Joshua 1:1-9
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1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' assistant, 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory.
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success [may act wisely] wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 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.”
Yesterday we looked at photos of the archaeological dig for Peter's grave, under the Vatican, and we saw the ruins of Peter's house in Capernaum. The Vatican discovery took over 10 years of digging and treasures were discovered in art, names and histories of the people found, statuary, archeology, mosiacs of the beautiful chapels and tombs. The levels went down, down, to 80 feet.
And then, there was Peter's house. It was the largest in Capernaum. Peter's family were fishermen, with a fleet of ships and men working them. The house in Capernaum is large and it is just about the only house having the remaining plaster. In the plaster, from the 1st century on - people left graffiti - praising God for His gifts and the glory in their pilgrimage. It became a house Church immediately after Peter left to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, until another Church was built upon, over, his house in the 4th century. When you compare Peter's house to the tombs of the Vatican and the Vatican itself - you realize Peter was just a man. The graffiti is identical in both locations. Certainly, it is a thrilling find, but there was so much more about Jesus, His redemption, the hope of the departed in all of the vast tombs. The depth and the astonishing things found in the archaeology about Jesus are amazing.
Jesus died and the world changed rapidly. 16 years after His death in obscurity, it became frightful to the Roman Emperors leading. They began persecuting people.
Peter died and the Way continued.
Moses died and God's promises continued. Each man was loved dearly by God. Just as you are. God's promises didn't end with his leaders' deaths, each generation is loved.
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon .... Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ~ Luke 12:7
I have given to you .... give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you .... What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? ~ Romans 8:31
No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life ...... When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" ~ Luke 5:8
Only be strong and very courageous ..... Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." ~ Matthew 28:10
being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success ..... “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." ~ Matthew 5:17
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed ..... casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go .... 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." ~ Matthew 28:19,20
Hebrews 13:5b
because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
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