Into the promised land ...

So we're out of the Pentateuch and through Joshua into Judges. Talking to people at church on Sunday, I was really encouraged to hear how many people are up to speed with the reading well into the third week. Indeed, some people are a couple of days ahead!

A few verses have stood out from the reading:

Deut 4:28-29 - "There, in a foreign land, you will worship idols made from wood and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him."

Deut 4:39 - “So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other."

Deut 9:4-6 - " “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say in your hearts, ‘The Lord has given us this land because we are such good people!’ No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is pushing them out of your way. It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he swore to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not—you are a stubborn people."

All the laws, spelt out at great length and in great detail, emphasise how difficult it is to be right with God. As we heard on Sunday, in our own strength it is impossible. But we serve a God who keeps every single one of his promises in His covenant.

2 Tim 2:11-13

This is a trustworthy saying:

If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.

How difficult would it have seemed to conquer this territory, occupied by these different tribes, strong and hostile? It didn't happen overnight, yet God was with them, going ahead of them, giving them the land. How would it have been for the women and children left east of the river, while their fighting men went off to fight for years? Yet God brought them safely home into peace. This was in my mind when I listened to a programme about this organisation. This is where we can see the same character of God today.