King James Daily Bible Study: Follow Then Lead

King James Daily Bible Study: Follow Then Lead
Date: Sunday March 13, 2011
Chapters: Joshua 1-3
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-march-13
Details of Today's Reading: Joshua’s commission and command to the Israelites, Rahab and the two spies in Jericho, and the passing of the Jordan river.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
A leader is a person who leads or guides others, most of us really do not want to be leaders. We may like the thought of being in leadership, but when it comes to making big decisions that can effect everyone else we would rather step back. However, we all must be a leader at one point as well as a follower. The Bible says, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:12,13. The key to being a good leader is following our great leader, Jesus Christ. When we follow Him, He will give us the strength to lead the way in making those decisions we just can not seem to make.

The Book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains twenty-four chapters. The author of the book is Joshua and it was written to the Israelites, the time line for these events are approximately 1451 BC -1427 BC. The purpose of the book was to record the details on how the successor of Moses, Joshua, led the people of Israel into the promised land of Canaan and explains the military campaigns and the division of the land among the tribes. What we are to learn from the book is that no moral or spiritual battles are won without God, He gives victory to all who let Him lead them. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” - Joshua 1:9.

After the death of Moses it was time for Joshua, the Israelites new leader, to take charge and follow God's command to lead them into the promised land. Before he got started God spoke to him and encouraged him, reminding him that He would always be with him.

“Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” - Joshua 1:6-9.

The key to prosperity in anything we do is meditating on God's Word, His Word is our guide, it shows us when to take the lead and when to back away. It shows us how to handle every situation, settles our fears, and keeps us faithful to God. Without it we would be guessing at everything, but with it everything prospers, from our homes, to our jobs, to our hobbies, God's Word must be with us if we want to succeed and stay successful. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” - II Timothy 3:16,17.

After God spoke to Joshua it was time for them to pass over into the promised land, first Joshua sent two spies over into Jericho to search it out. Word had already gotten out that the Israelites were about to come in and siege the land so when they heard that there were spies on their land they wanted to capture them and kill them. However, the spies met a woman, a harlot to be exact, named Rahab, who God would use to save them.

“And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.” - Joshua 2:4-6.

God is always with those who follow His lead, in fact, He chooses who He knows will follow His lead to be a leader. Rahab lead the spies to their safety, she had enough faith and fear in God that she knew by helping His people that her life would never be the same. Before she let the spies escape she asked them for one thing, “And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.” - Joshua 2:11-14. Even though it could have cost her her life, she did what was right and because of that she and her family were spared.

Later on we learn that Rahab turned from her false gods, left her life as a prostitute, and trusted in the mercy of the One True God, becoming an ancestor of King David and was included in the genealogy of where God would send Jesus to be born of. God will not put harm to anyone who comes to Him, who listens and follows Him. He will never leave nor forsake those who have come to Him through His Son. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38,39.

It was time to pass over the Jordan into the promised land. How would they get across the river with no boat? Noting is impossible when God leads the way. Joshua commanded the Levites, who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant, God's Word, to lead the way, miraculously the river divided into two, allowing them to walk across on dry land.

“And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 6That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” - Joshua 3:15-17.

God always makes the impossible possible when we let Him lead us. Of course, everything we go through, whether it is good or bad, has happened for a reason and has a purpose, while we think something should come to pass the way we expect it rarely is how God allows it to come to pass. However, when we follow God's lead in every area of our lives He will follow us wherever we go and we will see some amazing things happening in our lives. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today Jesus is revealed through Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land. Jesus leads us, who is our great Shepherd. “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” - I Peter 2:25.

Thanks and God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

Learn How Jesus Can Set You Free: http://www.godsprice.com
Visit I'm Following Jesus: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com
Subscribe To This Devotional: devotions@imfollowingjesus.com