Day 90: Judges 3-5

How sad to read about the Israelites turning from God after we have been reading for so long about what He has done for them. If it makes me sad, I can only imagine what it did to God's heart.

Earlier my Bible laid out the process that we see through the judges:

1. rebelling against God
2. being overrun by enemy nations
3. being delivered by a God-fearing judge
4. remaining loyal to God under the judge
5. again forgetting God when the judge died

By the way, I'm really glad our praise songs today don't recount the details of hammering a tent peg through someone's head.

Day 89: Judges 1-2

I have to wonder why the Israelites didn't drive the inhabitants out of the land. Perhaps they thought that they could deal with the temptations that would be present to worship other gods. Maybe they saw opportunities to use the Canaanites to their advantage...they thought they could influence them more then they themselves would be influenced.

I have heard that Christianity is one generation away from extinction, but chapter 2 definitely shows that a whole belief system can be lost that quickly.

Day 88: Joshua 22-24

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Yesterday totally got away from me and I missed a reading. Sorry Joshua.

Chapter 22 reminds me how sometimes I jump to conclusions without having all the facts. And too often I am quick to think the worst about a person or a situation. The Gadites, Reubenites and the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh were doing a good thing by building a memorial alter. The rest of the Israelites just ASSUMED the worst.

In Joshua's farewell address, he makes sure he reminds the people that although they have experienced great victories and blessings from God, God's wrath is very real and should they drift away...the consequences are going to be horrible.

In chapter 24, Joshua makes a proclamation about who he and his family will serve but when the people say they will also serve God, Joshua tells them they are not able to serve the Lord. Do you think he is being prophetic (since soon the Israelites will start intermarrying with other cultures with other gods, etc.) or why do you think he is quick to not let them make the same statement that he did?

Day 87: Joshua 19-21

What an awesome time this must have been. All these Israelites had grown up in the desert, hearing about this land that they would someday have. I can only imagine that some of them must have had doubts, when all they knew was miles and miles of endless sand. Sure they had heard stories about what God had done for their parents in Egypt, but would He ever really lead them into something besides desert? They must have been so excited as the lot was drawn and they found out where their family was going to settle!

Day 86: Joshua 16-18

I was never much of a geography fan. I'm sure this would be interesting reading to someone who can visualize the land and understand why and how it is divided up among the tribes. I'm still struck by the huge task it must have been and the idea that surely everyone must not have been content with what they received.

Day 85: Joshua 12-15

I guess all that strikes me today is the sheer vastness of the promise land as the Israelites began to disperse and settle in. So many towns and places! And the fact that after 40 years of a common experience, the tribes still remained very separate entities.

Day 84: Joshua 9-11

I personally think the treaty with the Gibeonites should have been null and void since it was made under false pretenses. I guess that type of contingency didn't exist then. I guess it is no different than Jacob tricking Isaac into giving him the blessing. When the Gibeonites called out for help later on, I would think Joshua was tempted to just let them be conquered. His response showed his character.

Day 83: Joshua 5-8

As I read about Joshua taking off his sandals because he is standing on holy ground, I think about a show I watched on TBN last night. It was a discussion between a Catholic priest and a protestant pastor. They were talking about what Catholics and Protestants/Evangelicals could learn from each other. The pastor thought that we could learn a lesson about reverence and awe from the Catholics. We sometimes approach God too casually. It definitely gave me something to think about.

In regards to defeating Jericho, I noted that before the battle even began, God told Joshua, "I have delivered Jericho into your hands." My footnote reminded me that we can have the same confidence! We will be in battles with the enemy, but God has already won.

By the end of chapter 8, it seems like Israel is mostly getting it right at this point. Their response to the siege of Ai is to build an alter and worship God.

Day 82: Joshua 1-4

The Israelites had it right when at the end of chapter 1, they basically said "we will follow you if you are following God." We should say the same things of all our leaders.

I love the story of Raab. I think it is where we begin to see how God uses people who aren't Jews to accomplish his purposes.

Also very cool how the desert experience is sandwiched between 2 similar miracles with the Red Sea and the Jordan River.

I'm thinking that the 12 stones must have been very smooth from being in the bottom of the river bed. If someone came upon them along the shore, they would surely wonder how they could have gotten there. We should be the same way! People should be able to look at us and see something different that catches their attention. Then they will want to know the story of how that came to be.

Day 81: Deuteronomy 32-34, Psalm 91

32:47 is awesome. "They (the law) are not just idle words for you -- they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess." I think for so many Christians today, the Old Testament becomes idle words. I am so glad I am reading through it right now!!

34:10-12 What an awesome final comment on the life of Moses!

Psalm 91: I wonder why this Psalm falls here as we read chronologically. My Bible says the author is Anonymous. Anyone know more?

Day 80: Deuteronomy 30-31

I love 30:4. "Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the Lord your God will gather you and bring you back." It doesn't matter how far you wander or how huge you sin. God is ready to gather you back!

