Reading
SAA Notes
The destruction of Ai is followed immediately with the renewal of the covenant on Mount Ebal. Israel’s taking of the Promised Land was a unique case – it was not an example for any other people to follow. Remember what Rahab said to the spies. The people of Ai chose to reject what they themselves believed was the doing of God. The people of Gibeon did otherwise with very different results.
SJA Notes
* God in heaven, be exalted in Your strength O LORD, we will sing and praise Your power.
“There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them.”
Here is all of God’s word being read to all of God’s people!
Joshua reads all the book of the law, the blessings and the curses. He reads every single word to all the people of Israel (men, women, children and those non-Israelites living amongst them).
Joshua was obedient under Moses, even after Moses was gone. He was not like King Solomon’s son Rehoboam who rejected the wisdom of the elders – instead Joshua submitted with meekness (a noted characteristic of Moses).
How good is it then to think that in this both Moses and Joshua take after Jesus – Who models for us all how we are to walk before the Lord God!
Jesus – He is the true man, the saviour of the world. He is God’s word become flesh, and through Him each day we are able to be fed by God’s word, the Spirit indelibly writing it on our hearts as we read it, listening for His prompting and walking in obedience.
* God Above,
Thank You for Your word, which is so clearly promoted and upheld in this passage today.
That Joshua would read it in full before all of Your people is a wonderful encouragement to us – Thank You Lord!
May we listen and learn, trust and obey, today and each day onwards Lord.
Amen.