Week 10: Joshua 13 - Judges 12

The reading plan for this week is:

• Weekend:   Joshua 13 - 17
• Monday:    Joshua 18 - 21
• Tuesday:   Joshua 22 - 24
• Wednesday: Judges 1 - 5
• Thursday:  Judges 6 - 8
• Friday:    Judges 9 - 12

This week we'll finish up Joshua and start in the book of Judges. Joshua can be distinguished in 3 parts: Chapters 1 - 12 that we read last week, describes the conquering of the land of Canaan with God's help and ends with the 'trophy list' in Chapter 12. The 2nd part, Chapters 13 to 21 describes the division of the land among the tribes of Israel. The 3rd and last part, Chapters 22-24, refers back to the first part as it describes how the tribes east of the Jordan go back to their land. Also in that part we see Joshua saying goodbye to the people of Israel, and encouraging them to not sin and to cling to God's promises. He fulfilled His part of the promise by giving them the Promised Land, now they have to keep their part by following the rules given by Moses.

Joshua 24:15 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible: "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,...... But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua makes this powerful statement at the end of his life, and he warns the people about the gravity of entering into a commitment of serving the Lord (vs. 19 & 20). In effect he's saying: it's better to NOT serve the LORD, then to commit to serve Him and not follow through. I think that is still true today. It doesn't mean we are not allowed to sin, but it does mean we can't continue to willfully sin if we know something is wrong.

The people respond with determination: "No! We will serve the LORD." (v21).  But then the book of Judges starts.... and Chapter 2 vs 6 -15 is strikingly painful: The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.(v7)  After that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. (v10). In my opinion, the book of Judges is one of the darkest books of the Bible, and it goes back to the fact that "everyone did what was right in their own eyes." and the fact that they had forgotten all the great things the LORD had done.

It is a great example and warning for us: Remember all the great things God has done in your life. Pass it on to the next generation, and make it your mantra: "As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD!"

Bible reading can accomplish all of the above (remembering, passing it on, serving), especially if you include your siblings in that, for example by reading the Bible at the dinner table. I commend you for continuing to read the Bible in 1 year.

Dick