Antioch Bible Church - Hutch's Weekly

Hutch's Weekly

No Other Gods

Joshua 3:1-17
“When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God…” The Ark of the Covenant was an amazing piece of furniture (though, not something you’d want in your living room – my wife would make me use a coaster for sure). It was the most important piece in the Tabernacle. It was kept in the holiest place behind the curtain. It was only 3 feet 9 inches long by 2 feet 3 inches wide and 2 feet 3 inches deep, made of acacia wood. In it were the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments. On top of the Ark was the Mercy Seat with the figures of two cherubim standing over it. The whole thing was overlaid inside and out with pure gold. Only the priests were allowed to touch it.

The Ark of the Covenant represented the holy presence of God with His People. When the Israelites saw it, they were reminded that God was with them in a unique way. It was a powerful symbol of the relationship between a righteous and holy God with His people. The Israelites would take the Ark with them into battle, and its presence would instill confidence in them and dread in the hearts of their enemies. Any offence against the Ark was an offence against God; it was quickly and harshly dealt with.
Not too many years after the conquest, the Israelites began to mistake the symbol for what it stood for. They forgot that an object made of fine wood and pure gold isn’t itself their god. They put their trust in the thing, rather than in the God it represented. On one occasion, the Israelites were faring badly against the Philistines. So they decided to go and get the Ark and bring into the battle. They thought of it as a secret weapon that would magically help them win. But at that time, they were not right in their relationship with God. The Ark was in the battle, but God wasn’t. The Israelites were soundly defeated and the Ark was captured.

As Christians, we need to be careful that we don’t allow things to take the place of God in our lives. That’s called idolatry. It could be bank accounts and investments, job title or health, spouse or possessions. Anything that you build your life on, that you cling to for security and happiness, is an idol if you can’t give it up in the service of God. If there are things in your life that “you can’t live without”, would devastate you if you lost, or things that define who you are, consider whether or not they’ve become your idols. In whom do you put your trust?

"And beware lest you lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, and be drawn away and worship them and serve them." Deut. 4:19

Just Do It!

Joshua 2:22-3:8

Upon getting the report from the two spies, Joshua thought it best to form a special steering committee. He also wanted to spend some time exegeting relevant Bible passages. And he instructed the elders to go on a weekend planning retreat.

Wait, is that what the Bible says? Nope! When Joshua heard God’s message reported by the spies, it was all he needed. He got up early the next morning to begin the process of moving the people into the land. He knew what God expected of him and he knew that it was time to do what God had been preparing him to do. There was no need for more discussion groups, prayer services, or study sessions. He didn’t even call for a vote of the people. It was time to go.

Unfortunately, many Christians don’t respond with Joshua’s determination and resolve even when they know what God expects them to do. Why do we procrastinate? Why do we make excuses? Why do we always say, “I’ll pray about it,” when we already know what the right thing to do is? You know how the conversation goes. Someone gets asked, “You’re not serving anywhere at the church, I noticed.” “No, I’m not.” “We have some needs, would you serve in the nursery?” “Uh, gee… Let me go and pray about it.” All the while, they’re really thinking, “I’m going to say, ‘No’ but I’m going to look spiritual when I do say, ‘no.’ And if I say I prayed about it, then they can’t question my answer.”

You may be similarly putting off doing what you know God wants you to do. For example, you know that God commands you to give your time and resources to support the work of His ministry. You don’t need to pray whether to give or server; you know the answer already. The only thing you need to be asking God is, “How much?” Or you may be in a dating relationship and you know you need to make some changes. But you refuse to do it; you keep putting it off. Does this person love God and respect you? You don’t need to pray whether to continue in the relationship or not; you already know what you should be doing. Or you may be holding a grudge against a fellow Christian. Do you need to pray to find out that you must forgive and seek reconciliation? No. If you know that God wants you to do something you’re not doing, or stop something you are doing, why waste time praying about it? What’s another Bible study exercise going to reveal? Why make excuses? Why procrastinate? Just do it!

But prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hears who delude themselves. James 1:22

Week 23

We Can Be Sure
Joshua 2:1-14

I know… What did Rahab say to the two spies in verse 8? What were those two words she used? She said, “I know.” Now, why is it that a pagan prostitute living in Canaan can state with confidence that she knows that the Israelites will win, but the Chosen People of God can’t? She said, “I know.” She didn’t say, “I think God’s going to give you the land. If you’re lucky and our soldiers have a bad day.” She didn’t say, “If you employ the right strategy, I guess you can win.” She didn’t say, “If you get the right financial backing, I suppose you’ll take this land.” She said, “I know.” That’s what I call faith.

Faith is knowing something even though you can’t see or touch it. It’s being able to say, “Since God said it, that settles it.” Faith is not built upon ignorance. Faith is not built upon pretending something is true when you know it isn’t. Faith is knowing something is real without doubting it. Faith is confidently stepping out and acting upon what you know to be true.

