Joshua – Sweeter Than Chocolate

Those shaved chocolate curls on top of a chocolate silk pie? I love those.

Those fancy chocolate shapes piped out as liquid until they solidify? I love those, too.

Decorative touches like these are more than chocolate adornments. To me, the adornments begin to turn food into art. They have an artistic appeal to me. These kinds of flourishes make a dessert truly exotic.

As much as I want to appreciate the artistic impression and fine presentation, I still grab the chocolate curl off the top and pop it in my mouth.

So now that we’ve studied the Bible a little bit, it’s time for that artistic side to help us appreciate how truly yummy the Bible really is. Meditating is how we really savor God’s Word. Meditation helps us appreciate the text in a holistic way—not just analyzing the parts, but appreciating the whole.

The Lord commanded Joshua: “Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:8). God emphasized the need to study and to meditate on His Word as two distinct actions. They are different activities. Study and meditation are both necessary and important.

We also see the psalmist reflect this distinction when he prayed, “I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways” (Psalm 119:15). The psalmist believed studying and reflecting (or meditating) were both needful in fully appreciating or absorbing God’s Word.

This is an excerpt from Sweeter Than Chocolate: Developing a Healthy Addiction to God’s Word. Used by permission.

God confirmed Joshua’s leadership with a miraculous crossing at the Jordan River. The Israelites reached the Jordan at flood stage, yet just as the feet of those carrying the Ark of the Covenant touched the water, the flow stopped so the Israelites were able to cross on dry ground.

Then God, with a rather unconventional war strategy, caused the walls of Jericho to crumble so the Israelites were able to overtake the first stronghold in the Promised Land.

From there, Joshua’s strategy was to divide and conquer as he cut a swath across the middle of the territory. He invaded to the south before swinging back to the north for a final series of conquests.

Then, once they captured the major strongholds, Joshua divided the land among the twelve tribes, giving each one the responsibility to clean up any remaining pockets of resistance. The people, however, were not diligent in defeating the remaining enemies and allowed many to live among them.

For a taste test, read: