Thursday Reflection August 27, 2020 Protected

Thursday Reflection

August 27, 2020

Protected

“He protected us along the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.” Joshua 24:17

Good day friends!

Let me apologize for the absence of last week’s reflection.

Today we journey to the last chapter of the book of Joshua. In this chapter Joshua gathered the people of Israel, after successfully conquering the enemies in the Promised Land; they were now at peace. Joshua brought them together for one last rally speech as this chapter also tells us of his death. In this rally speech, Joshua reminded them of their history and where God took them from.

God took Abraham, their founding father, from the Euphrates and led him through Canaan, giving him many descendants through his son Isaac. Isaac was father to Jacob and Esau. It was through Jacob’s lineage they went to Egypt to survive a famine. However, whilst in Egypt they became slaves. God sent Moses and Aaron to rescue them from Egyptian slavery. The Egyptians pursued them but died at the Red Sea. He brought them through the land of the Amorites; He caused their enemy to bless them. God brought them across the Jordan and destroyed the enemies there. God gave them land they did not toil and houses they did not build.

As a result of all God did, Joshua encouraged the people to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully. Put away the idols of their ancestors and serve the Lord alone. But if doing so seemed unfavorable to them, Joshua was certain that at least he and his family would serve the Lord. Our text is found in the response of the people to Joshua. They responded, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; it is the Lord who brought us up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed.”

Friends as we reflect on this next I want us to reflect on our own lives. As we reflect on the years we have spent on this earth we have had good times and bad times. We have faced problems and difficult people to deal with. We have been on the road, for some different countries, but we are still here. We have experienced challenging times, faced so many attacks both spiritually and physically, but we are still here. We are here, because God protected us.

We have also experienced good times. We have experienced blessings that we did not thought was possible. We are alive today and reading/ listening to this reflection, because of God. We have been recipients of the provisions of God- home, friends, family, money (regardless of the amount), food, job (where applicable) and daily bread or provisions. We have received all these because we are protected by God.

The protection of the Lord is a complete package. He protects us from harm, this also includes providing for us what we NEED. Notice the need is in all caps? This is done to remind us that even though some of our wants are not met, our needs have been provided by God. So we are protected by God, just as the children of Israel were protected and provided for.

I end this reflection with a question. What is your response to the protection of the Lord? Is it fear and faithfulness or is it ignorance?

Until next week choose today how you will respond to the protection of the Lord

Shalom

Christopher Euphfa