Joshua 1:1-2:24

This was actually to be yesterday's reading.  It's an easy read: being a familiar story full of familiar verses: be strong and courageous.  Do not let this Book of Law depart from your mouth.  Rahab hides the spies.  I've always tried to put myself into their shoes.  How did Joshua feel after Moses failed to come down the mountain and he knew he was up?  What was it like to receive word directly from the Lord after he'd been watching Moses and guarding the tent of meeting for so many years?  I had always pictured Joshua as a young commander of his troops, but Joshua was from that original generation.  He was at least sixty years old, perhaps older seeing as they had chosen him to be among the original spies.  How did he feel on the eve of going into the Promised Land at last, knowing the only other of his generation to go with him was Caleb?

What about the spies?  How did the two of them feel, going into the land to spy it out?  To find out that they'd been "found out" and to have to hide among the flax stalks until evening, their life depending on an unknown prostitute and innkeeper?  And Rahab?  Her words to the spies testifies to the fact that Israel's reputation, and more than that, their GOD'S reputation long preceded them.  Was it simply the fear of destruction that motivated her to forsake her people and throw in her chances with the God of Israel?  Or did she recognize even at that date that perhaps He was the true God? 

Sometimes it is so easy to read these Bible stories as just a good story.  (And we're in for some doozies!  The OT is chock-full of great stuff!)  But it is just as important to remember that the Old Testament is history, not just for the veracity of Scripture, but to remember that these were real people.  They had families.  They talents and faults and misapprehensions and hopes just like we do.  They may have been different from us in time and culture, but really, they weren't all that alien to what we are today.  I think it's important to remember that, because we may find ourselves in a situation where we might be asking the same questions.  We may be confronted with similar issues.  Will I have have to do the exact same things?  Not likely.  But might I ever have to ask the question, what will I give up for this God?  Yeah.  That's a strong possibility.  Do I want to be more like Rahab?  If it means casting all of my trust on the Lord, yes, I think I do.

Next reading: Joshua 3:1-4:24