The Berean Bookshelf

Tag: Joshua 1:9

  • On the Heart: 1 Samuel 16:7

    On the Heart: 1 Samuel 16:7

    An Old Testament Devotion for the Anxious Covenant Child’s Heart

    But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

    In this verse, Samuel is all grown up, and he’s one of God’s prophets as well as a priest. God had just rejected Saul as king of Israel because of Saul’s disobedience, and He had sent Samuel to find the next king. God told Samuel the new king would be the son of a man named Jesse.

    Jesse owned many sheep and had many sons. So when Samuel came to Jesse and asked to see his sons, Jesse brought out all of his oldest sons first, and Samuel was quite impressed! They were all tall, strong, and handsome! Surely one of these was God’s chosen new king!

    But no, God told Samuel. He had chosen the youngest of the brothers.

    He had chosen David.

    As humans, it’s natural for us to compare ourselves to other people. We often feel discouraged when someone else has nicer clothes than we do, or is better at soccer, or maybe gets better grades. Maybe his family has more money to go on more vacations, or maybe her grandmother buys her a new phone every year. “Maybe I’m not so special after all,” we might think.

    But this is not how we ought to look at ourselves (or anyone else). Everyone in this world is made in the image of God. (Remember when we talked about how you’re God’s piece of art?) Every human life has special worth because God created it. Even better, though, if you are God’s child and truly believe in Him as your Savior, it’s because God chose you. Isn’t it amazing to be chosen by God? And if you are chosen by God, God loves you so much that Christ died for you. Romans 8:16-17 says,

    The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

    We don’t need to compare ourselves to others to know we are special and loved. God already proved His love by sending Jesus to live and die for our sins in our place! And then Jesus rose from the dead so we can spend eternity with Him in Heaven!

    Sometimes we don’t feel so special when people say mean things to or about us. But when that happens, we need to remember whose thoughts and judgments truly matter in the end.

    I’ll give you a hint. It’s not the person who called you a name. The One whose opinion matters the most is God!

    The Lord doesn’t value us based on our appearance or our talents. No, God looks at our hearts, just as he looked at the hearts of David and his brothers. Samuel saw how all of David’s older brothers were big and strong and handsome, but God wasn’t impressed by those things. God was thinking about the future king’s heart. And sure enough, God chose the youngest and smallest of the brothers because David was, as God said in 1 Samuel 13:14, a man after God’s own heart.

    So as you grow, just remember that while it can feel good when people pay us compliments or think we’re important, we cannot rely on what others think about us to know our worth. Our worth lies in what God thinks of us! And when God looks at His children, He sees the beautiful artistic creations He made with love. He sees the righteousness of Christ, given to us through Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. He sees the people He chose to save.

    So don’t worry about what the world thinks or says about you. For you, child of God, are so very loved.

    Discussion Questions

    1. What did God mean when He told Samuel not to look on the outward appearance?

    2. Should we judge others by how they look? Why or why not?

    3. If the Lord considers the heart so important, how can we grow and nurture our own hearts in Him?

    Next devotion coming soon…

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  • For This Child I Prayed: 1 Samuel 1:27-28

    For This Child I Prayed: 1 Samuel 1:27-28

    An Old Testament Devotion for the Anxious Covenant Child’s Heart

    For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the LORD. As long as he lives, he is lent to the LORD.”

    Once, there was an Israelite man with two wives. Now, this man should not have had two wives, but unfortunately, having more than one wife wive was what many men did in that part of the world. Still, despite the man’s sin, God had mercy, and this man loved God.

    This man’s first wife had been blessed with many children, but the second wife, Hannah, could not have children. The first wife would often tease and make fun of Hannah for having no children, which made her so sad that not even her husband’s love could make her feel better.

    So Hannah, being a godly woman, did what godly women do. She went to the House of the Lord and prayed to God. In fact, she prayed so hard that the Bible says she was “pouring out” her soul before God. She silently begged God for a child. She even promised God that if He gave her a son, she would return him to God’s service.

    The priest at that time, Eli, was sitting on the steps as well, and when he saw Hannah, she told him that she was speaking to the Lord out of her anxiety and frustration. Eli, understanding what she meant, then kindly told her to go in peace, hoping that God would grant her what she asked for.

