The Power Of Three: Foundation - Jericho March

It would seem appropriate when talking about laying foundations that the subject of "walls" would be included.  So, this week we talked about the march around Jericho (Joshua 5:13-6:27).  I didn't prepare any slides for us to review because I wanted to have us "dig" into this as a group to uncover the nuggets of Truth buried in the scripture just waiting for us.  Here are some of the highlights from our excavation (BTW, yes, I purposely used as many puns as possible):

There is an overarching structure in how God chose to work with Joshua and the people of Israel:

• Direction
• Action
• Reaction

Though we didn't cover this much in previous weeks, this structure is also seen in both the Commandments and the Plagues.  When we look into our own past, we see often this is evidenced in both small and large events in our lives.  Should we note this and then begin to look forward to it in future events as God leads us?  I think the answer is "yes".  There were three tiers of direction noted here: God spoke to Joshua first and then Joshua spoke to the priests and then Joshua finally spoke to the people.

Of all of the points we spent time on, there are three that I will write about here:

• Joshua 6:2 (MSG) "God spoke to Joshua, "Look sharp now. I've already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops."  This is significant (as was brought out in our discussion) because God has done something and provided direction.  The action is in response to that direction.
• The people of Israel were a terrifying force according to Rahab as recorded in Joshua 2:8-11 (NLT) "“I know the LORD has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror.”"
• Jericho is the first city taken after the nation of Israel entered the Promised Land.  As such, God required it be given to Him as an offering, or first-fruits of the land.  Note in Joshua 6:18-19 (NIV) "“But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.”"

We'll be making reference to these highlights in coming weeks.

There was much dicussion about the size and construction of the city itself, the number of people marching around it, the composition and order of those people, and obviously, the end result of Jericho itself.  I won't take the space to document that here as it's been covered in many different places and many different times.  Suffice it to say, God is Great, He is Almighty, He is the same: Yesterday, Today, and Forever (Hebrews 13:8).

I continue to look forward to where God is taking us in our journey - see you next week.  Blessings!!

"... as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come."
-- Joshua 5:14 (NIV) --

The Power Of Three: Foundation - Plagues Of Egypt

Continuing on with laying our foundation, we looked at the Plagues of Egypt this week.  As we've discussed in regard to The Power Of Three: If you look for it, you'll find it!  Now, I'm having a little bit of fun looking for it, so it wasn't any surprise to me when I found several as we reviewed the plagues.  First, here are the slides we reviewed in depth:

We discovered a number of "triads" as we unwrapped the plagues, all while grouping the plagues into 3 sets of 3 each.  The first series of plagues affected all the living, physical aspects of Egypt (animals, humans, plants) and they were borne out of other elements originally created by God (water, earth, air).  Why?  Because each of the plagues was a response to a "god" that stood in challenge to the Lord - He wanted everybody to know there is NO ONE like Him.  He creates ... He destroys.

This left the final plague (death of the firstborn) standing all by itself in stark contrast.  However, when we compare it to the full redemption found in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we realize it has to stand apart from the other plagues.  Again, why?  Because it was against the most important "god" Egypt had - Pharoah himself.  As God has stated "That no flesh should glory in his presence." (1 Corinthians 1:29) ... except that which represents Him - Jesus (John 1:14).

In conclusion to this session, God is basically saying:   I AM - end of story - forever.

I continue to look forward to where God is taking us in our journey - see you next week.  Blessings!!


"And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE ..."
-- Exodus 3:14 (AMP) --

The Power Of Three: Foundation - The Commandments

We started laying a foundation of some of the basics in our faith.  But, I'm thinking that even the basics gained new understanding for us when we delve into the essence of what they mean.

For example, when we do "real" digging into The Commandments of God for us, we find they can be grouped, categorized and then "simplified" into a point so concise, it defies argument.  The point we focused on this week was "The Big Ten" written on stone by the finger of God and then given to Moses (Exodus 31:18).

The result of this process is this:

It simply places nine of the ten commandments into the two commandments Jesus spoke of: "Love God", "Love People" (Mat 22:35-40, Mar 12:28-31, Luk 10:25-28).  However, then the Apostles John and Paul took it back to the One: "Love" (1 Joh 4:7-8, 1 Cor 14:1, Rom 13:8, Rom 5:5, Gal 5:22, 1 Cor 13:13).

What about the fourth commandment you ask?  Well, it is summed up in the fulfillment of what Jesus did on the Cross: He became our Sabbath Rest (Mat 12:8, Mar 2:28, Luk 6:5, Heb 4:9-11).  How much simplier can it be made?

I continue to look forward to where God is taking us in our journey - see you next week.  Blessings!!


"Your laws are wonderful.  No wonder I obey them!  The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand."
-- Psalm 119:129-131 (NLT) --

The Power Of Three: Introduction

For 02/06/2012:
This season, we will be covering elements of the topic "The Power Of Three". This is a rediscovery of what we've been taught, or perhaps, even new thinking from the scriptures of what God wants from us as He works in us. He has provided all that we need in order to accomplish His purpose. Yet, we don't often see that, let alone know it, in order to fulfill it.

As stated in Acts 17:25-26 (NIV), God determined the time and place we would live on this earth.  We will be exploring what "The Power Of Three" means in light of where we find ourselves in this time and space of Eternity. Time, as we know and understand it, is coming to a close. God has a purpose for you which aids in accomplishing His redemptive plan of His creation. Are you ready to learn more about your role in the Eternal plan of God? Are you ready to be challenged in areas that you may have discounted or considered lost? Are you ready to allow God to change your way of thinking as to who you are in Jesus, what you can accomplish in Jesus, and who you influence in Jesus?

Blessings!!


"... Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands."
-- Acts 17:25-26 (NIV) --