace and victory. Freedom from all sickness, and abundance in wealth is for all who enter in and honor a covenant relationship with God. On the other hand, His punishment for the unfaithful is that He will withdrawal His protection and the People will be exposed on all sides, to fall into the hands of the enemy. God will strike with judgment and chasten His own. It's not the ideal way for God's fame to be spread abroad, but it will not do to have any man think that sin will go unaddressed.
It is no wonder that most people that I know either don't believe in God, or at least have reduced Him to a novelty that can be chosen or turned down, with little or no adverse outcome. Even of the people who do believe, only a rare handful have a concept of Him that really honors who He is. In the days of old, it was not a matter of whether or not God is real, or how powerful He is. It all came down to who will call upon His name, and who will defy Him.The adversary did not deny that God is real. In fact, Rahab acknowledged that the inhabitants are utterly fearful for the day that God's Chosen People come to possess the land. None will be taken alive, except the women and children. Not even all of the women, because some of them are no longer suitable for the marriage bed.
There was permitted NO wicked thing to enter the camp. For God's protection to extend to any that is not of the assembly of God, a person needs only to surrender and acknowledge Him for who He is, and accept Him as the One True God. A person must then begin to learn the way of God, through His law, and willingly follow all that is commanded. God is merciful, so it should not be a matter of death, should one fall short of God's will, but that he should quickly repent and seriously seek His pardon. Without His atonement, death's process is greatly accelerated.
Each chapter draws clear concepts of God's nature, and how He interacts with man. There is no change in this pattern, even unto today. God is the same, unwavering, all-powerful God that He has always been. It's absurd to think that man has in some way changed God. Rather, in some way, man has been changed by God. Continue with me in this journey through the Bible and find your way to God.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010 1:40pm
