Friday February 20, 2009 OBEDIENCE IS BLISS
On the seventh day they got up at dawn. They marched around the city seven times the same way they had done it before. That was the only day they marched around it seven times. When they went around the seventh time, the priests blew their rams' horns. Joshua said to the troops, "Shout, because the LORD has given you the city! The city has been claimed by the LORD. Everything in it belongs to the LORD. Only the prostitute Rahab and all who are in the house with her will live because she hid the messengers we sent. But stay away from what has been claimed by the LORD for destruction, or you, too, will be destroyed by the LORD. If you take anything that is claimed by the LORD, you will bring destruction and disaster on the camp of Israel. All the silver and gold and everything made of bronze and iron are holy and belong to the LORD. They must go into the LORD's treasury." So the troops shouted very loudly when they heard the blast of the rams' horns, and the wall collapsed. The troops charged straight ahead and captured the city. They claimed everything in it for the LORD. With their swords they killed men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys. But Joshua said to the two spies, "Go to the prostitute's house. Bring the woman out, along with everything she has, as you swore you would do for her." Joshua 6:15-22 Well, Hallelujah! Obedience is bliss! Can you imagine the shouting that went on that day? Indeed, God fulfilled His promise. Now, would they fulfill theirs? God gave specific orders, every living being, whether human or animal, was to be destroyed. Then, everything that had value was to be brought to the Lord. Stop for a moment and think of that. What kind of God destroys human life? Allow yourself to go there for a moment. Did God change from the Old Testament destroyer of people into the New Testament God of grace? No, He is still the same. No, He no longer destroys whole nations, but He will often lead us to battle. God knew the hearts of the people of Jericho. He knew there was one person there whose fear turned to reverence. This person was a harlot and her faith saved both her family and herself. She is even listed in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5). He had to protect the faith of His followers and in order to do that the people of Jericho and even their animals had to be destroyed. Yet, Rahab was saved by faith. We too are saved by faith. God Himself died for our salvation. He is willing to do whatever it takes to bring us to Himself. No, He has not changed. His strategies may be a little different today, but He is still God. What does God require of us? God asks that we die to ourselves, that we willingly look to Him for everything - everything. He is the Provider. I don't know about you, but God has often given me specific instructions that seemed absurd. Unlike Joshua, I allowed the skeptic opinions of others to become an obstacle to obedience and I paid dearly. When will we learn that Obedience is truly bliss? Father, I don't understand how You can tolerate me. You are Holy and Perfect. I am so far from understanding that. I confess that I have questioned You, not just with my mind, but with my heart as well. I know You forgive me the minute I call out to You, but I want to walk in perfect obedience to You and Your will. Help me walk in the path where obedience is bliss! ******************************************* O. Addison Gethers e-mail address : [email protected] or [email protected] window live messenger: [email protected] aim: durangoadd64 skype: cowboys62 yahoo messenger: OADDISONGETHERS --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Deaf-Blind Inspirational Life Group" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/DBILG?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
