Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. Joshua 5:1
The Bible is fascinating. There is no other book like it. This amazing collection of books written over the span of so many years is the inspired Word of God. Although many different men put pen to paper, the Spirit guided each and every stroke. Knowing this, I am stuck this morning on one word.
So far in the Book of Joshua, the writer has shared an amazing account of how God paved the way for the Israelites to enter the promised land. The story has been told in the third person - by someone reflecting upon the experiences of someone else.
All of a sudden, one word is used that changes the story. It is the word "we."
"Until we had crossed over..."
The author used a first person pronoun. Later in the chapter, he writes, "For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us..." There! He did it again.
"We" and "us" both indicate the author is in the story. He must be experiencing what is being read.
Lord, You Word is such a gift. Where else can one find a first hand account of history? I'm not quite sure what You want me to learn from the Word today, but this I know: it is real. These are not fairly tales. Thank You for the reminder. Help me to continue on this journey with courage - knowing that the God who melted the hearts of Joshua's enemies will melt the hearts of mine when the time comes for me to seize Your promise. Thank You for giving me eyes to see what is written between the lines. Thank You for living with me beneath the surface.