Contemplative Bible Reading

Joshua 5:1 (New Living Translation)

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings who lived along the Mediterranean coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan River so the people of Israel could cross, they lost heart and were paralyzed with fear because of them.

The Kings west of the Jordan river had all heard about how Jehovah God of the descendants of Jacob had stopped the flow of water in that river so that this mass of people could simply walk across.

They lost heart.

In their hearts and minds they surrendered to the coming Jacob-ians or Israelites. No battles had been fought, but it was over. Finished.

A wise course of action would have been to tell these Israelites, “You’re God is above all. Teach us your ways. Let us know and serve your God.” That didn’t happen. Instead multitudes fought, suffered, and died.

Today? Wouldn’t it be great if raging flood waters were directed around a group of Christians, and this was shown live on Facebook or something? All hearts would melt and everyone in the world would want to know Christ.

Great idea, huh? Come on God, do it my way.

Perhaps not so great an idea. God’s miracles are right in front of all of us everyday. How can we not all worship and serve God? How is it that all of don’t lose heart and become paralyzed with fear at the thought of being in God’s presence? I guess we have to fight all our battles daily like those Kings west of the Jordan did. What folly.