Faithfulness to God!

Rahab:  11 When we (Canaanites) heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you (Israel), for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Joshua 2:11 (NIV).

The Book of Joshua has much to teach us and much with which to inspire the church today. Joshua teaches on or develops a surprising number of important biblical themes. The most important theme of the Book of Joshua is that God is the center of redemption history.  In the Book of Joshua, God was the Divine Warrior and Defender for the people of Israel. God fought for Israel against the Canaanite kings and armies.  The entire Book of Joshua from beginning to end reveals God’s goodness, greatness, and gifts to His people as He through His servant and the main leader, Joshua, lead His people into the Promised Land.  Our Joshua, Jesus the Christ and our God, brings us out of bondage to sin and into a fellowship with God in the “new land” of freedom with Jesus (John 8:36).   

Moreover, the Book of Joshua highlights the fulfillment of God’s covenant and promise to the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) (e.g., Genesis 15:18; Exodus 6:8; Deuteronomy 8:7-10). God had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the Promised Land (Canaan). Now, the Patriarch’s descendants (Israel) would possess the Promised Land as a gift from God. In essences, the Book of Joshua demonstrates the absolute faithfulness and goodness of God to His people and how God can always be trusted to fulfill His promises (see Genesis 15:18-21; Joshua 21:43-45).

Because God is good and faithful, God must be our object of love, allegiance, and spiritual affection. We must never worship another god, other than the true and living God (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Joshua 2:11). The one true and living God is not a god of a particular place and purpose. Rather, God is highest everywhere and He loves us with an everlasting love (Joshua 2:9–11; John 3:16). God can be trusted!
 

Faith That Saves

14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions (by helping others)? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds (actions or works), it is dead and useless. . . . 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone. 25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers (spies) and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. James 2:14-17, 24-26 (NLT).

Rahab described in Joshua 2 exercised courageous faith. She trusted and believed that the Lord God of Israel was the true and living God of both heaven and earth (Joshua 2:10–13). Moreover, she not only believed in God but she also acted on her faith by hiding the two Israelite spies as Israel prepared to enter the Promised Land (Canaan) (Joshua 2:3-6). The people of Canaan also believed in God and heard of God’s miraculous actions on behalf of Israel (Joshua 2:9-11).  However, believing in God is not enough as God wants us to also act on our faith with good actions by helping others (James 2:14-17).

Rahab was a woman of great faith and courage. Because of her courageous faith in God and actions, she not only saved herself from death and destruction but the lives of her entire family (Joshua 2:18-20; Joshua 6:22-23). Rahab and her faith are commended in the New Testament as she demonstrated faith by good works (Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25-26). The faith that saves takes courage and obedience to God. 

Rahab was not a native Israelite. In fact, Rahab was a prostitute or a harlot (Hebrew zanah or zōnah) from Canaan and she even lied to protect the Israelite spies (Joshua 2:4-5). God did not approve of Rahab’s lying or her harlotry. The Holy Scriptures clearly prohibits lying and harlotry, and nowhere does God condone Rahab’s lying nor lifestyle (Proverbs 12:22). Proverbs 12:22 expresses how much God values truth. Nonetheless, many biblical scholars have noted that deception and espionage are part of warfare as an explanation for Rahab’s lying to protect the invading Israelites spies. Nevertheless, we must affirm Rahab’s courageous faith and leave any judgment to God.

But in God’s mercy and grace, God forgave and received Rahab into the family line of God because of her courage and faith in Him (see also Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:1–10; 1 Timothy 1:15). Together with Sarah, Rahab is one of the only two women mentioned by name in the great faith hall of fame (Hebrews 11:31). Rahab later married Salmon of Israel and through whom was born Boaz, Ruth’s husband (Ruth 4:20-21). Thus, Rahab, a Canaanite prostitute, became part of the family lineage of King David (1 Chronicles 2:11-12) and hence of Jesus the Messiah (Matthew 1:4-6, 17; Luke 3:32).

Did Jesus Ever Sin?