In James 1 it says that we can know, no matter what may happen that God is going to make it for the best. I don’t have to wish; I don’t have to maneuver; I don’t have to manipulate; I don’t have to guess. I can truly know. If God said it, we can be sure of it; we can stake our lives on it. I don’t care how bad it is right now, you can know. Know. Know. Know. And as believers we’ve got to grasp on to this truth. In Romans Paul assures us that things are going to work out. We can know it.

If we have this assurance, then why do we let the things that God allows to come into our lives bother us so much? When things begin to get bad, and you begin to have doubts, what you’ve got to do is look back over your life and see how God has come through for you in the past. In fact, that’s exactly what God’s message is to Joshua and the Israelites through Rahab. God uses a pagan prostitute to remind the Israelites of how He has been with them in the past. Rahab had heard the news of the Israelites’ escape from Egypt, the plagues that preceded it and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army in the sea. 40 years after, it is still being talked about in Canaan. The Israelites are prone to forgetfulness, but that’s not the case in Jericho where they are long dreading the coming of God’s people. Rahab knows God will be true to His word. God’s message to you today is to remember how He has been with you throughout your life and use it to strengthen your faith through the tough times today.
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Heb 11:1

Week 22

A God Who Changes Lives
Joshua 2:1-14

A harlot, whose name was Rahab. It is amazing to me how God works. He took a person who was totally rejected and looked down upon by everyone else and used her in a mighty way. Through her simple faith in the God of the Israelites, Rahab is able to save the spies from the soldiers, and preserve her family from judgment. God often chooses the lowliest and the despised to be His catalyst of change in the world.

Too many Christians, though, get caught up in their past lives, how wretched they were and how sinful they acted. And it becomes nothing but an excuse for them today to not do and be what God wants them to do and to be. You might be thinking, “But what I did; the way I acted… God could never forgive me for something like that.” Was it worse than living as a prostitute in the detestable, pagan land of Canaan? I don’t think so. But even if it was, God is not concerned about your past. Believe me, He knows every bit of it, and He’s not preoccupied with what you did and how you lived. So why are you? He wants to know why you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing today. He took a prostitute and brought about salvation and a changed life. He can do the same with you.

Do you know how I know God works this way? Because He changed me! My life was the result of a sin. I am an illegitimate child; my mother never married. As a fatherless child growing up in the South, I was looked down upon and despised. But praise God for what He has done in my life! God can take the worst raw materials and craft them into a life that is honoring to Him, and use that life to further His purposes in this world. God is a God of love; Rahab was saved by His grace and mercy -- as are you.

There is more to the story of Rahab. In Matthew 1, there is an important set of verses, a genealogy of the lineage of Jesus. Right in the middle of it we read that a man named Salmon married a woman named Rahab. That’s the same woman we’ve been talking about. Imagine that, a prostitute in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Now, that’s a God who can change a life! So don’t use your past as an excuse for not doing what you need to be doing in your present. It’s time to move on with Christ and quit holding on to what’s holding you back.

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Week 21

The Joy of Thy Salvation
Joshua 2:1-14
Jericho was something like three miles wide and eight miles long. That’s a big city. And it had great walls around it for protection. It sat strategically on the frontier of Canaan. It was designed to protect the interior from enemies crossing the Jordan. It was impenetrable. Nothing got past Jericho. That’s where God intended the Israelites to make their first strike. A victory here would send a message throughout the entire land.

God has Joshua send in two spies to check things out. And where do you go if you want to find vulnerabilities in the biggest, baddest city in the land? The two spies end up in a harlot’s house, Rahab the harlot, a prostitute. I can just see everyone back in camp asking, “So guys, what’d you really go to her place for?” Well, Rahab happens to live on the city wall. The spies could slip in there without being noticed. Besides, the neighbors are probably used to seeing strange men go in and out of Rahab’s place! But they are quickly found out anyway, and the king, who evidently also knows Rahab well, sends troops to catch them.

Rahab is faced with a problem. She is harboring enemy spies, and as a citizen of the city and under the authority of the king, she would have to give them up. But Rahab has learned of a higher authority. She has heard of the miraculous way the Israelites had been freed from Egyptian slavery. She has heard of their amazing victories over all who stood in the way. And she has heard of the God by whose power they were delivered and sustained. She knows that there is no chance of the city surviving the attack of the Israelites. In fact, ever since the appearance of them beyond the Jordan, the whole city is quaking in their sandals. Rahab believes in God and she knows that her life, and that of her family, is in His hands. Yes, she lies to the soldiers. But that is all she knows to do in her fledgling faith. She is willing to risk all. And God blesses her, not because of the lie, but because of her simple, childlike faith in Him.

Contrast the faith of Rahab to that of the Israelites. That stiff-necked people has experienced firsthand what Rahab has only heard about. They walk in the presence of God, tasting of His provision every day. Yet, every step of the way they complain against Him. In the end, they only experience partially the blessings that He has for them. When was the last time you experienced the freshness of simple, childlike faith?

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation,
And sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10, 12

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