"God's great love and purposes for us are worked out in the messes, storms, and sins, blue skies, daily work, and dreams of our common lives, working with us as we are and not as we should be."
-Eugene Peterson
So I finished up the great sermon by Moses today. In a way I felt bad for Moses because he knew he was going to die so he plead with Israel to keep God's command. Pleading with them to honor and obey their God who paved a way for them. When God met Moses and Joshua in the Tent of Meeting, He told them what Israel was going to do. He already knew they were going to disobey. I wonder how Joshua felt at that moment...
The books starting w/ Joshua and ending with Esther are called the history books. Learn something new every day haha.
Peterson sets the tone for Joshua in the introduction. The people of Israel will finally inhabit land after 500 years! Peterson also identifies with the modern day reader who may be a little appalled at the term "holy war". He uses "holy curse" in referring to the Israelites killing everyone in the conquered cities. We're encouraged to put ourselves back in the thirteenth century BC. Imagine living in a culture where children were sacrificed, there was sacred prostitution, and practices were devoted to using vulnerable members of society all for their gods and goddesses.
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