In every respect, Jesus’ body was just like that of any other human. Jesus was fully human with a human nature. He had a human genealogy (Matthew 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–28); a human birth and childhood; conceived in Mary’s womb (Matthew 1:20; Luke 1:26–27); a human birth by a woman (Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:1–7; Galatians 4:4); circumcised on the eighth day (Luke 2:21); visited the Temple as a boy (Luke 2:41–51); grew up as any other human (Luke 2:52); had a human soul (Matthew 26:38; Luke 23:46), and was handled by people (1 John 1:1; Matthew 26:12). At His passion (suffering, death, and burial), Jesus experienced bloody sweat in the garden (Luke 22:44); death on the Cross at Calvary (Matthew 27:50; John 19:33; Philippians 2:7–8); blood and water flowed from His wound (John 19:34–35); His body was taken down from the Cross (Luke 23:53); His body was prepared and laid in a tomb (John 19:39–41); and burial clothes were used (John 20:6–7).

Nonetheless, the New Testament states clearly that even in His humanity, Jesus did not sin. Jesus lived a human life with a complete absence of sin (Exodus 20:1–21; Deuteronomy 5). Unlike Adam and Eve, Jesus never disobeyed God (Genesis 3; 1 Peter 1:19–22; 1 John 3:5). Jesus fully obeyed God in our place and as our representative, thus succeeding where Adam and Eve failed, where the people of Israel in the wilderness failed, and where King David failed (2 Samuel 11–12; Romans 5:18–19; 1 Corinthians 15:45–47). Jesus never lied, cheated, coveted, disobeyed His Father, committed adultery, murdered, nor did He commit any of the many other sins noted in the Old Testament (John 15:10; John 18:38; 2 Corinthians 5:21). No deceit was found in Jesus’ mouth (1 Peter 2:22). However, King David did sin and he committed adultery, murder, and deceit (2 Samuel 11:27; 2 Samuel 12:1–15); nonetheless, he remained wholeheartedly devoted and loyal to God. Once his sin was revealed, King David confessed, repented, and received God’s forgiveness. However, the consequences of King David’s sin never departed from his household (2 Samuel 12:10, 15).

The author of Hebrews states that Jesus was tempted but He never sinned (Hebrews 4:14–16). He faced every temptation humans faced and continue to face (Hebrews 4:4–16). Being human, Jesus could not conquer temptation without a struggle. As fully God, Jesus did not yield to these temptations and, in fact, resisted and defeated evil in accordance with God, the Father’s, plan (John 5:19, 30). Jesus was tempted by evil—to disobey God for self-gratification, self-display, and self-aggrandizement (Matthew 4:1–11), and the temptation to avoid the Cross (Matthew 16:23; Luke 22:28). However, Jesus remained faithful to God and sinless, “a Lamb without blemish or defect” (Romans 6:6–7; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Colossians 2:13–14; Hebrews 9:12; 1 Peter 1:18–19). “Because He [Jesus] Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, while temptations were real, the Holy Spirit kept Jesus from committing any sin. Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure to help Him in His earthly ministry (John 14–16). References to the Holy Spirit precede the temptation narrative in the Gospels: Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit… and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil” (Luke 4:1–2). Thereafter, “Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). Jesus suffering as a human being led to His exaltation by God the Father (see Philippians 2:5–11; cp. Isaiah 52:13–53:12).

 

Fear!

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, “. . . . 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. . . .” Joshua 1:1, 5-7 (NLT).

In the first chapter of the Book of Joshua, God repeated to Joshua three times to be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9).  Just to assure Joshua did not forget, the people of Israel also told Joshua to be “strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:18). Fear and unbelief often weakens our strength and faith in God. Yet, God remained Joshua of His continuous presence (Joshua 1:5) to give Joshua the confidence to trust in Him and His Word (Joshua 1:7-8).

As believers of Jesus Christ, we too have the promise of God’s daily presence with us. Therefore, we must also be “strong and courageous” to trust God and live our lives according to God’s Word. God’s Word is a treasure chest of instruction, inspiration, and wisdom. Most important, God’s Word helps us understand and learn the heart and mind of God.

