Daily Bible Devotionals

“The Israelites did just as Joshua commanded them. The 12 men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there. Joshua also set up 12 stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are there to this day.” Joshua 4:8-9 (HCSB)

Israel is a very rocky place. There is a story they tell children in Israel: During creation, the Lord told two of His angels to fly around the world, scattering the rocks. One was to fly to the west, and the other eastward. When they flew over Israel, they collided, spilling them all!

Whenever you see “rocks” in the Bible, the term communicates “remembrance.” Rocks were here before us, and they’ll be here long after we’re gone. All the memorials in Israel are covered in small stones. It sends a clear message: You are not forgotten.

It makes sense then that Joshua would command the Israelites to gather stones from the bottom of the Jordan. He wanted future generations to see the rocks and ask, “Why are these stacked here?” The rocks are evidence of the miracle. In every re-telling of the miracle story, God’s deliverance is remembered.

Joshua’s stone memorial reminds me of when John the Baptist rebuked the skeptics who came out to see him immersing people in the Jordan.

“And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones!” Matthew 3:9 (HCSB)

Could it be that John the Baptist was pointing to that very stack of rocks that Joshua had set up? He was certainly in the same area where Israel crossed over. The Bible doesn’t say.

Perhaps, more intriguing than the stack of rocks on the bank of the Jordan was the stack of rocks Joshua placed at the bottom of the Jordan.

The prophet Jeremiah describes a highway in the last days on which the exiles of Israel, accompanied by people from all nations, will walk home. The riverbeds will dry up. Could it be that on their march home, this group of Jew and Gentile believers will cross Jordan’s riverbed and see those stones Joshua arranged and remember Him who miraculously fulfills His Word?

From time to time, when the Lord brings me through a difficult season, I will select a special stone and place it in a visible place as a memorial. Whenever I see it, I’m reminded of God’s deliverance. Take a moment and remember God’s grace in your life.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Joshua 3. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They (soldiers of Jericho) searched all along the way, but did not find them. Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed the Jordan. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. They told Joshua, “The Lord has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us.” Joshua 2:22-24 (HCSB)

When considering Joshua’s strategy of sending spies into Canaan, it may help to review Numbers 13-14. Under Moses’ direction, 12 spies were sent out. 10 came back with a bad report and disheartened the Israelites. The dissenting 2 spies were Joshua and Caleb.

Per God’s judgment, the only two from that generation who were allowed to enter the Promised Land were Joshua & Caleb. They believed God despite overwhelming circumstances.

When Joshua began leading Israel, and the time came to send out spies, he remembered Israel’s past failure. Last time, only 2-out-of-10 gave a good report, so perhaps this time Joshua chose only 2 spies: Righteous spies. The 2 spies’ scouting of Jericho is strikingly similar to the 2 angels’ scouting Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction. (Genesis 18:16, Genesis 19)

A faithless spy might have seen a well-fortified city full of people eager to defend themselves. God showed Joshua’s spies something different. They observed that the people of Jericho had lost their resolve. All Jericho was afraid of Israel because Israel held the most important military position: the high moral ground. Hence, God would fight for Israel.

Consider the testimony of Rahab, the prostitute, “For we have heard how the Lord dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. When we heard this, we lost heart and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and earth below.” Joshua 2:10-11 (HCSB)

When you commit yourself to know the crucified and resurrected Messiah, and nothing else, you hold the most valuable advantage in spiritual battle. Search His Word for truth to live by and depend on the power of His Spirit to sustain and prosper you. For in doing so, no weapon formed against you will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)

When you prepare for spiritual battle and seek wise reconnaissance, cut yourself free of all opinions that forsake God’s promise and power. Rely only on those who trust in the Lord and who have committed to living solely by His Word.

