1-8-11

I have been so enjoying the book of Joshua. It is a lot like reading "Lord of the Rings". Great battles taking place and such..

Now since I am reading about Abraham right now in Genesis I am seeing how God's promise came to pass in Joshua. God said to Abraham

"Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Genesis 15:12-15)

Now of course the 400 years is in reference to Egypt. We'll be getting to that once I am in the story of Joseph and in Exodus. But what really stood out to me was how God said the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached it's full measure. I use to wonder how God could allow one nation to come in and wipe out all these other nations. For Joshua and his men killed not only the men but the women and all the children, too. But here we see that God allowed 440+ years (just as with Jericho) for these people to repent. But they never did, even after hearing of the miracles God was performing freeing the Israelites from Egypt, parting the red sea, and all the miracles he performed in their 40 years in the desert. God had to wipe them out because the evil and sin was spreading at a rapid rate. These people were sacrificing and killing children and it was spreading from country to country. It would be like if we had allowed the Natzi's to overtake the world, God knew they wouldn't repent or change but He still allowed 440+ years for them to have that opportunity.
So now in the next several chapters of Joshua we see God fulfilling His promise to Abraham as Joshua & the people of Israel start wiping out these nations. Sin is a big deal to God and we must NEVER think lightly of it. We see even in the case of Achan. He stole and kept for himself some of the forbidden loot from Jericho. He and his entire household were killed and burned. Because of his hidden sin many men in Joshua's army fell to the sword in battle because of this sin.
That is why I am so grateful for the blood of Jesus!!! Without His blood and Him making intercession for us we would be lost. For who can live a sinless life? All throughout the old testament we see man trying to live by the law and failing. That is why God sent us a savior. God is patient with us. He waits for us to turn our hearts to Him and repent. He waits patiently but soon Jesus will be coming back. We know not the time or hour. There may not be a tomorrow so if you do not know Jesus...now is the time!
Do not put if off even another hour. This is life and death.

Today's proverb is 3:7-8

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.