The Deaf Devo from The Deaf Missions in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States "Books of History" Bible Reading: Joshua 23:1-8 for Wednesday, 8 February 2017Joshua 23:1 A long time afterwards, when Adonai had given Isra’el rest from all their surrounding enemies, and Y’hoshua was old, with age taking its toll, 2 Y’hoshua summoned all Isra’el — their leaders, heads, judges and officials — and said to them, “I am old; age is taking its toll. 3 You have seen everything that Adonai your God has done to all these nations because of you, for it is Adonai your God who has fought on your behalf. 4 Here, I have allotted to you land for inheritance according to your tribes between the Yarden and the Great Sea to the west; it includes the land of the nations I have destroyed and the nations which remain. 5 Adonai your God will thrust them out ahead of you and drive them out of your sight, so that you will possess their land, as Adonai your God told you.
6 “Therefore be very firm about keeping and doing everything written in the book of the Torah of Moshe and not turning aside from it either to the right or to the left. 7 Then you won’t become like those nations remaining among you. Don’t even mention the name of their gods, let alone have people swear by them, serve them or worship them; 8 but cling to Adonai your God, as you have done to this day.
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The next twelve books of the Old Testament (Joshua through Esther) are books of history. The book of Joshua begins with the Israelites going into the land God had promised to them. We can read about how the Israelites conquered the new land and settled it. These books also tell us about the judges and kings that ruled God's people. Later, we learn that the Israelites stopped worshiping God. Then God allowed them to be taken away to foreign countries. As these books end, we read that the Israelites were finally allowed to return to their homes.
But these books give us more than just a history lesson. They teach us an important lesson about life. This lesson is that it is always best to obey God. When the Israelites did not obey God, He allowed bad things to happen to them. But when the Israelites obeyed God, He blessed them in many ways.
In our Bible verses today, Joshua reminded the Israelites to always obey God. I hope you will obey God, too![Jo Krueger]
"You must choose for yourselves. But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord."[Joshua 24:15b]
PRAYER: God, I want to read Your Word and obey it every day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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