All believers of Jesus Christ have become a part of “the Israel of God” or the people of God (Galatians 6:16). God promises all His people that He will never leave them nor forsake them. This was Jesus Christ's promises just before He ascended and return to heaven (Matthew 28:20). The reality of this presence is evident in the fact that God has given His people the Holy Spirit of Jesus (John 14:15-17). So let everyone be “strong and courageous”.

Reference
Coleson, Joseph. Joshua, Judges, Ruth. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary. Tyndale House, 2012.

Strong and Courageous

1 After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant (aide). He (the Lord) said, “ . . . 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey (do or observe) all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful (or act wisely) in everything you do. 8 Study this Book of Instruction (the Law) continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1, 5-9 (NLT).

After 40 of wandering in the wilderness, Joshua led a new generation of Israelites into the Promise Land (also called Canaan). Joshua had a spirit and heart for God (Numbers 27:18). He had a wholehearted devotion, faith, and love for the one true and living God (Joshua 24:15; see Genesis 26:5).  As one of the 12 spies to first enter Canaan (Numbers 13 – 14), only he and Caleb believed and trusted that God would help Israel triumph and possess the Promised Land.

God had promised the patriarchs of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) that the people of Israel would possess this great land (see e.g., Genesis 12:1-7; Genesis 15:12-20; Genesis 17:7-8; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 26:4; Genesis 28:13-14; Exodus 32:13). Furthermore, God repeated this promise to Moses (Exodus 3:6-8; Exodus 13:3-5; Numbers 14:30–31; Deuteronomy 1:6-8; Deuteronomy 6:10-19). God always keeps His promises, as the Book of Joshua illustrates (Joshua 23:14).

God instructed Joshua to constantly mediate, study, and do God’s Word (Joshua 1:7-8). God’s presence and His success come by daily obeying and doing God’s Word (Joshua 1:7; see also Deuteronomy 8:1; Deuteronomy 11:8-9, 22-25; Deuteronomy 29:9; John 15:1-17). By faith and obedience to God, God’s people are victorious in spite of great challenges and obstacles (see also Deuteronomy 31:1-8). Victory comes from the power of God that is released when we obey God by faith. Nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37)!

But before Joshua and the people could enter this great land and obtain God’s promise, God gave both Joshua and the nation teaching on the importance of obedience, courage, and faith in Him. As God appointed Joshua as the new leader, God’s instruction to Joshua to be “strong and very courageous” is repeated from Deuteronomy 31:6, 7, 23 and Joshua 1: 6-7, 9, 18 (see also Joshua 10:25). The Divine instruction from God is for a courageous faith centered on obeying God’s Word. True and lasting success comes from daily meditating, study, and doing God’s Word as one’s lifestyle (Psalm 1:2-3). God wanted Joshua and the people to be confident in Him and His Word. Without God and God’s guidance, Joshua and the people would not succeed (Proverbs 16:9). God’s victory can be claimed only by obedience, courage, and faith in God. God encouraged Joshua by giving His promise (Joshua 1:6) and His presence (Joshua 1:3, 5, 9) but his success came from obeying God’s Word (Joshua 1:7–8).

Thirty-nine years earlier, the people had an opportunity to enter the Promised Land. However, the previous generation was filled with fear and lack of faith in God (Numbers 13-14). As a result of their lack of faith and fear, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness desert for 40 years. The earlier Israelites failed to realize that obedience, courage, and faith in God brought victory (see also 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 51:16-19; Isaiah 1:11-15; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 9:13). As we faithfully obey and trust God, God is with us (Matthew 28:20; John 14:15-17). But we must first love, seek, and obey God and ask God to direct our daily paths (Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 6:33).

Alive and Powerful

12 For the Word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT).

The Holy Bible is the Word of God and this Word is alive, powerful, and life-changing (Hebrews 4:12). The Word of God exposes our innermost thoughts, heart motives and true intentions. Through His Word, God speaks to our hearts, shares His love and care, and protects us from evil (John 3:16; Ephesians 6:17). Most important, the Word of God helps shape our lives for the better. Therefore, God’s Word must be received, obeyed, and believed as life’s guidebook for living (Psalm 95:7). No decision or plan in life must be made without seeking God and God’s Word for guidance (Proverbs 16:9).