“Only be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:7-8*

It is especially difficult when a really good leader must be replaced. Take Moses, for instance. Joshua was not the central figure in Moses and Aaron’s day. He was a man always just out of focus in the background of the photos of Moses and Aaron. Would the people trust and follow Joshua? The greater question is: Will Joshua trust and follow the Lord? In a results-oriented world, it is good to know that we serve a process-oriented God. God is highly concerned with our obedience. He (and He alone) provides the fruit of our labor. And that is freeing, isn’t it? We really need only to seek Him through His Word and pray and act according to it, knowing that is all He requires of us. It is definitely a point that King David wanted us to remember:

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in His Law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2

Following God’s Word is a struggle at war with our human nature: The flesh (the corruptible sin-self) struggles against the Holy Spirit within us. Therefore, true faith is not simple or purely intellectual but demands strength and courage from us.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Romans 7:18-23

Yet, in the midst of our struggle (to know and obey God’s Word), we have hope and assurance from His Word that God’s victory is not only assured but that the Holy Spirit, which works within the believer, will accomplish what He has called us to do! But we must respond in accordance with the Holy Spirit.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are in the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:4-6

*all verses are NKJV

“Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which faces Jericho, and the Lord showed him all the land: Gilead as far as Dan, all of Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev, and the region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. The Lord then said to him, ‘This is the land I promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you will not cross it.’” Deuteronomy 34:1-4 (HCSB)

Deuteronomy 34, the last chapter in the Torah, ends with the death of Moses. Just before Moses’ death, the Lord led him to the top of Pisgah on Mount Nebo. From there, the Lord enabled Moses to see the “promised land” in its entirety.

When I first read this passage, as a young believer, I felt God was being cruel to Moses. Adonai didn’t seem very gracious towards His servant, who faithfully trusted Him. Moses wasn’t perfect, but it felt like God was dangling the ever-elusive carrot one last time.

A few years ago, I went to the top of Mount Pisgah just to view Israel as Moses had. To my surprise, you can hardly see the land at all!! It was then that I realized God had given Moses an extraordinary gift. He had enabled Moses to see prophetically. Add the fact that Israel never fully conquered the land, and God’s grace to Moses is more profound. Moses is the ONLY person to have seen the Promised Land inhabited by Israel in its entirety.

Faith is the evidence of things unseen, and at the end of his faithful life, Moses was allowed to view the object of his faith journey. (James 1:12) For Moses, it was enough. He could pass, knowing his work was not in vain. Moses’ success would come at the hands of his successor, Joshua.

For us, the end of the Torah should act as a reminder that life is not about building our earthly kingdoms. We should be focused on the Heavenly one. God honors those who “die to themselves” so that others can enter into His Kingdom.

There’s only one thing better than seeing the “promised land” just before you die. That’s entering God’s eternal presence immediately afterward. And that’s exactly what Moses did. (Matthew 17:1-9)

“This is the blessing that Moses, the man of God gave the Israelites before his death.” Deuteronomy 33:1 (HCSB)

Almost at the end of the Torah (and the end of his life), Moses’ closing remarks end with a song and a poetic blessing. Something to note is how Moses’ blessing differs from the blessing Jacob gave before he passed away.

As I pointed out a few days ago, Deuteronomy is a very gracious book. Moses retells Israel’s story but opts to focus on God’s grace and mercy instead of His punishment of sin. Moses’ blessing of Israel is gracious and positive. It is a sharp contrast to Jacob’s blessing, which seemed more like a curse! (Genesis 49)

Jacob’s blessing may have been harsh because of his paternal perspective. He knew his sons and the attitudes and spiritual tendencies that would be passed down throughout the generations. Moses’ blessing was based on what the Lord had shown him concerning His plans for Israel’s future.

Something you may have noticed missing from Moses’ blessing is that the tribe of Simeon is not mentioned. Scholars have varied differences of opinion as to why Simeon is absent. Some experts say the poem/blessing was added after Moses’ death (by Ezra), leading them to believe the tribe of Simeon was irretrievably dispersed at the time of the blessing’s addition to Deuteronomy. That assumption may be a well-informed, educated guess, but it is still conjecture.

Interestingly to note, the name “Simeon” makes a timely reappearance in the New Testament on the day of Jesus’ circumcision.

“There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to Israel’s consolation, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he saw the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, he entered the temple complex. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform for Him what was customary under the law, Simeon took Him up in his arms, praised God, and said: ‘Now, Master, You can dismiss your slave in peace, according to Your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all the peoples – a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for Your people, Israel.’” Luke 2:25-32 (HCSB)

Perhaps, it is totally unrelated, but I find it interesting that the name (Simeon), which Moses omits from his blessing, is the name of the man whom the Lord chose to bless Messiah Jesus on the day He was dedicated as a baby. Of course, in His pre-advent, Messiah (Who exists eternally in both past and future - Micah 5:2) had already been dedicated to being our “Yeshua” (Hebrew: “salvation of God,” aka “Jesus”) before the World was founded. (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8)

“They have provoked Me to jealousy by what is not God; they have moved Me to anger by their foolish idols. But I will provoke them to jealousy by those who are not a nation; I will move them to anger by a foolish nation.” Deuteronomy 32:21 (NKJV)

These days, it is unusual to find committed relationships. Over half the marriages end in divorce, and the talk shows and tabloids are filled with rumors of infidelity. But can you imagine cheating on God? Most people cheat because they’re looking for someone better. After being courted by God, there’s nowhere to go but down! Not only that, God is jealous for His “bride.”

