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April 8 - Joshua 2 · A Chapter a Day Bible Reading

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Hello friends, it's Sean here. It's Wednesday, it's the 8th of
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April and I'm not sure about where you are, but summer is
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well and truly gone here down in Tasmania and the cooler weather
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is setting in and I think I'm actually OK with that.
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I'm really enjoying the cycles and the seasons that roll on
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together. As we know that one is done and
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the next comes and they will come around again as happens
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with so much of our life and in our reading.
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We are in a very good cycle at the moment in Israel's up and
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down cycle, obedience and disobedience with their God.
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We are in a very good obedient cycle reading through the book
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of Joshua where they are just hitting home runs.
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They are coming out of their time in the wilderness and are
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coming into the good stuff that God has promised them, their
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land and peace and prosperity. And in this week we are reading
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about them preparing to cross over the Jordan into this land
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and take up their inheritance. So let's continue reading this
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together, shall we? Holy Spirit, reveal to us
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something of you so that we can know you more and love you more.
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My friends, let's do it. Let's read together.
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Joshua chapter 2. Then Joshua secretly sent out
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two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove.
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He instructed them scat out the land on the other side of the
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Jordan River, especially around Jericho.
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So the two men set out and came to the House of a prostitute
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named Rahab and stayed there that night.
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But someone told the king of Jericho, some Israelites have
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come here to night to spy out the land.
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So the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, Bring out the
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men who have come into your house, for they have come here
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to spy out the whole land. Rahab had hidden the two men,
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but she replied. Yes, the men were here earlier,
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but I didn't know where they're from.
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They left the town at dusk as the gates were about to close.
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I don't know where they went. If you hurry you can probably
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catch up with them. Actually she had taken them up
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to the roof and hidden them beneath bundles of flax she had
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laid out. So the King's men went looking
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for the Spires along the road leading to the shallow crossings
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of the Jordan River, and as soon as the King's men had left, the
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gate of Jericho was shut. Before the Spires went to sleep
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that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them.
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I know the Lord has given you this land, she told them.
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We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living
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in terror. For we have heard how the Lord
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made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt.
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And we know what you did to Cyhon and Ogg, the two Amorite
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kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely
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destroyed. No wonder our hearts have melted
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in fear. No one has the courage to fight
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after hearing such things, For the Lord your God is the supreme
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God of the heavens above and the earth below.
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Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my
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family. Since I've helped you.
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Give me some guarantees that when Jericho is conquered, he
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will let me live along with my father and mother, my brothers
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and sisters and all their families.
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We offer our own lives as a guarantee for your safety, the
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men agreed. If you don't betray us, we will
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keep our promise and be kind to you when the Lord gives us the
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land. Then, since Rahab house was
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built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through
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the window. Escape to the Hill Country, she
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told them. Hide there for three days from
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the men searching for you. Then when they have returned,
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you can go on your way. Before they left, the men told
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her, We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you
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follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you
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must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through
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which you let us down. And all your family members,
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your father, mother, brothers and all your relatives must be
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here inside the house. If they go out into the street
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and are killed, it will not be our fault, but if anyone lays
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their hand on people inside this house, we will accept the
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responsibility for their death. If you betray us, however, we
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are not bound by this oath in any way.
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I accept your terms, She replied, and she sent them on
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their way. Leaving the scarlet rope hanging
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from the window, the Spires went up into the Hill Country and
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stayed there three days. The men who were chasing them
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searched everywhere along the road, but they finally returned
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without success. Then the two spies came down
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from the Hill Country, crossed the Jordan River and reported to
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Joshua all that had happened to them.
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The Lord has given us the whole land, they said, for all the
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people in the land are terrified of us.
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I thank you, Jesus, for everything that you have given
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us, that through your death and resurrection you have given us
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not only a living hope, but a sure path to eternal life
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through you and all that you've done for us.
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Oh, and as we rest in you, looking forward to that day
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where we will be reunited with you forever, you strengthen us
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in our faith in this promise, and you fill us with joy as we
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await that glorious day. You are a wonderful, wonderful
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God. Thank You that you hold true to
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your promises, and your love for us knows no bounds.
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We praise you and we worship you, and we pray all of this in
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your name, Jesus, Amen.