365 Reflections

After gaining a ton of momentum in the previous victory from Gibeon, Joshua proceeds to take out one army after another in Joshua 10. However, with every new success comes fresh new and more difficult challenges. This time the kings of the Northern country come out against Joshua in an alliance and with more difficult opposition - chariots. The good news is, God wants His people getting stronger and more victorious, the bad news is, it will require greater obstacles in their future. Joshua 11:4–5 (ESV) And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. 5 And all these kings joined their forces and came and encamped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel. Isn't this just like life? We start to really roll and think we've made it only to face another challenge we've never experienced before. This time, instead of God drowning chariots in the Red Sea, He's going ...

Mark 4:35 (ESV)  On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side (of the sea).” Mark 5:1 (ESV) They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. Mark 5:21 (ESV) And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. There is something I learned recently.  The Sea of Galilee makes its first appearance in the New Testament.  Before Jesus, there is not one singe mention of this body of water.  Yet in the Synoptic Gospels, its mention is constant and central to the geographical movement of Christ with His disciples. Why? In the 1st Century, Israelites avoided traveling by sea.  You didn't do it unless you absolutely had to.  Israel was a nomadic land-loving people.  They were defined by the "Promised Land" of ages past.  They still felt a sense of belonging to the land.  Yes, four disciples w...