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Monday, April 7, 2014

Day 35 - 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge - Joshua 13 - 16 - The Great Adventure A Journey Through the Bible


Day 35 

Joshua 13 -16

Bible Time Period: Conquest and Judges 
You led Israel triumphantly into the Promised Land.  They failed to teach their children, and instead did what was right in their own eyes:  Help me to keep my eyes on you and teach others what is truly right. 

Prayer
Almighty Lord, You are our strength and our fortress.  We are thankful that we can retreat into Your loving arms whenever the burdens of life become too heavy.  We have confidence that in those times that You will refresh our souls so that we can begin anew in our journey to salvation,  Thank you, Lord, for Your patience with our fears and Your loving correction of our shortcomings.  May we always receive Your temporal judgments with humility and will the desire to seek victory over the world through Your Son, Jesus Christ.  Please send Your Holy Spirit to guide us in our lesson, as we pray in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. (Agape Catholic Bible Study, Joshua Lesson 7)

Reflection
Joshua piles up military victories in swift succession, although the narrative points out that the conquest of Canaan was far from complete in the days of Joshua. 

Many people have serious questions about the violence in the Old Testament, and particularly in the account of the conquest of Canaan, wondering how a loving God could require it.  There are no easy answers, but perhaps this comment will help, from the introduction to the period of Conquest and Judges in the Bible Timeline Guided Journal, p. 81:

“As you read, try to put these books in the perspective of the story as a whole.  Why is there violence and death in the world to begin with?,,,What have we seen is the result of people turning from God, so far in the story?  What happens to everyone when a community compromises and allows sin to grow unchecked?  Think of how a truly just and holy God should deal with those who persist in their sin versus how He should deal with those who repent. The Canaanites were known not just for idol worship but for their violence and immorality.  They have been warned, but they do not repent.  God is punishing idolatrous nations who obstinately follow their own ways.”

Joshua Contents
Chapters 13 -21 tells how the land is divided among the tribes.  Territories east of the Jordan, of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (chapter 13:8-33).  Territories west of the Jordan and the lands given to Judah, Ephraim, and half-Manasseh (chapter 14:1-17:18). Distribution of the remaining lands among the tribes (18:1 - 19:51).  The Cities of Refuge (20:1-9). And the Levitical cities (21:1-45). 

Today's Reading
Joshua 13 -16



Commentary 
Discussion Boards Day 35
Agape Catholic Bible Study Commentary Joshua 12 - 14
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Part of the above 10-minute study was taken from the Great Adventure Bible Study for Catholics. 

For items devotional items related to the Catholic Church 

Back to Index 90 Day Bible Reading Challenge

Art
Joshua Commissions the Sun - John Martin 

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