I invited hubby to read with me this afternoon. I don’t think he fully realized just how much I read every day. We covered Joshua 1 through 14.

These chapters raised more questions than answers. One of the biggest objections to religion, to belief in God, concerns the stories of the Israelites conquering Canaan. People argue that God could not be so cruel and mean as to order the killing of thousands of people.

It’s a valid question. I’ve been studying it off and on for the past year and I still don’t have an answer.

As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses
Joshua 11:15.

For it was of the Lord to harden their [the Canaanites] hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses
Joshua 11:20.

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war
Joshua 11:23.

I think these texts are very clear. The Lord ordered that the people of Canaan be killed when the Israelites entered the land. Joshua 11:20 says that the people of Canaan attacked Israel and that is why they were destroyed. I noticed this in each battle before even reading this chapter. The Canaanites had heard of Israel. They knew that God had taken them out of Egypt and were bringing them to Canaan. They knew that the Israelites were powerful because God was with them and was giving them power. So the Canaanites were forewarned but decided to attack Israel regardless.

So far I understand the stories. But then I see the pesky little phrase “it was of the Lord to harden their hearts.” God also “hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Almost every single person I’ve discussed this with says that God allowed their hearts to be hardened but didn’t actually cause their hearts to be hardened. Unfortunately, that’s not exactly what the Bible says. What does it mean that “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart?” I don’t know. I’m still looking for answers.

Today’s reading (Deuteronomy 24 through 34) had a continuation of one of yesterday’s themes. Several times I read how Moses instructed the Israelites to choose obedience, to choose God. His pleas culminated in the following verses:

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing:
therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
That thou mayest love the LORD thy God,
and that thou mayest obey his voice,
and that thou mayest cleave unto him:
for he is thy life, and the length of thy days:
that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them
Deuteronomy 30:19-20.

I want blessings, obedience, love, and length of days. I choose life.

Two weeks into this reading challenge and I am already very close to finishing the Pentateuch. Today’s reading was Deuteronomy 8 through 23. One more day of reading and I will be finished with the first five books of the Old Testament.

There was a directive from God that was repeated often in these chapters. The wording varied a bit from verse to verse but the principle was the same.

Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God
Deuteronomy 12:28.

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God,
which I command you this day:
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God,
but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day,
to go after other gods, which ye have not known
Deuteronomy 11:26-28.

The children of Israel were given a choice. Obey the Lord and enjoy His blessings or disobey and face the punishment. I believe we are given the same choice today. I can choose to follow God’s commands and enjoy His blessings (though they may not be immediate, but eternal) or I can disobey and face the consequences. It’s up to me if I want to obey.

Today’s reading covered Numbers 33 through Deuteronomy 7.

Moses wrote:

Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes: And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God
Deuteronomy 1:29-32.

God had directed the Israelites to proceed into Canaan. God promised to do all the work for them. He was going to slowly chase the Canaanites out of Canaan and give the land over to the Israelites as they were able to inhabit it. But the people took one look at the walled cities and the tall men and fled for their lives. They forgot how God had led them in the past and thus lost faith that God would lead them in the future. I pray that I will never forget.

There was also a great promise in today’s chapters.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them
Deuteronomy 4:29-31.

This promise comes immediately after Moses tells the people that they will go a-whoring after other gods. They will leave their God and worship idols. But God promised them that if they returned to Him, if they obeyed His commands, He would have mercy on them.

I can claim this promise today. Even though I’ve made mistakes in the past, if I return to God and obey His commands, He will have mercy on me. My God is a merciful God.

Today I read Numbers 22 through 32. I think the coolest story in this section is the story of Balaam. When the king of Moab sends messengers to Balaam and asks him to curse Israel, Balaam does the right thing. He prays to God and listens to God’s advice, sending the messengers away.

Then the messengers return with an offer of more money, more prestige. Balaam prays to God and asks His guidance again. Because Balaam is obviously wanting to go, God allows him to leave with the messengers, though not without a confrontation on the journey.

In spite of Balaam going against God’s ideal plan, God has the last word. When Balaam opens his mouth before the Israelites, he blesses them. Not only does Balaam bless the Israelites twice, he utters one of the earliest prophecies about the Messiah!

I shall see him, but not now:
I shall behold him, but not nigh:
there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Scepter shall rise out of Israel…
Numbers 24:17.

I didn’t read this morning. Usually, I try to read my Bible first thing in the morning or right after I get back from exercising. Today I had to be ready to leave the house at 8:30 and spent the whole morning scrambling. I didn’t read today’s assignment until 4:00 this afternoon.

I missed my morning reading. I felt like I was getting the day off on the wrong foot by not reading the Bible first thing. It’s amazing how quickly I’ve come to rely on that prayer time and devotional time spent in God’s word.

Today’s reading was Numbers 9 through 21. What impressed me the most was how often I read “and the Israelites became angry and complained about God’s care.” Over and over and over again. God took care of His people. He still takes care of His people. And yet the Israelites complained because they weren’t happy with the food. They were afraid God wasn’t going to provide water. They were jealous of Moses being the leader even though Moses had the job they would probably run screaming from if they really understood what was involved!

Lord, please help me to be content and to trust You. Help me to avoid complaining but to remember that You ALWAYS provide. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

I started Numbers today. The overwhelming majority of the reading was about the first Israelite census and the sacrifices given when the sanctuary was completed.

God gave the priests an awesome blessing that they were to bestow on the people.

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace
Numbers 6:24-27.

What an amazing blessing!