How important Moses' words are about being strong and courageous as they are about to enter the promise land. They only know Moses as their leader, and now he is telling them that he will not be going with them.

First Moses and then the Israelites re told that they are going to fail when they are in the promise land. How frustrating. If you know you are going to fail, why try?

Day 79: Deuteronomy 28-29

Chapter 28 just shows me that obedience will cause every area of your life to be blessed. And disobedience to God will bring curses to EVERY area of your life. I'm not sure there is any area which was left out of this chapter!

Part of me finds it hard to understand why, even after hearing this whole litany of blessings and curses, people still chose disobedience. But then I only need to look at the choice of heaven or hell, and the reality that so few people today actually choose God and heaven. I think ultimately, then and now, it all comes down to belief: Do you believe that there really are eternal consequences to our choices? A lot of people don't.

Day 78: Deuteronomy 24-27

As I read in chapter 24 about how to treat the poor, I think about a woman who came into the church yesterday and asked for money so she could drive to the hospital to see her mother. Immediately I mentally started assessing her appearance and car to see if I thought she was being honest. It is such a hard thing to know when to just use mercy and when to be wise and use good stewardship. This time I decided to trust my heart over my head, and I gave her $20. But I confess that my mind's first direction was skepticism: "Was she just making the rounds of the local churches?"

What did I learn from chapter 25? If your husband is fighting with another man, watch where you grab him.

Day 77: Deuteronomy 21-23

Wow! Stone rebellious kids. Perhaps I should point this out to my girls when they think I am hard on them.

Definitely some interesting laws in these chapters. Some of them it is easy to see the reason for. Others definitely must be something cultural, because I just don't get them.

Day 76: Deuteronomy 17-20

As God repeatedly tells the people not turn to the left or to the right of the law, it makes me think of current day politics. Funny how people are so proud to be part of the liberal left or the conservative right. Maybe not the same thing, but interesting none the less.

The phrase "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" has become so wrongly interpreted today. It has become all about revenge. God's whole purpose in that statement was basically that the punishment should fit the crime. If anything, he was trying to keep punishments from being TOO harsh or inconsistent.

Day 75: Deuteronomy 14-16

Good note: Although we no longer must follow these laws about food, we can still learn from the lesson that holiness is to be carried into all parts of life. We can't restrict holiness only to the spiritual side; we must be holy in the every day practical part of life as well. health practices, finances, use of leisure - all provide opportunities to put holy living into daily living.

As far as helping the needy, I think we too often view this is "extra credit." Like it is not a requirement, but rather just a good idea. In chapter 15, it is pretty clear that not taking care of the poor is sin.

Day 74: Deuteronomy 11-13

Blessings and curses. The same choices that people today have. Choose eternal life or choose eternal death. I'm just not convinced that people who don't choose life, really know that such a choice is out there and requiring their decision. It's almost like you choose life or "not make a choice" and you get death. Of course some people make a conscious decision against God, but I think others just don't really think about it. I know...the Bible says man is without excuse, even if he never "hears" the gospel. So I guess he absolutely IS making a choice, even if he never thinks, "I chose the curses." Okay, I'm tired and rambling. This probably won't even make sense to ME tomorrow.

Interesting about God not wanting the Israelites to even ASK about pagan religions. Perhaps we can justify intellectually wanting to know more about another religion, but God knows that sometimes things can be appealing and he does not want us to become tempted to experiment or even dwell on these things that are not of Him.

Day 73: Deuteronomy 8-10

10:12 is a good list. What does God ask of you?

1. Fear God
2. Walk in all his ways
3. Love Him
4. serve Him with all your heart and soul
5. Observe his commands

It wasn't all about a list of do's and don'ts. It was about doing these 5 things.

10:17-22 are awesome too!

Day 72: Deuteronomy 5-7

I like 5:29. God desires that our hearts would be inclined to fear him. He doesn't want us to follow him because we intellectually know we should or even because he commands it. But he wants us to want to.

Good reminders in Chapter 6 about not forgetting about God when life is good. This must grieve God so much. He blesses us with things and circumstances, and rather than loving him more and having a humble, grateful heart, we fall in love with the stuff and the circumstances.

In chapter 7 when Moses talks about why God chose Israel, it hit me that there was no real specific reason. That is important to realize because that is why he picks us. It is not because of anything we have done or because of a people group we are part of. It is total grace. Sweet.

Day 71: Deuteronomy 3-4

In 3:26 I wondered if God still thinks that same thought we continue to ask for something He is not willing to give us: "That is enough. Do not speak to me anymore about this matter."

I notice that right after the Israelites defeat an army greater than themselves, Moses teaches them again the importance of following the law and not adding or subtracting from it. I'm sure there was huge temptation after winning these totally lopsided battles to become arrogant and even self righteous. There are constant reminders to look back at what God has done, not what they have done. Good reminder for me too!

