Bible For Everyday

Bold, Unafraid, and Clever

2009-05-29T18:30:00.006-04:00

Joshua 2

Joshua sent spies secretly to check out the land God had promised and they sought refuge with Rahab, the harlot - absolutely the last gal two religious guys would expect to get or want help from. Rahab boldly believed they were from Jehovah God and fearlessly put that faith into action, risking her life to hide them. Rahab was clever; she understood that Jehovah had given the Israelites the land and she asked for safety for her entire family in return for hiding them and fooling the King’s messengers.

The spies agreed. Does the scarlet thread the spies told her to put out her window (so that she and her family would be saved) remind you of the lamb's blood over the door's in Eqypt for the Passover, and the blood of Christ which can save us and our "whole household?”

I love that Rahab was a harlot because later she is mentioned in the New Testament in the lineage of Jesus (Matt 1:5) and that tells me that even a prostitute can bear great things - it's kind of like a smack of the reality of God's love and acceptance that he uses the "unloveable" and the lowly to further His Kingdom. This shows me that God is not prejudiced or "religiously” correct.

Rahab’s freedom to act with faith, not in fear is inspiring. She is bold, unafraid, and clever in her decision to help God’s people. In the list of the faithful (Hebrews 11) only Rahab, the harlot, and Sarah, Abraham’s wife are the women listed by name. A harlot and the mother of Isaac on the same level. This means that even I, as sinful as I am, because of Jesus, can put my faith into action and God can use me. If Rahab could do it, so can we! I hope this story encourages you to freely do the same, regardless of the danger or your past.

Click on the title above and let us all know what you got from this reading!

Posted by Allyson Good

Transition to Freedom

2009-05-27T17:53:00.002-04:00

Deuteronomy 34 and Joshua 1

Transitions are opportunities and transitions are threats. Our freedom is most threatened in the face of transition, be it a move, a new school, a new environment or a new relationship. With the death of Moses, the Israelites and their freedom were threatened by a leadership void that could set them backwards. These two chapters give us great insight into how to handle our transitions well to maintain our freedom.

Grieve well: The Israelites specifically spent 30 days grieving the death of Moses before moving forward. It is important to reflect deeply on what has our affections by what we lose in our transitions. Understanding what we deeply care about and taking the time to recognize their loss enables us discern the virtue of the things we care about. If we are not reflective in the way we leave things, there will be greater temptation to attach ourselves in our new place to new things that promise to fill the void but without the virtue of what was left behind. We see Jesus regularly pulling aside for time with his father during key ministry transitions. This is a pattern for all of us to follow.

Hand the Baton well: When Moses laid hands on Joshua, it was clear to Joshua and the entire nation where the nation’s Spiritual leadership would come from. Joshua had proven himself faithful and his character was solid. He would need this for the troubles and challenges that would lie ahead of him. Whenever we make a transition, we need to give the utmost attention to the kinds of voices we find that will guide us in our new endeavors. Jesus Christ has empowered witnesses to him and has released leadership in the church to shepherd and lead God’s people in every place and in every generation. We must always find ourselves under Jesus’ shepherding leadership through those whom he has empowered to care for us.

Focus on the Fundamentals: Joshua’s success was going to be based upon the way he handles the basics of the faith. As he is careful to understand God’s ways expressed in the law and align his life to them, through obedience, his success would follow. Jesus said it this way, “If you remain in me, I will remain in you. If you obey me, you will bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

A Loss of Freedom for Everyone

2009-05-22T18:58:00.001-04:00

Number 12:1-16

How often have you seen it play out this way? After the death of Zipporah, Moses first wife, he takes a Cushite wife and his brother and sister begin questioning his leadership. This stops everything!

Moses, Miriam and Aaron are called by God to meet him at the Tabernacle like three school children pulled from a fight. God addresses this issue head on. The real issue isn’t Moses’ wife but what kind of leader he was and in particular what kind of prophet he was. “Hadn’t God spoken through them as well?” That kind of division is a cancer to a leadership team. Or should I say it is an encumbrance that restricts the freedom and impact of a leadership team.

The entire mission was set back because of the division at the core. Not only did Miriam need to experience the leprosy of her divisiveness (notice the imagery between leprosy and divisiveness), but the entire community had to experience the impact of her sin. That is the reality of leadership. The leader’s slavery and brokenness becomes the followers problem.

Do you lead? A family? An organization? A friend or sibling? A ministry? Stay clear of encumbrance, for your slavery will become slavery for those whom you lead.