The day after my last post (I was given Joshua 1:9 as a rebuke and encouragement,) “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” I also came to a greater understanding of the Christian walk. I will attempt to abbreviate the following:

God performed a miracle to enlist Israel’s trust. After Moses died, Joshua took his place to direct the Israelites to the border of the Jordan River. The River Jordan stood between them and God’s intent to bring them a new experience in a bountiful land.

After the priests, carrying the Ark of the Covenant, stepped into the water, the waters parted, and Israel crossed over on the dry ground. As the Almighty parted the Red Sea for Moses, He did the same at the Jordan for Joshua.

There remained work to be done, however. The people could not rest yet. Evil permeated the land they were entering, and enemy nations still occupied the promised territories. From the beginning, God vowed to go before them, guide them, instruct them on what to do, and fight for them. Their job was to be obedient and follow His directives.

At first, they were very active participants in God’s plans. Growing weary of battle and the long wait, they began to settle for less than what God required. They drove out or destroyed most occupants bent on evil, removed most of the high places designated for idol worship, and purged most of the land. The compromises became their undoing.

Israel failed miserably before arriving at its desired result. Their lethargy, disobedience, and lack of focus robbed them of what could have been, resulting in a tumultuous existence and the death of many. A remnant remained.

The insights given to me on how this story applies to our spiritual walk will come in the next post.