    And God did. Soon, Hannah had a baby boy, and she named him Samuel. And just as she had promised God, when Samuel was old enough, she brought him to the House of the Lord to grow up in service of the Lord. And that was the way Samuel grew–in the service and worship of God.

    So why is this verse important? Not all parents have the same problem as Hannah. Many Christian families have lots of children. Some families struggle to have children, just as Hannah did. Others adopt. And yet others have only one or two.

    All of God’s covenant children, however, are just like Samuel, in that they do not belong to their parents. They are God’s children. And though it makes me sad to think about how my daughter and son will one day leave me and my husband and go off to live their own lives, I know that I cannot keep them from growing up. And I shouldn’t try.

    You, covenant child, are just like Samuel, in that you are “lent to the Lord.” This means that God has given you to your parents for a short part of your life so that your parents may raise you in the nurture and admonition of the Lord—meaning they are to teach you to love and obey God.

    But all that training is for a purpose. One day, you’ll make your way into the world as one of God’s servants, just as your parents did before you. God has plans for you, whether that’s as a parent, a spouse, a friend, a worker, a boss, a volunteer, or a church member. And God only knows the jobs and roles He has waiting for you. But God’s children are all called to be salt and light in this dark world, and this short childhood is meant to train you up so you may be salt and light as well, so the world can see the goodness of God through you.

    But just as Samuel left his home, he was never alone. God was with him, as were Eli and God’s other servants. Hannah even brought him a new robe each year when she visited the temple. And just as Samuel was never alone, neither will you be. God will provide you with all the people and love that you need to grow into a servant of God.

    So you, child of God, can sleep peacefully tonight knowing you have a purpose and great worth in God. And you are loved.

    Discussion Questions

    1. Why was Hannah sad?

    2. What does it mean that Hannah poured her heart to God?

    3. Can you pour out your heart to God? When should Christians pour out their hearts to God?

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  • A Memorial Forever: Joshua 4:5-7

    A Memorial Forever: Joshua 4:5-7

    An Old Testament Devotion for the Anxious Covenant Child’s Heart

    And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

    In Joshua 4:5-7, Joshua and the rest of Israel were finally done wandering the desert. The forty years of discipline that God promised them for their unfaithfulness had passed, and a whole new generation of Israelites had come to adulthood. This, of course, was exciting because it meant they would finally go to the Promised Land–the land that God had promised to give to Abraham’s descendants.

    To get to the Promised Land, however, they had to cross over a famous river called the Jordan River. To help them do this, God gave them a sign similar to the one He had performed when they escaped Egypt when He had split the Red Sea. This time, God stopped the Jordan River so that the Israelites–the hundreds of thousands of them–could cross the river on dry ground. And when they were finally finished, God gave Joshua a command. He told Joshua to have the elders of the twelve tribes of Israel take up twelve very large stones and pile them on top of one another.

    Now that might sound silly. After all, you’ve probably made piles of rocks in your backyard and at the park. Why would the Almighty God want Israel to make a pile of big rocks? Well, God tells us.

    …that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.

    This pile of rocks that God wanted the Israelites to build was meant as a gift to their children. God cared so much about the Israelite children that He didn’t want them to forget the wonderful things He had done for their parents and grandparents. He wanted to share His faithfulness with those children so they would grow up knowing God keeps His promises.

    Isn’t that wonderful? Not only did God provide for the parents, but He made sure their children would know about His promise-keeping as well. He wanted the children of Israel to trust Him.

    Just as He wants children like you to trust Him today.

    God’s command for Christian parents to teach their children about Him and His promises is still active today. Parents aren’t supposed to hide their faith from their children, nor should they let their children choose their own way. Just as it’s a mom or dad’s job to teach a small child not to play in traffic, parents must also teach children the danger of sin and the safety to be found in God.

    Sadly, however, many churches today believe children aren’t able to learn the truths of God. They’re worried children will get confused or bored with church. So they separate the children from the rest of the congregation. And instead of including them as part of God’s covenant family, the children are sent to something called “children’s church.”

    Now, many of these churches mean well. “Children’s church” often includes fun programs with crafts, plays, and games for children, and many times, these fun activities mention Jesus in them. They might even sing fun songs about Jesus.

