In the book of Joshua, the author or Joshua wrote how Rahab the harlot hid two men who were spies from Israel, and after getting them to agree to save her and her family, she “sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them. And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD has delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us”, and in chapter two and verse twenty-five of the book of Joshua, the writer or Joshua shared how, “Joshua arose early in the morning” where we read,
And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan,
he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
The verse reads, “And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Joshua” whose name means “Jehovah is salvation”, “rose early in the morning” or “started betimes in the morning to the day”: “and they removed from Shittim” which means “and they, the children of Israel, journeyed, marched and set forward from Shittm whose name means the acacias and was the place of Israel's encampment between the conquest of the transjordanic region and crossing the Jordan into Canaan”, “and came to Jordan” or “and resorted to and were brought to Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)”. Joshua or the writer shared how Joshua got up early in the morning of the day, and he and the people of Israel left “Shittim” until they arrived at the “Jordan” river.
The verse continues, “he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.” Joshua added the words, “he and all the children of Israel” or “he, Joshua, and each, every and the whole of the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “and lodged there” which means “and stopped over, dwelled, remained and abode there, at the Jordan river” “before they passed over” or “in advance of the children of Israel crossing to the other side of the river”. Joshua shared how he and everyone of the offspring of “Israel” remained at the side of the “Jordan” river in advance of crossing it.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Joshua” and the people of Israel rose up early in the morning and traveled from “Shittim” to the side of the Jordan river. There they remained in advance of crossing the river. God’s plan to give the promise land to the people of Israel was underway, and now the children of Israel themselves would be involved. They traveled as far as the Jordan river but remained in that area without crossing it. We shall see what happens with them in our next verses, but for now let us consider how God was working on behalf of His people, and their involvement was to follow Him step by step. God works on our behalf as well, and when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and teach us to follow Him step by step as His Holy Spirit leads us according to His plan and purpose for us.
Next time the writer or Joshua shares how it happened, “after three days, that the officers went through the host”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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