Bible Journey

Post date: Oct 28, 2011 1:06:11 PM

I am currently on a journey through the Bible. I began in Genesis and have been reading through Revelations. As I go, I find that the Old Testament and New Testament are one. This may sound odd, but let me unfold this. In Foundations for Life, I talk about how Jesus said to Peter "On this rock I will build My Church", yet there was an Old Testament reference in Deuteronomy 32 regarding how the god you build your life on is your rock. As I continue my journey through the Bible, I keep noticing connections between the Old Testament and the New Testament. I am considering blogging about these as I know there's a lot more to the Bible than we can fathom at a glance. I just finished Joshua 9, so there's a bit that I haven't spoken on, but may go back to.

In the meantime, here's some of what I found while reading Joshua 9.

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John 9:1-3

1) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Joshua 9:1-6

1) And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;

2) That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

3) And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

4) They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

5) And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

6) And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

t's funny that Jesus has a conversation with His disciples where they ask who sinned that this man was blind (John 9:1-3). Jesus responds to them that it is that the Glory of God may be shown that the man was allowed to be blind. I read this and I think to myself that it is amazing how the glory of God might be shown when He overcomes things in our lives.

Back to Joshua 9, I notice that the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, and a few other -ites were planning to attack Israel. They then heard of the miracles God performed in Egypt, Jericho, and Ai. Instead of a battle, they opted to become servants and make a pact with Israel. I find this interesting because had it not been for God's glory (and works) being shown, Israel might've had to fight another battle. God prevented another battle from ensuing. I find that pretty sweet.