Day 70: Deuteronomy 1-2

I like the traits of a good leader listed in 1:13. Wise, understanding and respected. I think these are still traits we look for in church leadership, but they definitely are not always the qualities of someone who makes it to leadership in the business world or government.

As Moses tells them all that God has done for them despite their grumbling and rebelling, I realize how important it is that we are reminded. These people were the next generation and had not experienced those things first hand. We are many generations removed, and we definitely need to learn about and remember how God worked to get us to where we are today.

I am amazed that what could have been an 11 day journey was a 40 YEAR journey. Disobedience is so costly. I wonder if there are lessons I could learn in a much shorter time, if I only did what I was supposed to.

Day 69: Numbers 35-36

I'm not sure what is worse....having your loved one killed by someone or knowing that you personally are going to have to kill the murderer! Yikes. Also, it is kind of odd the way they describe "accidentally" killing someone. If you suddenly shove someone or throw something at them unintentionally...... How the heck does that happen?? And then you are in the city of refuge until the high priest dies??? Could be 40 years....could be a week!

Day 68: Numbers 33-34

God knew that the Israelites couldn't play with fire and come out totally victorious. That is why he was very specific about them destroying ALL the idols in Canaan and the people who worshiped them. We think we can play with fire, and still maintain a certain amount of sin and temptation in our lives. We think we can keep it under control and at "safe" levels. When God says ALL, he means ALL.

Day 67: Numbers 31-32

How amazing that not one Israelite was killed in the battle with the Midianites! War was so messy then, and the fact that one side totally wiped out the other with no casualties is proof that God was involved. Since this battle was essentially Moses' swan song (31:2), all the sweeter.

I guess the Gadites and the Reubanites were done. They were ready to settle down and call it quits. I guess they thought they were close enough to the promise land and this property looked pretty appealing. Understandable. But at least they came around and were willing to help the other tribes conquer Canaan before they totally moved in.

Day 66: Numbers 28-30

Chapters 28 and 29 are all about worship and offerings to God. They stress the importance of keeping that relationship at the front of our minds with constant reminders to give our best to God. Chapter 30 is more about our relationships with each other. Keeping our promises to other people should be taken extremely seriously.

Day 65: Numbers 26-27

At this point how odd it must have been that besides a few people, all of the adults had died and it was a whole new generation. My footnote points out what an act of God it was that a whole nation had moved from one land to another, lost its entire adult population, yet managed to maintain its spiritual direction.

I didn't think there was ever a time in the Old Testament that women could inherit property. Interesting.

Day 64: Numbers 23-25

Pretty cool...here is this sorcerer whose blessings curses have been purchased his whole career. Then the true God enters the picture, and his only option is to bless Israel. Man, is Balak ticked! It seems like each oracle becomes progressively more worshipful, which coming from a sorcerer is pretty radical.

In regards to 25:1 my footnote makes this observation: The most dangerous problem for Moses and Joshua was not Jericho's hostile army, but the ever-present temptation to compromise with the pagan Canaanite religions and cultures. I think the same is true today! The biggest threat to our country isn't war...it's immorality and the increasing acceptance of personal sin.

Day 63: Numbers 21-22

I had to read the footnote about the bronze snake because it sounded kind of "idolic" to me. It says: It was not the snake that healed the people, but their belief that God could heal them. It is also symbolic of Christ hanging on a cross.

What I get from the talking donkey: when we need an attitude adjustment, God can use some pretty creative things!!

Day 62: Numbers 18-20

From chapter 19 it is evident that Old Testament laws are not just for health and safety. They are full of symbolism. If a person is in contact with a dead body (which I presume would have some health risks), washing themselves with special water which has burnt up cow ashes in it surely doesn't do anything chemically to clean them or prevent disease from spreading. It is clearly a symbolic act of obedience.

If I wouldn't have read my footnote, I wouldn't have realized that 37 years passes before chapter 20.

Am I to understand that Moses was going to get to go into the promise land until he messed up by hitting a rock instead of speaking to it? Wow. You can do everything right for 40 years and be the most humble person on the planet and still a singe act of disobedience can cost you dearly.

Day 61: Numbers 16-17

Interesting how "a bad apple can ruin a whole barrel." Grumbling, even about things that really aren't true, can spread and be a poison in a group of people. God chose a nation to be His people, but he also chose specific people to lead.

Day 60: Numbers 14-15,Psalm 90

Some lessons for me from Chapter 14:

1. Trust God, even in the big and scary and unknown things. Look back at what I have been delivered from already (uh.....like hell!) and realize that what is big and scary is super easy for God.
2. There are consequences for my disobedience. Maybe not 40 years wandering in a desert, but there is some blessing that I, or someone else, will miss out on.
3. Obedience means NOW. Not after I say no and begin to experience negative consequences. The opportunity might be gone by then.

I love Psalm 90 as it makes you think about time and the value of it. It also compares our view of time with God's.