    But when these churches send their children away from worship with the rest of the congregation, they end up hiding God’s promises and faithfulness from the children–even if they don’t mean to. And this is not what Jesus tells us to do. Instead, in Matthew 19:14, Jesus says,

    “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them…”

    When children are kept out of worship with the rest of God’s family, they’re being hindered, or kept from coming to Jesus. By being sent away, the children aren’t hearing God’s Word preached. These churches are basically telling the children that God’s Word is too hard for them, and they shouldn’t even try to understand it.

    God didn’t tell Joshua, “Give the children only fun arts and crafts with a Bible story, and one day—only after they grow up—will they be ready to hear God’s Word with the grownups.” No, He commanded the Israelite adults to teach their children the truth about God and His promises. And He even gave them signs, such as these stones, so they wouldn’t forget.

    And just as God didn’t want the Israelite children to forget, He doesn’t want you to forget today, either. Because all of God’s covenant children are precious to Him. He wants them to know of His love and faithfulness. He wants children like you to know, too.

    So sleep in peace. The God who loves you is a Promise Keeper. And He will keep you tonight.

    Discussion Questions

    1. Why did God want the Israelites to make a big pile of twelve stones?

    2. Why was it important for the Israelite children to learn about all that God had done for them and their parents and grandparents?

    3. Why is it important that you know all about the promises God kept in the Bible? How are you learning about God’s promises today?

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  • Be Strong & Courageous: Joshua 1:9

    Be Strong & Courageous: Joshua 1:9

    An Old Testament Devotion for the Anxious Covenant Child’s Heart

    “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

    In this verse, we see the Israelite General Joshua preparing to take up the responsibility that had been Moses’s for many, many years—leading the people of Israel. Moses had led the people of Israel not only out of Egypt, but in circles through the desert for forty years after their repeated disobedience to God. Over and over again, God had promised to bring His people to Canaan, to the promised land that had belonged to Jacob, and over and over again, the people had rejected God’s promises and authority.

    Joshua was not getting an easy job. Leading the Israelites was often like trying to babysit a large room of toddlers with bad tempers and bad attitudes.

    But God had chosen Joshua to be Israel’s next leader. He had ordained (which means He planned it) for Joshua to be born to the right tribe at the right time in the right place so Joshua could fulfill this role. But God didn’t simply put Joshua there and then go for a coffee break. No, God encouraged Joshua. He told Joshua not to be afraid or worried—and then He made Joshua a special promise.

    He promised that He—the Lord of all creation—be with Joshua wherever he went.

    Note that God didn’t simply tell Joshua He would be with Joshua someday in the future. No, He promised Joshua that He was already with him.

    The God of the universe—the One who created the heavens and calls the stars by name—was already with Joshua and would continue to be for all Joshua’s days.

    “Well,” you might say, “that’s good for Joshua. But I’m not Joshua. I don’t lead Israelites or conduct war. I’m just trying to do my math homework and make friends at Taekwondo practice.”

    You’re right. You’re not Joshua, and God has not promised to help you battle against the Amorites.

    But God has made other promises to show us that He is definitely with those He loves… always.

    Psalm 139 is all about how God creates people as works of art in their mother’s bellies, even before their mothers know they’re there. But He doesn’t leave us there. The Psalm writer continues to describe how from birth, everywhere we go, God is there, too. What good news for us! The God who loves us is always with us!

    Where shall I go from your Spirit?Or where shall I flee from your presence?If I ascend to heaven, you are there!If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

    Jesus echoes this promise in Matthew 28:19-20.

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

    You and I are not Joshua. But we worship and have been chosen and loved by the very same God who chose and loved Joshua. We can be strong and courageous in this world because we know we’re never alone. We don’t have to be frightened, and we don’t have to be worried or dismayed.

    Because the Lord our God is with us wherever we go. Which means He is with you day and night, beloved child. So do not be frightened, and do not be afraid. Sleep in peace.

    Discussion Questions

    1. What does it mean to be strong and courageous?

    2. God promised Joshua that He would be with Joshua always. Has God made that same promise to us? Read Matthew 28:19-20. 

    3. How can this verse help you sleep peacefully, even when you’re afraid? Think about how God rules over everything… including the things you’re afraid of.

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