#069 Joshua 1-5

Day 69 of the podcast, reading Joshua 1-5 NET, read along at: https://netbible.org/bible/Joshua+1-5/ This is day 69 of our journey. With the death of Moses, leadership of the people of Israel has passed to Joshua. As we begin this book of Joshua we see God's encouragement of his new leader: "Be strong and brave" for "I am with you". Joshua sends spies into the land and, unlike the first reconnaissance mission 40 years prior, these spies return with a good report. They proclaim the fear of the Canaanite people by exclaiming to the Israelites that "no one could even breathe for fear of you." God miraculously stops the water of the Jordan river and allows the Israelites to cross over on dry ground. As they take their first steps into Canaan, the Israelites take 12 stones from the middle of the river and pile them up as a reminder to all generations of what the Lord has done for them. The people circumcise themselves, an act that has been neglected for the past 40 years, devoting themselves to walk in God's ways. Then, as they camp on the shores of the Jordan, the Israelites finally eat the produce of the land! With God's promises being fulfilled, the daily appearance of manna stops since the people will no longer need this provision. Join me in Joshua 1-5 as the people finally enter the Promised Land! Key verses: Joshua 1:9 I repeat, be strong and brave! Don’t be afraid and don’t panic, for I, the Lord your God, am with you in all you do.” Joshua 2:11 When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! Joshua 3:17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side. Joshua 4:6 The stones will be a reminder to you. When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’ Joshua 5:12 The manna stopped appearing the day they ate some of the produce of the land; the Israelites never ate manna again. They ate from the produce of the land of Canaan that year. All Scriptures are from the NET.