In today’s chapter, the Lord turns the tables on Israel. He tells them that instead of making Him jealous by forsaking Him for other gods, He will make them jealous and enrage them because of His relationship with another people, a “non-people.” **See also the book of the prophet Hosea.

In the short term, God provoked Israel to jealousy when He eventually showed favor to Babylon, empowering them to drive Israel from the land. In a Messianic sense, God has shown His grace and love upon the Gentiles through Jesus. Jesus’ atonement is irrespective of nationality, and Paul’s conversion of Gentiles accomplished at least two purposes: 1) It provoked Israel to jealousy, prompting the return of many Jews to the Lord. 2) It parlayed Israel’s transgression into an opportunity to redeem the nations.

“I ask, then, have they (the Jews) stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. If their stumbling brings riches for the world and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring? Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them.” Romans 11:11-14 (HCSB)

If Israel would forsake the Lord for the “false gods” of the Gentiles, perhaps, they would forsake those false gods in favor of Him when He became the God of the Gentiles. In essence, “If you want to follow the religions of the Gentiles, then I will cause the Gentiles to worship Me. Therefore, following the Gentiles will lead you back to Me.” But Israel was supposed to lead the Gentiles to God! And that is what Messiah, a Jew, did.

“I the Lord have called You into righteousness, and will hold Your hand, and will keep You, and give You for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and those that sit in darkness out from the prison house.” Isaiah 42:6 (NKJV)

“I Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give you as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My “salvation” (Heb: Yeshua, also the Name of Jesus) to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV)

“Moses commanded them, ‘At the end of every seven years, at the time of debt cancellation, during the Festival of Booths, when all Israel assembles in the presence of the Lord your God at the place He chooses, you are to read this law aloud before all Israel. Gather the people – men, women, children, and foreigners living within your gates – so that they may listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and be careful to follow all the words of this law. Then their children who do not know the law will listen and fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing to possess.’” Deuteronomy 31:10-13 (HCSB)

Deuteronomy has been described as the “book of Grace.” It recalls the failings of Israel yet chooses to focus more on their restoration than their punishment. Chapter 30, the “choose life” chapter, speaks of Israel’s restoration to the land before they ever entered it the first time. That’s pretty gracious and merciful, to say the least.

Whereas Moses, as a Biblical image, represents the letter of the law, his successor Joshua is more representative of God’s grace. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ name is a variation of the name “Joshua,” meaning: “God saves” or “YHWH is my salvation.”

The law gives us God’s standard and exposes our inability to meet that standard. It basically sets up God’s Grace. The law was never intended to be the vehicle to provide mankind deliverance; hence, Moses was never able to deliver Israel into Canaan. The Law can only take you to the edge of the promised land; only Grace can lead you in.

“ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

Obviously, Joshua could be considered a “type” of Messiah. This is much the same way Joseph was a type of Messiah: Joseph forgave his brothers and saved his family (Israel) from certain death during the great famine in Canaan. In fact, because Yeshua’s mother, Miriam (aka Mary), was married to a man named Joseph, people would have commonly known Jesus as “Y’shua ben Yoseph”…which translates: “God saves, God removes my shame and grants me increase.”

In the year when debts were canceled, at the time when Israel was to remember God’s provision and guidance in the desert Exodus, the law was to be read to all Israelites and foreigners living within their gates. Sukkot (the Festival of Booths) reminds Israel of God’s faithful abidance, and the reading of the law recalls their transgressions. But because it is the year of canceling debts, God also reminds them of His grace, mercy, and forgiveness. (Luke 4:16-22)

As we approach the end of the Torah, be careful to listen and learn to fear the Lord so that you may prosper in the deliverance Messiah has graciously provided.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Deuteronomy 30. Click the links below to watch or listen now!