Call to Devotion

The generation to whom Joshua is speaking had spent forty years wandering in the desert — the Wilderness of Zin and its environs. They've witnessed their loved ones die horrible deaths on account of their refusal to trust God when first God's people came to the Promised Land. They've known numerous days when they went without food or water. They've known difficulty, hardship, sleepless nights, danger, and the extreme temperatures of the desert. They were asked to cross a roaring river at flood stage. They were circumcised in the presence of their enemy. They were vulnerable so that an army of children could have conquered them. They had suffered a horrible and tragic defeat at Ai. And though they fought in many winning battles, that wouldn't necessarily lessen the sorrow that would have occurred on account of the loss of father, brother, son, and child! Truly the people of God to whom Joshua is speaking had suffered much. And this is the “kicker” — all that they suffered was NOT in spite of their relationship with Christ, BUT because of it!

For a transcript of this sermon follow the outside web link.