Until now, the people of Israel had been without land of their own for well over 500 years: first, beginning with Abraham, as nomads, then as slaves for 400 years, followed by 40 years in the wilderness. To say that the transition from being land-less to land-owners was huge, is probably an understatement!! 

Chapters 1-12 of Joshua tell of taking the land, and chapters 13-22 tell of settling it. The hardest part of reading Joshua is the "leave no survivor" mentality. It is both violent and disturbing. The book concludes with a covenant renewal ceremony. The well intentioned words of Joshua 24:16-18 are just that: well-intentioned. 

On Day 55 we finish the sixth book of the Bible and by week's end, we are just a day away from finishing another; Judges. Never mind lesson number one of the wilderness (rely on God); never mind Moses' words of caution and encouragement (Remember and don't forget), in Judges, God's people are determined to take matters into their own hands. The pattern in Judges goes like this: Israel sins, God punishes, Israel cries to God for help, God raises up a Judge to deliver His people. Over and over again. Like a broken . . . well, you know, like a broken creation in need of a Savior.

Facebook Question

Join the discussion on the SPD One Year Bible Read-Along Facebook group page!

We are 60 days into our Read-Along and by now you have probably settled into a daily discipline for your reading; a regular time, a comfortable space, and a method that works for you (silence, soft music). Perhaps you have missed a day or two or three along the way; don't worry! Skim what you missed and stay current! We are in this together and we won't leave anyone behind.