Bible Times
Scripture Reading — Joshua 1:16-18
“Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.”
—Joshua 1:16
Maybe you’ve heard someone say, “If I lived in Bible times, I would believe!” Maybe you have even said that yourself. We might think Bible times are in the past. They are about miracles in the desert and in the promised land given to Israel, right?
It’s true that such events are part of Bible times. But we also live in Bible times today, because Jesus Christ has sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into the truth, especially when we read and reflect on Scripture. Neither Joshua nor the other people of the Old Testament enjoyed the presence of God through the Holy Spirit in the way we can today. Nor did they live to hear about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
After Joshua communicated God’s instructions to the people, they shouted, in effect, “We hear you, Joshua!” and, “We will obey and follow you, whatever you say!” In Bible times God’s people follow the leader that God gives them. Once it was Moses, and then Joshua. Now it is Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, “Whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). We servants are not greater than our Master. And if the Master gave his life in order to do the will of God, what will we do to follow Jesus today?
O Lord, help us all to follow you faithfully all the way, no matter the cost, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.
About the author — Arie C. Leder
Dr. Arie C. Leder is the Martin J. Wyngaarden Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously served as pastor at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church, Trenton, Ontario, and with Christian Reformed World Missions in Latin America. He teaches courses on the Pentateuch and on historical books of the Old Testament.
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