a blog for Ashfield Baptist Church
The Bible readings for Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 September are -- Josh 10:29-12:24; Ps 50:7-15; Pro 12:1-3; Lk 15:11-32.
posted by Ps John @ 11:54 PM
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Hi and welcome. Ashfield Baptist Church is a "caring community church sharing God's love". We are very diverse in our nationalities, backgrounds and ages, but united in our desire to grow spiritually and to reach out and help others. Our vision is "to be a body of Christ-like people living out the great commandment and the great commission in the Holy Spirit's power". This blog is mainly for people connected with Ashfield Baptist Church. It has been set up as an "info & chat space" as we start the "THRU IN 2" challenge. This is our program for reading the Bible right through during 2007 & 2008. Many are using the Every Day With Jesus Bible which also has daily devotions from Selwyn Hughes. As we read through the Bible together over these two years, we can use this blog to share insights, stories, reflections, questions etc. The goal is to grow spiritually together. So leave your comments. Together we can help each other grow. Blessings. Ps John. To leave a comment about the readings for a particular day, or to view the comments of others, just click on "comments" at the bottom of the post.
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There are a couple of verses in today's reading from Joshua that make me very uncomfortable. I have trouble understanding and explaining them. I wish they weren't there.
"So Joshua conquered the whole region - with all their kings, leaving no survivors. He completely destroyed every living being, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded." (11:40)
"For it was the LORD's intention to harden their hearts, so that they would engage Israel in battle, be completely destroyed without mercy, and be annihilated, just as the LORD had commanded Moses." (11:20)
I know that Israel's barbarism was the norm then and it's what their enemies would have done to them. I know that Israel's enemies weren't just opposed to Israel but God as well. I know that pagan worship and evil practices had to be comprehensively dealt with to preserve Israel as God's covenant people. I know God was fulfilling His covenant promises and His eternal plans. But still the verses jar. I much prefer verses like 11:23 - "After this, the land had rest from war."
Was there no other way? I guess in the end we need to see it all in the context of the One who came as the Prince of Peace, preaching peace, modelling peace and dying for peace. So intent was God on destroying evil that He was willing to sacrifice His own son.
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