Moreover, God’s Word created the universe and He controls the universe by His Word (Genesis 1:3-28; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 11:3). In the past, God’s Word came through angels or prophets, but now God’s Word has come dominantly through Jesus Christ, who is God’s Son (John 1:1-14; Hebrews 1:1-4; Hebrews 2:3-4). Jesus Christ is the Word of God (John 1:1-4; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 2:12, 16; Revelation 19:15).

Likewise, God is omnipresent meaning God is everywhere and all-seeing. No one can hide from God as God sees all we do and think. Knowing that God is forever present should bring us comfort. God is present to help us when we need Him, and He is just a pray away. So, obey God’s Word! Spend time each day reading and mediating on God’s Word and applying God’s Word to your life. God’s Word will make your year a Happy New Year!

Living By Faith With Jesus Christ

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, He said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given Me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do Your will, O God— as is written about Me in the Scriptures.’” 8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were You pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9 Then He (Jesus) said, “Look, I have come to do Your will.” He cancels the first Covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. 11 Under the old Covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest (Jesus) offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then He sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There He waits until His enemies are humbled and made a footstool under His feet. 14 For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For He says, 16 “This is the New Covenant I will make with My people on that day, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”  17 Then He says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. 19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.  23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. 26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume His enemies. . . . 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. 37 “For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. 38 And My righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.” 39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. Hebrews 10:1-27, 35-39 (NLT).

Jesus Christ was the final Sacrifice for the sins of the people (Hebrews 10:10).  In the Old Testament period, the priests and people would gather to offer sacrifices for their sins year after year.  However, these annual sacrifices never took away their sins, but only provided temporary relief.  These sacrifices were only a shadow of Jesus Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.

Still more, God desired the people’s wholehearted love, obedience and a right heart for Him as God and not just religious rituals and sacrifices (Hebrews 10:22). In fact, one of the central teachings of the Old Testament and the New Testament are not gifts and sacrifices, but wholehearted and genuine love, faith, and obedience for God (1 Samuel 15:22-23; Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 51:16-19; Isaiah 1:11-15; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; Micah 6:6-8; Matthew 9:13; and Matthew 22:34-40). Sacrifice and rituals are not unimportant.  However, genuine love, faith, devotion, and obedience to God are far better in God’s eyes than following empty, half-hearted rituals and rules (Hebrews 10:5-7).

Moreover, the people needed a permanent and greater sacrifice for forgiveness of their sins from within their hearts.  Jesus Christ offers to all people by faith that permanent and final forgiveness of sins. God sent Jesus Christ to offer His sinless body on the Cross as our final sacrifice for sin. Moreover, Jesus Christ’s death on the Cross did away with the sacrificial system contained in the ceremonial Old Testament law (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:16-18). However, Jesus Christ’s death did not eliminate God’s moral law (e.g., the Ten Commandments at Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:7-21).  Thus, God's new way to please Him is by faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. When we genuinely and wholeheartedly confess our sins, Jesus permanently and forever removes our sins and cleans us from the inside of evil, sin, and wickedness (see also 1 John 1:9). Best of all, God remembers our sins no more.

Moreover, Jesus Christ sends His Holy Spirit to live within our hearts to help us obey God’s moral law and walk with Him in obedience and love (John 14 – 16). God wants everyone to wholeheartedly love Him and to obey His will. When we truly trust in Jesus Christ to forgive our sins, God’s Holy Spirit to help us walk with God and grow holy and righteous. If we stumble, Jesus Christ encourages us to confess our sins to God and God promises to continually forgive us (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4).

God through Jesus Christ offers everyone the free gift of eternal life and salvation so we can now concentrate on loving others and doing good work (Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 2:8-10). We are saved not by following the law or good deeds but by God’s grace. However, we are saved to do good works for God’s glory (Ephesians 2:8-10).